The formal dining room looks out to the spacious backyard with French doors opening to the pool and spa area. The wood burning brick fireplace was painted white in the renovation and white wainscoting surrounds the room, keeping it fresh and modern. The dramatic wood pitched roof has skylights that bring in light and keep things bright and airy.

James Hurt

James Hurt
Design ideas for a dining room in Dallas with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Myrtle Tree House

Basis Builders

Design ideas for a modern kitchen/dining combo in Melbourne with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Larchmont Victorian Interior

Debra Kling Colour Consultant

Elegant Dining Room, Painted Lady
Large transitional separate dining room in New York with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and multi-coloured floor.

Redesign Interior

Perfect Match Homes

Dining area to the great room, designed with the focus on the short term rental users wanting to stay in a Texas Farmhouse style.
This is an example of a large kitchen/dining combo in Austin with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, brown floor, coffered and panelled walls.

Community Dining Table

Nine Dot Design

Photo of a small beach style open plan dining in Los Angeles with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

The Thatched Cottage - Luxury holiday letting

Butik Szállás

This 18th century New Forest cottage has been sympathetically renovated, retaining much of its original character including exposed beams and stunning fireplaces. The centre piece of the property is the barn, which boasts two open planned mezzanine floors. The high vaulted ceilings give a sense of space and grandeur. The contemporary solid wood benches give ample seating capacity, while imparting a rustic countryside feel. Photography: Infocus Interiors

Balsam Mountain Top Retreat

Architectural Design Incorporated

J Weiland
Inspiration for a large country open plan dining in Boston with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Hillside Beauty

kellydesigns

Mid-sized transitional separate dining room in New York with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Chadwick Home Renovation

Refined Renovations & Refined Home

Farmhouse renovation for a 50 year old colonial. The kitchen was equipped with professional grade appliances, leathered finish granite counters called fantasy brown, bluish-gray cabinets, and whitewashed barn board to add character and charm. The floors was stained in a grey finish to accentuate the style.

Garden District Renovation

Brian Gille Architects, Ltd.

Design ideas for a mid-sized country open plan dining in New Orleans with dark hardwood floors, white walls, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Dining Rooms

Viscusi Elson Interior Design - Gina Viscusi Elson

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional separate dining room in San Francisco with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and green walls.

De Beauvoir, Hackney - Full house renovation

Emilie Fournet Interiors

The Breakfast Room leading onto the kitchen through pockets doors using reclaimed Victorian pine doors. A dining area on one side and a seating area around the wood burner create a very cosy atmosphere.

Ashton Woods Atlanta Interiors

Ashton Woods

The dining room is well lit and serves as a charming place to dine with family and friends. (Designed by CDC Designs)
This is an example of a traditional dining room in Atlanta with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Glasscock

Clearcut Construction, Inc.

Love how this kitchen renovation creates an open feel for our clients to their dining room and office and a better transition to back yard!
Design ideas for a large transitional kitchen/dining combo in Raleigh with dark hardwood floors, brown floor, white walls, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

McLean, Virginia. Transitional Northern Virginia Residence

J&L Interiors, LLC

Nomoi Design LLC
Large transitional open plan dining in DC Metro with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Traditional Home - Featured Project

Wendy Glaister Interiors

The dining area has a clear view to the living room and the two sided brick clad fireplace. The windowseat provides storage for children's art supplies and story books. n Multiple lantern pendants add whimsy.

Custom Residence

Zoltan Construction LLC

Zoltan Construction, Roger Wade Photography
This is an example of an expansive traditional kitchen/dining combo in Orlando with multi-coloured walls, dark hardwood floors and a brick fireplace surround.

Modern Transitional Custom Home in Ann Arbor

Forward Design Build Remodel

Our clients relocated to Ann Arbor and struggled to find an open layout home that was fully functional for their family. We worked to create a modern inspired home with convenient features and beautiful finishes. This 4,500 square foot home includes 6 bedrooms, and 5.5 baths. In addition to that, there is a 2,000 square feet beautifully finished basement. It has a semi-open layout with clean lines to adjacent spaces, and provides optimum entertaining for both adults and kids. The interior and exterior of the home has a combination of modern and transitional styles with contrasting finishes mixed with warm wood tones and geometric patterns.

Emerson Dining & Kitchen

328 Design Group

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Denver with dark hardwood floors, grey walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Dining Room Design Ideas with Dark Hardwood Floors and a Brick Fireplace Surround

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!