Custom-made MOD Chandelier in Grey and Champagne over a dining room table. Jody Macwright Interiors Photo by Meir Pliskin
Large contemporary separate dining room in New York with black walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Upper East Side Pied-à-Terre

Shelley Morris Interiors

Large contemporary separate dining room in New York with black walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and black floor.

House on Turtle Back

Joseph B Lanza Design + Building

This project began with a handsome center-entrance Colonial Revival house in a neighborhood where land values and house sizes had grown enormously since my clients moved there in the 1980s. Tear-downs had become standard in the area, but the house was in excellent condition and had a lovely recent kitchen. So we kept the existing structure as a starting point for additions that would maximize the potential beauty and value of the site A highly detailed Gambrel-roofed gable reaches out to the street with a welcoming entry porch. The existing dining room and stair hall were pushed out with new glazed walls to create a bright and expansive interior. At the living room, a new angled bay brings light and a feeling of spaciousness to what had been a rather narrow room. At the back of the house, a six-sided family room with a vaulted ceiling wraps around the existing kitchen. Skylights in the new ceiling bring light to the old kitchen windows and skylights. At the head of the new stairs, a book-lined sitting area is the hub between the master suite, home office, and other bedrooms.

West Pond House

Architecture in Formation

Michelle Rose Photography
Large transitional separate dining room in New York with black walls, dark hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Grad Student's Apartment

Heather Pujals

As the right side of the photo hints, the dining area is open with and connected to the kitchen. A large sliding glass patio door brings a surplus of light into the space allowing the black walls to produce a relaxed rather than oppressive feeling. The resident wanted to keep her string lights up for when she hosts small parties.

Pasadena Transitional Style Italian Revival Breakfast Room

On Madison

Pasadena Transitional Style Italian Revival Breakfast Room designed by On Madison. Photographed by Grey Crawford.
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional separate dining room in Los Angeles with black walls and no fireplace.

Mill Valley Traditional

SINGLEPOINT DESIGN BUILD INC.

Johnathan Mitchell Photography
Mid-sized transitional kitchen/dining combo in San Francisco with black walls, dark hardwood floors, grey floor and no fireplace.

Classic Nashville Home

JL Design

Reagan Tyalor
Large transitional separate dining room in Nashville with black walls, light hardwood floors, brown floor and no fireplace.

Clear Creek

Tobi Fairley Interior Design

Walls are Sherwin Williams French Roast with Creamy trim.
Design ideas for a large traditional dining room in Little Rock with no fireplace and black walls.

A Vintage Filled Home Full Of Modern Appeal

Décor Aid

Mid-sized transitional separate dining room in New York with black walls, no fireplace, brown floor and dark hardwood floors.

Scandi inspired apartment, Zagreb

User

Small scandinavian kitchen/dining combo in Other with black walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and beige floor.

Transitional Dining Room

Design ideas for a transitional separate dining room in Los Angeles with black walls, light hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Setting The Mood Dining Room

Interior Travels Design

Photo of a small transitional kitchen/dining combo in San Diego with black walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and grey floor.

Dine and Dazzle

Kathleen Ramsey, Allied ASID

Dramatic dining rooms, black and white, Ramsey Interiors, Interior Design Kansas City Photographer: Matt Kocourek
Mid-sized modern separate dining room in Kansas City with black walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and black floor.

TRUBNIKOVSKIY

CROSBY STUDIOS

Design ideas for a scandinavian kitchen/dining combo in New York with black walls, concrete floors, no fireplace and beige floor.

Dining Rooms by Design Connection, Inc. | Kansas City Certified Interior Design

Design Connection, Inc.

Bold and daring yet formal and inviting. This textured black wallpaper is elegantly warmed by the golden tones throughout this space. See more rooms from this whole-home remodel by Design Connection, Inc. | Kansas City Interior Designer http://www.designconnectioninc.com/portfolio/leawood-whole-house-decorating/

Masculine Downtown High-Rise Residence

Lauren Allyn Interiors

Photography: Fine Focus Photography, Tre Dunham
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary separate dining room in Austin with black walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

The W: Hollywood, Unit 10

Cantoni Los Angeles

Maolin Li, a young entrepreneur based overseas purchased a 1.5 bedroom, 2 bathroom condo at The Residences at the W Hollywood to serve as a home away from home during his frequent trips to Los Angeles. With a few weeks until his next visit, Maolin enlisted Cantoni LA designer, Kyle Spivey to transform the empty space into a stylish, move-in ready home all in time for his stateside arrival. To create a warm and welcoming urban oasis to suit Maolin’s jet-setting lifestyle, Kyle repainted the walls and adorned them with custom wallpaper, framed the windows with drapes and outfitted each room with customized furnishings and high impact art and accessories. Check out what Kyle had to say about the design process as well as what inspired him along the way on the Cantoni Blog here: cantoni.com/blog/2015/03/stylish-hollywood-pad-w-hollywood/ Photos by Lucas Cichon

Karrinyup Renovation

Denise Rix

Interiors shoot of this stunning full home renovation by Interior Designer Sara Campbell.
Photo of a contemporary dining room in Perth with black walls, no fireplace and panelled walls.

Residence in Lake Sherwood, CA

Van Parys Architecture + Design

Design ideas for a contemporary dining room in Los Angeles with black walls, light hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Dining Room Design Ideas with Black Walls and No Fireplace

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!