Inspiration for a contemporary dining room in Sydney with white walls, plywood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

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.

Sustainable Farm House

Kipnis Architecture + Planning

The dining room looking out towards the family room.
This is an example of a country open plan dining in Chicago with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, beige floor and vaulted.

Mountain Peek

Centre Sky Architecture Ltd

Design ideas for a large country open plan dining in Other with medium hardwood floors, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor and a corner fireplace.

Ridge Oak Residence

McKinney York Architects

This property came with a house which proved ill-matched to our clients’ needs but which nestled neatly amid beautiful live oaks. In choosing to commission a new home, they asked that it also tuck under the limbs of the oaks and maintain a subdued presence to the street. Extraordinary efforts such as cantilevered floors and even bridging over critical root zones allow the design to be truly fitted to the site and to co-exist with the trees, the grandest of which is the focal point of the entry courtyard. Of equal importance to the trees and view was to provide, conversely, for walls to display 35 paintings and numerous books. From form to smallest detail, the house is quiet and subtle.

Modern Laguna Beach Residence

Philip Nimmo Design

Photo by Scott Frances
This is an example of a modern dining room in Orange County with a stone fireplace surround.

Traditional Style Dining in a private residence. Options A and B

VA Renderings

3D rendering of an open living and dining area in traditional style.
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional open plan dining in Houston with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor, coffered and wallpaper.

Classique Chic Salle à Manger

This is an example of a large transitional dining room in Nantes with blue walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

K+K Residence Kitchenquart

CCdesign Partnerships

An open plan on the main floor that flows from living room, dining room to kitchen. The dark wood, white shaker cabinets and black accents are used uniquely in each area but ties all 3 spaces together for a cohesive great room.

Dry Bar at Dining Room

Pleasant Barn Road

Dry bar in dining room. Custom millwork design with integrated panel front wine refrigerator and antique mirror glass backsplash with rosettes.
Photo of a mid-sized transitional kitchen/dining combo in New York with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor, recessed and panelled walls.

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.

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!

Telegraph Hill - An Industrial Loft

Alden Miller Interiors

Design ideas for an industrial open plan dining in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Tawny 7" | Regal + Collection | Luxury Vinyl Plank SPC

Naturally Aged Flooring

Design ideas for a large open plan dining in Other with grey walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and beige floor.

Firehouse Family House - Dining Room

Noz Design

Colin Price Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized eclectic separate dining room in San Francisco with green walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Hickory Hill | Rustic Modern Cottage

Vision Interiors

This cozy lake cottage skillfully incorporates a number of features that would normally be restricted to a larger home design. A glance of the exterior reveals a simple story and a half gable running the length of the home, enveloping the majority of the interior spaces. To the rear, a pair of gables with copper roofing flanks a covered dining area and screened porch. Inside, a linear foyer reveals a generous staircase with cascading landing. Further back, a centrally placed kitchen is connected to all of the other main level entertaining spaces through expansive cased openings. A private study serves as the perfect buffer between the homes master suite and living room. Despite its small footprint, the master suite manages to incorporate several closets, built-ins, and adjacent master bath complete with a soaker tub flanked by separate enclosures for a shower and water closet. Upstairs, a generous double vanity bathroom is shared by a bunkroom, exercise space, and private bedroom. The bunkroom is configured to provide sleeping accommodations for up to 4 people. The rear-facing exercise has great views of the lake through a set of windows that overlook the copper roof of the screened porch below.

Front Entry/Formal Dining

NSPJ Architects

This is an example of an expansive mediterranean open plan dining in Kansas City with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Seaside Villa - Dining Room

SM Design Associates (SMDA)

Dining room with a beautiful marble fireplace and wine cellar.
Photo of a contemporary dining room in Orange County with grey walls, light hardwood floors, beige floor, a ribbon fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Open Floor Plan Single Family House Los Angeles

GAVIN GREEN HOME DESIGN LLC

This sophisticated luxurious contemporary transitional dining area features custom-made adjustable maple wood table with brass finishes, velvet upholstery treatment chairs with detailed welts in contrast colors, grasscloth wallcovering, gold chandeliers and champagne architectural design details.

Bittersweet Farm

Cornerstone Architects

Simon Hurst Photography
Inspiration for a country dining room in Austin with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Dining Room Design Ideas with a Stone 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!