Herbert Stolz, Regensburg
Photo of a large contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Munich with white walls, concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and grey floor.

Carmelo and Thirteenth

Lewis Builders

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury kitchen/dining combo in Other with brown floor, grey walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Umatilla

Realarchitecture Ltd

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Denver with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and brown floor.

Kensington, W8

Huntsmore

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional separate dining room in London with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Los Altos Hills, CA - Taaffe Rd. II

M. Designs Architects

Cantilevered circular dining area floating on top of the magnificent lap pool, with mosaic Hands of God tiled swimming pool. The glass wall opens up like an aircraft hanger door blending the outdoors with the indoors. Basement, 1st floor & 2nd floor all look into this space. basement has the game room, the pool, jacuzzi, home theatre and sauna

Madison, Mississippi

Rivers Spencer

Design ideas for a transitional separate dining room in New Orleans with multi-coloured walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor and panelled walls.

Beach House in Bayhead

ML Interior Designs

Design ideas for a beach style open plan dining in New York with white walls, light hardwood floors and a standard fireplace.

Cove Road, Old Greenwich

Richard Swann Architect

Mid-sized beach style kitchen/dining combo in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Formal Dinning Room

Jarrod Smart Construction

Traditional separate dining room in Other with black walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor and decorative wall panelling.

Winchester Victorian

Kate Maloney Interior Design

Michael J. Lee
Photo of a traditional dining room in Boston with grey walls and a standard fireplace.

Contemporary Country House

Architecture Republic

Dining Room in open plan living space
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Canberra - Queanbeyan with blue walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and grey floor.

Georgian Townhouse

Woolf Interior Architecture & Design

Design ideas for a transitional dining room in Other with blue walls, medium hardwood floors and a standard fireplace.

ECLECTIC DINING ROOM

SINGULAR DESIGN INTERIORS

wood beams, built in bookshelves, wallpaper fireplace wall, whitewash table
Eclectic dining room in Baltimore with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and grey floor.

more spaces

Angela Otten - Inspire Kitchen Design Studio

emr photography www.emrphotography.com
Design ideas for a contemporary dining room in Denver with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

North London Victorian Home

Balance Design

This Victorian dining room was sympathetically renovated to sit well within its era, yet have a modern and midcentury edge. Contemporary pieces bring it right into the 21st century.

Wayne, PA Home Remodel

Rudloff Custom Builders

JMB Photoworks RUDLOFF Custom Builders, is a residential construction company that connects with clients early in the design phase to ensure every detail of your project is captured just as you imagined. RUDLOFF Custom Builders will create the project of your dreams that is executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsman, while creating lifetime client relationships that are build on trust and integrity. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area including West Chester, Gladwynne, Malvern, Wayne, Haverford and more. As a 6 time Best of Houzz winner, we look forward to working with you on your next project.

Gold Coast Apartment

Eva Quateman Interiors

Gorgeous living and dining area with bobs of black and red. Werner Straube
Inspiration for a large contemporary separate dining room in Chicago with white walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and recessed.

Umatilla

Realarchitecture Ltd

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Denver with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and brown floor.

Transitional Dining Room

Inspiration for a large transitional kitchen/dining combo in New York with blue walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and beige floor.

Country Club Lane

ML Design, Allied ASID

Large transitional open plan dining in Charleston with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

All Fireplaces Blue Dining Room Design Ideas

A dining room can be used for casual dining, integrated into an open plan and connected to the living and kitchen areas; or as a formal space reserved solely for entertaining. While it may not be used frequently, it is a great focal point in the home, and requires little furnishings. Here's what you need to consider before you start planning a new dining room...

How will you use your dining room?

First, consider how frequently you will use the space. If you plan on using your dining room on a daily basis, a casual dining set-up with sturdy, long-lasting furniture is best. As for where you position it – well, any unused space in the home can be converted into a casual dining space, whether it be at the end of a kitchen island, or at the bottom of the stairs. A formal dining room, on the other hand, is more suited to a dedicated space, which is more common in heritage homes where space originally wasn’t at a premium. Perhaps you want your dining room to multi-task and accommodate everyday meals, homework sessions and grown-up dinner parties… If that’s the case, furniture is key. Look for versatile dining tables in either Australian or New Zealand hardwood or weathered timber for a more rustic look. These won’t show up sticky fingerprints as much and can be dressed up for guests.

What size and shape should your dining table be?

Your dining table should be able to seat all family members with some room for additional guests – each person should have at least 60 centimetres of space at the table. The right size, however, also depends on how much room you have. A general rule of thumb is to leave no less than 1 metre from the dining table to the wall or any additional furniture, so people have enough room to comfortably move around the space. Rectangular dining tables are versatile and can work in a variety of settings, while oval dining tables are more traditional and can turn any meal into an occasion. If you have a tight space to work in, a round dining table is best, and also a great option if you want to encourage conversation. A square dining table can be a dramatic addition to a dining room, but only if you have the space. It allows everyone at the table to see each other, but the bigger the table, the harder it will be able to hold a conversation with someone at the other end.

What type of dining chairs should you choose?

Once you’ve decided on a dining table, look for dining chairs that share a common design element. If your dining table legs are curved, for example, try to match them with dining chairs that have a similar curve, either in the legs or back. Next, consider the dimensions of the chair. The height of your dining chairs should allow at least 30 centimetres between the top of the seat and the top of the table. And to keep your tush happy, avoid dining chairs narrower than 45 centimetres.

How can you decorate your dining room?

Dining rooms are relatively minimal spaces, but that makes them a great place to splash a little colour through artwork, especially if yours is a formal dining room. If your dining room is lacking warmth, consider painting the walls a deep shade of red or blue, or go contemporary with black or grey. A cosy rug will make the space feel more intimate, while a sideboard or cabinet of curiosities will further personalise the space. Often overlooked, dining room lighting can also drastically alter the mood of a room, creating drama, spurring romance or encouraging conversation. Opt for soft lighting in the dining area with dimmer switches, and choose oversized pendants in large, open spaces or to make the dining area more of a focal point. Finally, add some table settings, such as a lace tablecloth for a whimsy feel, or a more basic table runner for a chic look. If you need some help designing your dining room, consider checking the Houzz directory of interior designers, home stylists, cabinet makers and more!