Design ideas for a contemporary dining room in Melbourne with grey walls and dark hardwood floors.

First impression count as you enter this custom-built Horizon Homes property at Kellyville. The home opens into a stylish entryway, with soaring double height ceilings. It’s often said that the kitchen is the heart of the home. And that’s literally true with this home. With the kitchen in the centre of the ground floor, this home provides ample formal and informal living spaces on the ground floor. At the rear of the house, a rumpus room, living room and dining room overlooking a large alfresco kitchen and dining area make this house the perfect entertainer. It’s functional, too, with a butler’s pantry, and laundry (with outdoor access) leading off the kitchen. There’s also a mudroom – with bespoke joinery – next to the garage. Upstairs is a mezzanine office area and four bedrooms, including a luxurious main suite with dressing room, ensuite and private balcony. Outdoor areas were important to the owners of this knockdown rebuild. While the house is large at almost 454m2, it fills only half the block. That means there’s a generous backyard. A central courtyard provides further outdoor space. Of course, this courtyard – as well as being a gorgeous focal point – has the added advantage of bringing light into the centre of the house.

New build

schemes & spaces

Clean and contemporary dining area with feature pendants
This is an example of a large contemporary dining room in Sydney with dark hardwood floors.

20 Spring Mill Rd

James Rae Designs

Inspiration for a small contemporary separate dining room in Indianapolis with white walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Pacific Palisades Kitchen Remodel

Rebecca Quandt Interiors

Photo: Rebecca Quandt
Inspiration for a small contemporary separate dining room in Los Angeles with white walls, dark hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Classico Contemporaneo in Brianza

Easy Relooking

Tavolo con piano in laminam effetto marmo e sedie di Bonaldo
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary dining room in Other with dark hardwood floors.

The Preserve at Thomas Springs Contemporary Escape

Robin Bond Interiors

Contemporary dining room in Austin with blue walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

718 Oakley

Burhani Design Architects

Interior Gut & Rehab of an existing two unit Building into a spacious Single Family home for a young family in the Historic Tri-Taylor area.
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Chicago with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Palo Alto Modern

Sarahliz Lawson Design

New Modern House Construction in Palo Alto, California Builder: Ammirato Construction Photography: David Duncan Livingston
Photo of a contemporary open plan dining in San Francisco with white walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Circle C Cozy Modern- Breakfast Room

Christen Ales Interior Design

Merrick Ales Photography
This is an example of a small contemporary dining room in Austin with multi-coloured walls, dark hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Brentwood 2-story Family Home

User

Photo of a small contemporary open plan dining in Los Angeles with dark hardwood floors, beige walls, no fireplace and brown floor.

Rénovation d'un appartement Parisien Art déco

Xavier Lemoine Architecture d'Intérieur

Au-dessus de l’espace repas, nous avons installé une suspension décorative et massive. Nous avons choisi une suspension Tom Dixon, collection Copper, aux tons cuivrés. Ce luminaire, particulièrement mis en valeur par un arrière-plan sombre, permet de marquer le coin repas et de le mettre en scène. Les formes arrondies des globes métalliques contrastent avec les lignes plus strictes du reste de l’appartement. Nous avons sélectionné un mobilier aux couleurs chaudes pour la salle à manger, ainsi qu’une assise type banquette pour un côté plus convivial. Les tons de beige, marron et bronze sont très présents dans cette pièce et lui confèrent une ambiance accueillante et cosy.

Labedz Condo

Aurora Technology

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary separate dining room in Omaha with blue walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Dining table & bench

Black Fox Interiors

This is an example of a small contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Dublin with grey walls, dark hardwood floors and black floor.

Penthouse with a View

Wiedemann Architects LLC

Dining space with custom table and sweeping horizon views. Living and dining space feed out to large terrace with IPE decking and a serpentine planting bed. Anice Hoachlander, Hoachlander Davis Photography, LLC

Miami Charmed Home in Highland Park

Robert Elliott Custom Homes

Nathan Schroder Photography BK Design Studio Robert Elliott Custom Homes
Contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Dallas with dark hardwood floors and white walls.

Maison Individuelle - Rénovation, architecture d'intérieur et décoration

ROYAL ROULOTTE

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Paris with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and black walls.

Duplex Apartment Combination

JENDRETZKI LLC

This West Village is the combination of 2 apartments into a larger one, which takes advantage of the stunning double height spaces, extremely unusual in NYC. While keeping the pre-war flair the residence maintains a minimal and contemporary design.

Colorful Dining Room

Ann Lowengart Interiors

To eliminate an inconsistent layout, we removed the wall dividing the dining room from the living room and added a polished brass and ebonized wood handrail to create a sweeping view into the living room. To highlight the family’s passion for reading, we created a beautiful library with custom shelves flanking a niche wallpapered with Flavor Paper’s bold Glow print with color-coded book spines to add pops of color. Tom Dixon pendant lights, acrylic chairs, and a geometric hide rug complete the look.

25th street kitchen

Paravan Wood Design

25th street bar
This is an example of a contemporary dining room in Jacksonville with white walls and dark hardwood floors.

Contemporary Dining Room Design Ideas with Dark Hardwood Floors

A contemporary 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 contemporary 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 contemporary 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 contemporary 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!