Inspiration for a large transitional dining room in Portland Maine with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

2nd Street Philadelphia

down2earth Interior Design, LLC.

When down2earth interior design was called upon to redesign this Queen Village row house, we knew that a complete overhaul to the plan was necessary. The kitchen, originally in the back of the house, had an unusable fireplace taking up valuable space, a terrible workflow, and cabinets and counters that had seen better days. The dining room and family room were one open space without definition or character. The solution: reorganize the entire first floor. The dining area, with its deep blue walls and capiz chandelier, provides an immediate sense of place when you first walk into the home, and there is space for entryway items immediately next to the door. Photos: Rebecca McAlpin

Dining Room

Jules Duffy Designs

Photographed by Laura Moss
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional separate dining room in New York with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Bel Air, MSH Design

MSH Design, Inc.

California Homes
Photo of an expansive mediterranean separate dining room in Los Angeles with dark hardwood floors, blue walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Woodland Road - we did the kitchens, now for more!

madDesigns kitchens, baths, interiors

This dining room was in need of an update, upgrade, up-everything! (see before pics) Rich blue walls in Benjamin Moore Newburyport Blue with a mix of fabrics all grounded by a beautiful new elegant carpet. The drapery is in the updated Morris fabrics by Sanderson with bright green lacquered drapery poles and artichoke finials. All new seating around the client's table. Accented by beautiful new lighting and family art work.

Taylors Drive

Blanton Design & Staging

Intimate dining space leads into formal living room
Photo of a mid-sized modern kitchen/dining combo in Austin with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and beige floor.

Victorian Restoration

Landry & Arcari Rugs and Carpeting

Designer Amanda Reid selected Landry & Arcari rugs for this recent Victorian restoration featured on This Old House on PBS. The goal for the project was to bring the home back to its original Victorian style after a previous owner removed many classic architectural details. Eric Roth

Hingham

Lisa Tharp Design

Custom designed table and settee from Lisa Tharp Collection. Photo by Michael J. Lee
Inspiration for a contemporary open plan dining in Boston with blue walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround.

Nolen Lane Interior Design

Sage Design

This is an example of a large transitional separate dining room in New York with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround.

Private Residence, River Oaks

Foto Relevance

Beautiful blue dining room featuring contemporary art of Damian Hirst, Angelina Nasso, and Daniel McFarlane.
Inspiration for a transitional separate dining room in Houston with blue walls, a standard fireplace and beige floor.

Light and Bright Living!

Lynda Bittner Home Interiors, LLC

Mid-sized beach style kitchen/dining combo in Baltimore with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Pasadena Custom Home

Mur-Sol Builders Inc

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional separate dining room in Los Angeles with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Traditional Farmhouse

FE Trainer Construction, Inc

Inspiration for a country dining room in Other with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Diseño de gran cocina comedor

Sube Interiorismo

Reforma integral Sube Interiorismo www.subeinteriorismo.com Fotografía Biderbost Photo
Expansive transitional kitchen/dining combo in Bilbao with blue walls, laminate floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Lindsey Contant Interior Design

Barbara Brown Photography

Barbara Brown Photography
Design ideas for a large eclectic separate dining room in Atlanta with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround.

Contemporary Dining Room

Inspiration for a large contemporary open plan dining in New York with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and brown floor.

Contemporary Dining Room with a Bold Color Scheme

J. Jilich Design & Associates

Walls: Benjamin Moore Wythe Blue Cabinets/Shelving: Benjamin Moore Umbria Red Jim Somerset Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary separate dining room in Charleston with blue walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Interior

Timberwolf Designs

Mid-sized transitional kitchen/dining combo in Orange County with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

Abernathy Drive

TEW Design Studio

A beautiful open plan allows for a nice entertaining space that is still cozy and bright. Photo credit: Bob Fortner Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional kitchen/dining combo in Raleigh with blue walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Westport

Tim Hine

For project credits and additional information, please visit our portfolio page at timhine.com
Inspiration for a large beach style dining room in New York with blue walls, carpet, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Dining Room Design Ideas with Blue Walls and a Standard 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!