Dining Room Photo by Rob Karosis
Photo of a large transitional separate dining room in New York with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Oyster Pond Estate

User

This is an example of an expansive traditional separate dining room in Boston with green walls, carpet, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

WHITSTABLE ISLAND COTTAGE

Whitstable Island Interiors

This is an example of a small beach style dining room in Kent with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Serene & Color-Infused Waban Victorian: Dining Room

Kelly Rogers Interiors

Eric Roth Photography
Photo of a large traditional separate dining room in Boston with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

completed projects

Landy Plante Interiors

Kevin Lein Photography
Design ideas for a large traditional separate dining room in New York with orange walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

Contemporary Design

Hensley Custom Building Group

Inspiration for a contemporary dining room in Cincinnati with grey walls, a tile fireplace surround and ceramic floors.

Houzz Tour: An Architectural Relic Thrives in the Heartland of Ohio

Adrienne DeRosa

Adrienne DeRosa © 2012 Houzz
Design ideas for a modern dining room in Cleveland with a brick fireplace surround and red floor.

2012 VHBA - Winter Wonderland of Homes

Bradd W. Syring LLC - Custom Homes

This is an example of a traditional dining room in Other with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and beige walls.

Crisp Architects

Renovated kitchen in old home with low ceilings. Dining room. Photography: Rob Karosis
Inspiration for a country dining room in New York with white walls, a corner fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Dining room to living room

Camber Construction

Oakland Hills Whole Hose Remodel. Award-winning Design for Living’s Dream Kitchen Contest in 2007. Design by Twig Gallemore at Elevation Design & Architecture. Photo of dining room to living room and fireplace

Mid-Century Modern Highland Park West Home

Mosier Luxury Homes

This is an example of a large midcentury open plan dining in Austin with light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and wood.

BH Residence

Lotta Coffey Design & Interiors

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury dining room in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

The Queen Anne Victorian Rebuild

Ingrid Porter Interiors, LLC

A stunning dining room perfect for entertaining guests.
Traditional dining room in Cleveland with multi-coloured walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, brown floor and wallpaper.

Bold Black and White

Blackdoor Design by Tamra Coviello

Photo of a mid-sized mediterranean open plan dining in San Diego with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

Rice University - New Home Construction

Edwards Interiors and Design, LLC

Design ideas for a transitional separate dining room in Houston with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

Interior Renovation in West Chester, PA

Rudloff Custom Builders

We call this dining room modern-farmhouse-chic! As the focal point of the room, the fireplace was the perfect space for an accent wall. We white-washed the fireplace’s brick and added a white surround and mantle and finished the wall with white shiplap. We also added the same shiplap as wainscoting to the other walls. A special feature of this room is the coffered ceiling. We recessed the chandelier directly into the beam for a clean, seamless look. This farmhouse style home in West Chester is the epitome of warmth and welcoming. We transformed this house’s original dark interior into a light, bright sanctuary. From installing brand new red oak flooring throughout the first floor to adding horizontal shiplap to the ceiling in the family room, we really enjoyed working with the homeowners on every aspect of each room. A special feature is the coffered ceiling in the dining room. We recessed the chandelier directly into the beams, for a clean, seamless look. We maximized the space in the white and chrome galley kitchen by installing a lot of custom storage. The pops of blue throughout the first floor give these room a modern touch. Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016, 2017 and 2019. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY. Photo Credit: Linda McManus Images

1960's Tri-Level Ranch

Lacy Keller Interiors

HomeStar Video Tours
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury open plan dining in Portland with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a corner fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Iconic Modern

LTW Design

Photo of a modern open plan dining in New York with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Laurelhurst Mid Century Modern

Darren Patt Construction

Inspiration for a large midcentury open plan dining in Seattle with beige walls, ceramic floors, a corner fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and beige floor.

Built-in bar Hutch

D & L Home Improvement

D&L Home Improvement
Photo of a small modern separate dining room in Other with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Dining Room Design Ideas with a Tile Fireplace Surround 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!