Small eclectic dining room in Cornwall with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround, brown floor and exposed beam.

The Listed House

Simpson & Voyle

This elegant dining space seamlessly blends classic and modern design elements, creating a sophisticated and inviting ambiance. The room features a large bay window that allows ample natural light to illuminate the space, enhancing the soft, neutral color palette. A plush, tufted bench in a rich teal velvet lines one side of the dining area, offering comfortable seating along with a touch of color. The bespoke bench is flanked by marble columns that match the marble archway, adding a luxurious feel to the room. A mid-century modern wooden dining table with a smooth finish and organic curves is surrounded by contemporary chairs upholstered in light gray fabric, with slender brass legs that echo the bench's elegance. Above, a statement pendant light with a cloud-like design and brass accents provides a modern focal point, while the classic white ceiling rose and intricate crown molding pay homage to the building's historical character. The herringbone patterned wooden floor adds warmth and texture, complementing the classic white wainscoting and wall panels. A vase with a lush arrangement of flowers serves as a centerpiece, injecting life and color into the setting. This space, ideal for both family meals and formal gatherings, reflects a thoughtful curation of design elements that respect the building's heritage while embracing contemporary style.

Waterfront Cottage

Chango

Interior Design, Custom Furniture Design & Art Curation by Chango & Co. Construction by G. B. Construction and Development, Inc. Photography by Jonathan Pilkington

3 Barn Farm

Elizabeth Drake of Drake Interiors Limited

Photo of a country dining room in Other with green walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, brown floor, exposed beam and wallpaper.

Modern Addition in Libertyville

DeBaker Design Group, Ltd.

Tall ceilings, walls of glass open onto the 5 acre property. This Breakfast Room and Wet Bar transition the new and existing homes, made up of a series of cubes.

Porter Road

Traci Connell Interiors

Mid-sized dining room in Dallas with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor, exposed beam and brick walls.

Transitional First Floor Makeover

Twilly and Fig

This custom designed dining set fits perfectly within this space. The patterned chair fabric complement the fireplace tile work and provide a cohesive feel.

Modern Mediterranean Scottsdale AZ

Tower Design Studio, ASID LEED AP

Contemporary Kitchen and Dining Room. Modern Mediterranean Golf Retreat. Modern Art meets Italian made dining table and chairs.
Design ideas for a large contemporary dining room in Phoenix with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and beige floor.

Luxe Canyon Living

Blythe Interiors

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional dining room in San Diego with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Weddington, NC - Main floor renovation-Family room makeover

Leslie Williams Interior Design

This breakfast room is an extension of the family room and kitchen open concept. We added exposed wood beams and all new furnishings.
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional dining room in Charlotte with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, brown floor and exposed beam.

Coastal Cottage waterside view

Cura Design

View of dining area and waterside
This is an example of a small beach style dining room in Devon with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, yellow floor, exposed beam and wood walls.

East Coast Traditional

Fautt Homes

Spacious nook with built in buffet cabinets and under-counter refrigerator. Beautiful white beams with tongue and groove details.
Mid-sized beach style dining room in San Francisco with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, beige floor and exposed beam.

Grands Horizons

Daisy D Déco

AMÉNAGEMENT D’UNE PIÈCE DE VIE Pour ce projet, mes clients souhaitaient une ambiance douce et épurée inspirée des grands horizons maritimes avec une tonalité naturelle. Le point de départ étant le canapé à conserver, nous avons commencé par mieux définir les espaces de vie tout en intégrant un piano et un espace lecture. Ainsi, la salle à manger se trouve naturellement près de la cuisine qui peut être isolée par une double cloison verrière coulissante. La généreuse table en chêne est accompagnée de différentes assises en velours vert foncé. Une console marque la séparation avec le salon qui occupe tout l’espace restant. Le canapé est positionné en ilôt afin de faciliter la circulation et rendre l’espace encore plus aéré. Le piano s’appuie contre un mur entre les deux fenêtres près du coin lecture. La cheminée gagne un insert et son manteau est mis en valeur par la couleur douce des murs et les moulures au plafond. Les murs sont peints d’un vert pastel très doux auquel on a ajouté un sous bassement mouluré. Afin de créer une jolie perspective, le mur du fond de cette pièce en longueur est recouvert d’un papier peint effet papier déchiré évoquant tout autant la mer que des collines, pour un effet nature reprenant les couleurs du projet. Enfin, l’ensemble est mis en lumière sans éblouir par un jeu d’appliques rondes blanches et dorées. Crédit photos: Caroline GASCH

Seattle Frink House

Sheila Mayden Interiors

Breakfast nook with garden views. Custom, corner banquette.
Design ideas for a small traditional dining room in Seattle with yellow walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Modern Living in Downtown Birmingham

Stalburg Design

When presented with the overall layout of the kitchen, this dining space called out for more interest than just your standard table. We chose to make a statement with a custom three-sided seated banquette. Completed in early 2020, this family gathering space is complete with storage beneath and electrical charging stations on each end. Underneath three large window walls, our built-in banquette and custom table provide a comfortable, intimate dining nook for the family and a few guests while the stunning oversized chandelier ties in nicely with the other brass accents in the kitchen. The thin black window mullions offer a sharp, clean contrast to the crisp white walls and coordinate well with the dark banquette, sprayed to match the dark charcoal doors in the home. The finishing touch is our faux distressed leather cushions, topped with a variety of pillows in shapes and cozy fabrics. We love that this family hangs out here in every season!

Palomino Trail

KHJ Designs LLC

Inspiration for a large modern dining room in Salt Lake City with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor and exposed beam.

Waterfront Cottage

Chango

Interior Design, Custom Furniture Design & Art Curation by Chango & Co. Construction by G. B. Construction and Development, Inc. Photography by Jonathan Pilkington

New Traditional Breakfast and Family Room

Tina Dann-Fenwick Interiors

Inspiration for a large transitional dining room in Chicago with grey walls, travertine floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, beige floor and exposed beam.

Time for Terracotta

Malinda OHara Interiors

This is an example of a mid-sized country dining room in Kansas City with white walls, terra-cotta floors, a corner fireplace, multi-coloured floor and exposed beam.

Ross Peak Residence

Brandner Design

The Ross Peak Great Room Guillotine Fireplace is the perfect focal point for this contemporary room. The guillotine fireplace door consists of a custom formed brass mesh door, providing a geometric element when the door is closed. The fireplace surround is Natural Etched Steel, with a complimenting brass mantle. Shown with custom niche for Fireplace Tools.

Breakfast Nook All Fireplace Surrounds 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!