Design ideas for a modern dining room in Sydney with grey walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Brunswick Parlour transforms a Victorian cottage into a hard-working, personalised home for a family of four. Our clients loved the character of their Brunswick terrace home, but not its inefficient floor plan and poor year-round thermal control. They didn't need more space, they just needed their space to work harder. The front bedrooms remain largely untouched, retaining their Victorian features and only introducing new cabinetry. Meanwhile, the main bedroom’s previously pokey en suite and wardrobe have been expanded, adorned with custom cabinetry and illuminated via a generous skylight. At the rear of the house, we reimagined the floor plan to establish shared spaces suited to the family’s lifestyle. Flanked by the dining and living rooms, the kitchen has been reoriented into a more efficient layout and features custom cabinetry that uses every available inch. In the dining room, the Swiss Army Knife of utility cabinets unfolds to reveal a laundry, more custom cabinetry, and a craft station with a retractable desk. Beautiful materiality throughout infuses the home with warmth and personality, featuring Blackbutt timber flooring and cabinetry, and selective pops of green and pink tones. The house now works hard in a thermal sense too. Insulation and glazing were updated to best practice standard, and we’ve introduced several temperature control tools. Hydronic heating installed throughout the house is complemented by an evaporative cooling system and operable skylight. The result is a lush, tactile home that increases the effectiveness of every existing inch to enhance daily life for our clients, proving that good design doesn’t need to add space to add value.

Deux Pièces en Villes

MELANIE LALLEMAND ARCHITECTURES

Photos © Hélène Hilaire
Design ideas for a small contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Paris with white walls, light hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Shawnee Woods

Tays & Co Design Studios

This is an example of a country dining room in Minneapolis with light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Sullivan's Island Remodel

St. Pierre Construction

Dining room featuring light white oak flooring, custom built-in bench for additional seating, horizontal shiplap walls, and a mushroom board ceiling.

Laurelhurst Tudor

Ore Studios

Photo of a mid-sized transitional separate dining room in Seattle with beige walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and beige floor.

Our Furniture In Rooms

User

Photo of a small modern kitchen/dining combo in Montreal with white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Home #19: SALA Architects

Homes By Architects Tour

Troy Thies
Design ideas for a modern dining room in Minneapolis with white walls and light hardwood floors.

Projet Horizon

Bel Atelier - Décoratrice d'intérieur

Réorganiser et revoir la circulation tout en décorant. Voilà tout le travail résumé en quelques mots, alors que chaque détail compte comme le claustra, la cuisine blanche, la crédence, les meubles hauts, le papier peint, la lumière, la peinture, les murs et le plafond

Federal Manor

Peregrine Design Build

Previously designated as a sitting room, the doorway of the newly renovated dining room underwent expansion, seamlessly integrating it into the kitchen's expansive layout. This strategic alteration enhances the flow and connectivity between these two pivotal spaces, fostering a more cohesive and spacious environment for dining and entertaining purposes.

NW Idea House 2023

Space Lab Design Services LLC

Contemporary dining room in Seattle with black walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

The Bedford House

Lori Dennis Interior Design

Modern Dining Room in an open floor plan, sits between the Living Room, Kitchen and Backyard Patio. The modern electric fireplace wall is finished in distressed grey plaster. Modern Dining Room Furniture in Black and white is paired with a sculptural glass chandelier. Floor to ceiling windows and modern sliding glass doors expand the living space to the outdoors.

ZONA GIORNO DAL MOOD SCANDINAVO

Andrea Vertua Architetto

Zona giorno open-space in stile scandinavo. Toni naturali del legno e pareti neutre. Una grande parete attrezzata è di sfondo alla parete frontale al divano. La zona pranzo è separata attraverso un divisorio in listelli di legno verticale da pavimento a soffitto. La carta da parati valorizza l'ambiente del tavolo da pranzo.

Hillside Project

The Varda Group

Residential Project at Yellowstone Club
Photo of a large country dining room in Other with beige walls, light hardwood floors, brown floor and wood walls.

Two sisters

Cellar Ridge Construction

This is an example of a contemporary dining room in Portland with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, beige floor, vaulted and wood.

Elegant Farmhouse Project

Alison Giese Interiors

The corner of a sunroom was outfitted with a custom banquette to enjoy the beautiful views.
This is an example of a large dining room in Austin with light hardwood floors, no fireplace, beige floor and grey walls.

West 124th Street

Edward Caruso Photography

© Edward Caruso Photography Interior design by Francis Interiors
Photo of an asian open plan dining in New York with white walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Tony Avenger - Photographe Immobilier

Tony Avenger
Photo of an industrial open plan dining in Lyon with beige walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and beige floor.

Hunter Douglas Design Gallery

Earl R. Agin & Associates Inc.

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional separate dining room in Cleveland with white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Gallery House

Christopher Simmonds Architect

Minimalist finishes and fine detailing allow the home owners’ art collection to capture visitors’ attention. The rift cut white oak floor, with its unique linear appearance, flows from the front hall through the interconnected living spaces. Walnut accents and Douglas fir window frames bring warmth to the space doublespace photo

Brown Dining Room Design Ideas with Light Hardwood Floors

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!