Rustic yet refined, this modern country retreat blends old and new in masterful ways, creating a fresh yet timeless experience. The structured, austere exterior gives way to an inviting interior. The palette of subdued greens, sunny yellows, and watery blues draws inspiration from nature. Whether in the upholstery or on the walls, trailing blooms lend a note of softness throughout. The dark teal kitchen receives an injection of light from a thoughtfully-appointed skylight; a dining room with vaulted ceilings and bead board walls add a rustic feel. The wall treatment continues through the main floor to the living room, highlighted by a large and inviting limestone fireplace that gives the relaxed room a note of grandeur. Turquoise subway tiles elevate the laundry room from utilitarian to charming. Flanked by large windows, the home is abound with natural vistas. Antlers, antique framed mirrors and plaid trim accentuates the high ceilings. Hand scraped wood flooring from Schotten & Hansen line the wide corridors and provide the ideal space for lounging.

14 Clifton Residence

Emeritus

Tom Olcott
Design ideas for a beach style separate dining room in Other with blue walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Urbanwood

Divine Custom Homes

Spacecrafting
This is an example of a contemporary dining room in Minneapolis with black walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Bold and Beautiful St Kilda West home

Moss Melbourne

Transitional dining room in Melbourne with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and beige floor.

Wallingford Farmhouse

RW Anderson Homes

Country dining room in Seattle with multi-coloured walls and dark hardwood floors.

Mandeville

Lewis / Schoeplein architects

Marisa Vitale Photography
Photo of a midcentury open plan dining in Los Angeles with white walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Presidio Heights Curated Contemporary

Regan Baker Design Inc.

Well-traveled. Relaxed. Timeless. Our well-traveled clients were soon-to-be empty nesters when they approached us for help reimagining their Presidio Heights home. The expansive Spanish-Revival residence originally constructed in 1908 had been substantially renovated 8 year prior, but needed some adaptations to better suit the needs of a family with three college-bound teens. We evolved the space to be a bright, relaxed reflection of the family’s time together, revising the function and layout of the ground-floor rooms and filling them with casual, comfortable furnishings and artifacts collected abroad. One of the key changes we made to the space plan was to eliminate the formal dining room and transform an area off the kitchen into a casual gathering spot for our clients and their children. The expandable table and coffee/wine bar means the room can handle large dinner parties and small study sessions with similar ease. The family room was relocated from a lower level to be more central part of the main floor, encouraging more quality family time, and freeing up space for a spacious home gym. In the living room, lounge-worthy upholstery grounds the space, encouraging a relaxed and effortless West Coast vibe. Exposed wood beams recall the original Spanish-influence, but feel updated and fresh in a light wood stain. Throughout the entry and main floor, found artifacts punctate the softer textures — ceramics from New Mexico, religious sculpture from Asia and a quirky wall-mounted phone that belonged to our client’s grandmother.

Pierhouse Brooklyn

threshold interiors

Location: Brooklyn, NY, United States This brand-new townhouse at Pierhouse, Brooklyn was a gorgeous space, but was crying out for some personalization to reflect our clients vivid, sophisticated and lively design aesthetic. Bold Patterns and Colors were our friends in this fun and eclectic project. Our amazing clients collaborated with us to select the fabrics for the den's custom Roche Bobois Mah Jong sofa and we also customized a vintage swedish rug from Doris Leslie Blau. for the Living Room Our biggest challenge was to capture the space under the Staircase so that it would become usable for this family. We created cubby storage, a desk area, coat closet and oversized storage. We even managed to fit in a 12' ladder - not an easy feat! Photographed by: James Salomon

Little Holmby Hills

Annette English & Associates

Photography by Laura Hull
Design ideas for a traditional separate dining room in Los Angeles with beige walls.

Beach Style Dining Room

Inspiration for a beach style dining room in Providence with green walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Old Farm custom, athens

Studio 21 Interiors

Photo of a country separate dining room in Atlanta with green walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Country Sophistication

Elizabeth Reich

Stacy Zarin Goldberg photographer
Inspiration for a transitional separate dining room in Baltimore with multi-coloured walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Chelsea Townhouse

User

Emily Andrews
This is an example of a contemporary dining room in New York with multi-coloured walls.

Dining Room

Emerick Architects

Inspiration for a modern separate dining room in Portland with multi-coloured walls and medium hardwood floors.

Harringay Victorian Flat

Emilie Fournet Interiors

Kasia Fiszer
This is an example of a mid-sized eclectic open plan dining in London with white walls, painted wood floors and white floor.

Rye, New York

Kathleen Walsh Interiors, LLC

Traditional dining room in New York with blue walls and a standard fireplace.

Esszimmer und Wandgestaltung

Wand & Sofa Raumgestaltung

Bewusster Stilmix mit Holz und Farbe
Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic kitchen/dining combo in Munich with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and no fireplace.

Saddleridge Design

Katie Grace Designs

Design ideas for a traditional dining room in Little Rock with grey walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Sloane Square Refurb

Granit Architects + Interiors

Photo Credit: Andy Beasley
Transitional dining room in London with multi-coloured walls, medium hardwood floors and a standard fireplace.

Historic Estate

Favreau Design

Photo of a contemporary dining room in Boston with a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and pink walls.

Whimsical Wallpaper 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!