View to double-height dining room
Inspiration for a large contemporary open plan dining in Melbourne with white walls, concrete floors, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround, grey floor, exposed beam and panelled walls.

Templestowe

LBB Projects

Contemporary open plan dining in Melbourne with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and exposed beam.

Lake Wendouree House

de.arch

dining room
Inspiration for a large contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Melbourne with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and exposed beam.

Timber cottage renovation

Studio Urbo

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Sydney with concrete floors, grey floor and exposed beam.

Interior SVK

INT2architecture

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Moscow with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and exposed beam.

Parade Home // Utah // Liz Tate Interior Design

Shakuff

This is an example of a contemporary open plan dining in Salt Lake City with grey walls, grey floor and exposed beam.

Northcote House

Into interior design

Mid-sized contemporary dining room in London with grey walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, beige floor, exposed beam and wallpaper.

Dalbade - Le séjour

Atelier Anagramme

Ce projet de plus de 150 m2 est né par l'unification de deux appartements afin d'accueillir une grande famille. Le défi est alors de concevoir un lieu confortable pour les grands et les petits, un lieu de convivialité pour tous, en somme un vrai foyer chaleureux au cœur d'un des plus anciens quartiers de la ville. Le volume sous la charpente est généreusement exploité pour réaliser un espace ouvert et modulable, la zone jour. Elle est composée de trois espaces distincts tout en étant liés les uns aux autres par une grande verrière structurante réalisée en chêne. Le séjour est le lieu où se retrouve la famille, où elle accueille, en lien avec la cuisine pour la préparation des repas, mais aussi avec la salle d’étude pour surveiller les devoirs des quatre petits écoliers. Elle pourra évoluer en salle de jeux, de lecture ou de salon annexe. Photographe Lucie Thomas

114 Keel Way Signature Home

Turrentine Properties, Inc.

Inspiration for a contemporary open plan dining in Austin with white walls, light hardwood floors, beige floor, exposed beam, vaulted and wood.

Spring Parade Home 2020 - Alturas Homes

Lauren Smyth

This is an example of a contemporary open plan dining in Boise with white walls, light hardwood floors, beige floor, exposed beam and recessed.

Cooks Hill

Zugai Strudwick Architects

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Newcastle - Maitland with brown walls, concrete floors, grey floor, exposed beam and decorative wall panelling.

Blessington Residence

re-interiors

A bespoke table and bench by "Benmore studios" sits perfectly here. The elegant pendants were chosen so that they don't obstruct the views. The cabinetry provides extra storage for all the items children accumulate, I designed it so that it will incorporate a bench for more storage and a little extra seating. The Eames chair came with the client!

Rénovation et optimisation d'un appartement de 45 m2 sous combles.

Cyril Rheims Architecte

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Paris with white walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor and exposed beam.

Bernier

SINGER BIEDER Architecture

Photo of a large contemporary dining room in Paris with blue walls, light hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, brown floor and exposed beam.

Innenausbau einer Dachgeschosswohnung Starnberg

TK Interior Design & Consulting

Dieser Tisch wurde von uns entworfen und bei einem unserer Lieferanten in Indonesien produziert. Viele unserer Möbel produzieren wir in Jawa/ Indonesien. Bei einiger unserer Projekte werden die Möbel komplett von uns entworfen und in Asian produziert.

Dining Room

Architect Hewson

Dining Chairs by Coastal Living Sorrento Styling by Rhiannon Orr & Mel Hasic Dining Chairs by Coastal Living Sorrento Styling by Rhiannon Orr & Mel Hasic Laminex Doors & Drawers in "Super White" Display Shelves in Laminex "American Walnut Veneer Random cut Mismatched Benchtop - Caesarstone Staturio Maximus' Splashback - Urban Edge - "Brique" in Green Floor Tiles - Urban Edge - Xtreme Concrete Steel Truss - Dulux 'Domino' Flooring - sanded + stain clear matt Tasmanian Oak

Modern Mediterranean

Model Remodel

Mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Seattle with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and exposed beam.

429 Residence

Rodwin Architecture & Skycastle Homes

This lovely little modern farmhouse is located at the base of the foothills in one of Boulder’s most prized neighborhoods. Tucked onto a challenging narrow lot, this inviting and sustainably designed 2400 sf., 4 bedroom home lives much larger than its compact form. The open floor plan and vaulted ceilings of the Great room, kitchen and dining room lead to a beautiful covered back patio and lush, private back yard. These rooms are flooded with natural light and blend a warm Colorado material palette and heavy timber accents with a modern sensibility. A lyrical open-riser steel and wood stair floats above the baby grand in the center of the home and takes you to three bedrooms on the second floor. The Master has a covered balcony with exposed beamwork & warm Beetle-kill pine soffits, framing their million-dollar view of the Flatirons. Its simple and familiar style is a modern twist on a classic farmhouse vernacular. The stone, Hardie board siding and standing seam metal roofing create a resilient and low-maintenance shell. The alley-loaded home has a solar-panel covered garage that was custom designed for the family’s active & athletic lifestyle (aka “lots of toys”). The front yard is a local food & water-wise Master-class, with beautiful rain-chains delivering roof run-off straight to the family garden.

Morehampton Road: Remodel & Extension

DMVF Architects

Design ideas for a large contemporary open plan dining in Dublin with white walls, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, grey floor and exposed beam.

Umbria

User

Photo by Matthew Niemann Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary dining room in Other with brown walls, no fireplace, beige floor, exposed beam, wood and wallpaper.

Contemporary Dining Room Design Ideas with Exposed Beam

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!