Updated traditional dining room to be used as a multi purpose eating, homework, reading, mud room/storage area. Custom, made in the US, storage benches provide a home for backpacks, homework and more. Sunbrella covered dining chairs are kid friendly. Dash & Albert indoor/outdoor rug by Bunny Williams is pet and kid friendly and perfect for dining spaces. Wall color is Jute by Benjamin Moore. Palm Beach chandelier by Currey & Company. Reupholstered chair cushion fabric by Lee Industries. Window panels by Lacefield Designs. Art quote by Sugarboo Designs.

Urban Island Village Compound

Patrick Ahearn Architect

Photo of a mid-sized traditional open plan dining in Boston with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

PBH Colip House

PBH Design

Design ideas for a large midcentury open plan dining in Dallas with white walls, bamboo floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Staging Woodland Hills

Haenen Design Studios

Original art and a contrasting rug shows this room's lovely features.
Mid-sized modern open plan dining in Los Angeles with white walls, laminate floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, black floor and vaulted.

Randolph Stewart Architecture

Tom Jenkins Films

Photography by Tom Jenkins TomJenkinsFilms.com
This is an example of a country kitchen/dining combo in Atlanta with medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Mid-Century Modern Home

Johnson Berman

This Mid-Century Modern residence was infused with rich paint colors and accent lighting to enhance the owner’s modern American furniture and art collections. Large expanses of glass were added to provide views to the new garden entry. All Photographs: Erik Kvalsvik

Community Dining Table

Nine Dot Design

Design ideas for 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.

Monica and Ray

AHG Interiors

Nick Glimenakis
Photo of a mid-sized transitional open plan dining in New York with white walls, light hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and beige floor.

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.

View into Dining Room

Alisberg Parker

Photo of a traditional dining room in New York with medium hardwood floors, beige walls and a brick fireplace surround.

Craftsman Four Square, Seattle, WA

Belltown Design LLC

Our dining room table, chairs, bench seat and side board were custom made for us from Home and Timber in Michigan. With a lovely, rich, cherry finish, and a Japanese flair, we married it with the Corona chandelier from Hubbardton Forge. The room is also illuminated with the Stasis Lamp by Hubbardton, and we figured enough seating for Thanksgiving dinner! The room is rich in color and fabrics, and inviting us to sit down for meals to come! Craftsman Four Square, Seattle, WA, Belltown Design, Photography by Julie Mannell.

Valley Horse Farm

Moore Design Builders

Paul Rogers
Photo of a mid-sized country kitchen/dining combo in Burlington with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

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.

Arlington Colonial - Contemporary Renovation

Sagatov Design-Build

www.sagatovhomes.com
Modern dining room in DC Metro with a brick fireplace surround.

Wayne Renovation

Larina Kase Interior Design

This dining room is off of the foyer, and off center because the space is a pass through to the family room addition.
This is an example of a large traditional separate dining room in Philadelphia with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

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.

Village of Leawood Model

Angela Arnone-Orel,

Photo of a country dining room in Kansas City with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and beige floor.

West Sonoma County Farmhouse

JMA (Jim Murphy and Associates)

Erhard Pfeiffer
Photo of an expansive country open plan dining in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Casa Claudius - Sala da pranzo

David Casa

Sala da pranzo | Dining room
Photo of a mid-sized mediterranean open plan dining in Naples with white walls, terra-cotta floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, brown floor and vaulted.

All Fireplace Surrounds Dining Room Design Ideas with 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!