Peter Rymwid
Photo of a large traditional separate dining room in New York with blue walls, dark hardwood floors and no fireplace.

1950's House Refurb

Born Designers Ltd

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury kitchen/dining combo in Sussex with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor, vaulted and wood walls.

A Warm Welcome

TKS Design Group

Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW The homeowner and his wife had lived in this beautiful townhome in Oak Brook overlooking a small lake for over 13 years. The home is open and airy with vaulted ceilings and full of mementos from world adventures through the years, including to Cambodia, home of their much-adored sponsored daughter. The home, full of love and memories was host to a growing extended family of children and grandchildren. This was THE place. When the homeowner’s wife passed away suddenly and unexpectedly, he became determined to create a space that would continue to welcome and host his family and the many wonderful family memories that lay ahead but with an eye towards functionality. We started out by evaluating how the space would be used. Cooking and watching sports were key factors. So, we shuffled the current dining table into a rarely used living room whereby enlarging the kitchen. The kitchen now houses two large islands – one for prep and the other for seating and buffet space. We removed the wall between kitchen and family room to encourage interaction during family gatherings and of course a clear view to the game on TV. We also removed a dropped ceiling in the kitchen, and wow, what a difference. Next, we added some drama with a large arch between kitchen and dining room creating a stunning architectural feature between those two spaces. This arch echoes the shape of the large arch at the front door of the townhome, providing drama and significance to the space. The kitchen itself is large but does not have much wall space, which is a common challenge when removing walls. We added a bit more by resizing the double French doors to a balcony at the side of the house which is now just a single door. This gave more breathing room to the range wall and large stone hood but still provides access and light. We chose a neutral pallet of black, white, and white oak, with punches of blue at the counter stools in the kitchen. The cabinetry features a white shaker door at the perimeter for a crisp outline. Countertops and custom hood are black Caesarstone, and the islands are a soft white oak adding contrast and warmth. Two large built ins between the kitchen and dining room function as pantry space as well as area to display flowers or seasonal decorations. We repeated the blue in the dining room where we added a fresh coat of paint to the existing built ins, along with painted wainscot paneling. Above the wainscot is a neutral grass cloth wallpaper which provides a lovely backdrop for a wall of important mementos and artifacts. The dining room table and chairs were refinished and re-upholstered, and a new rug and window treatments complete the space. The room now feels ready to host more formal gatherings or can function as a quiet spot to enjoy a cup of morning coffee.

Coastal Hues meet Modern Vibes

MCID Interiors

Photo of a small contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Tampa with blue walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Custom Built-ins with Glass Doors

Manny's Home Improvement

Mid-sized traditional separate dining room in DC Metro with blue walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Transitional NJ Dining Room

Leedy Interiors

Paul S. Bartholomew
Transitional dining room in New York with blue walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Seward Park Gables

Board & Vellum

Photos by Andrew Giammarco Photography.
Large country open plan dining in Seattle with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, blue walls, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Custom Home

Michael Vincent Custom Homes, LLC

Inspiration for a traditional separate dining room in Chicago with blue walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Warm and Modern Dining Room

User

This modern formal dining room is softened by the textured wallpaper that wraps the room. Photo Credit: Angie Seckinger
Transitional dining room in DC Metro with blue walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Creative Accent Walls - Ottawa

Claridge Homes

Accent walls don't need to be small. Check out this teal painted wall that ties the dining area and living space together in this Ottawa town home.
Inspiration for a contemporary dining room in Ottawa with blue walls, dark hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Tortuga Beach House

KBG Design

By What Shanni Saw
Inspiration for a large beach style kitchen/dining combo in San Francisco with blue walls, dark hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Luxe Transitional Hi-Rise Residence

Dona Rosene Interiors

Interior Design by Dona Rosene; Kitchen Design & Custom Cabinetry by Helene's Luxury Kitchens; Photography by Michael Hunter
Photo of a small transitional kitchen/dining combo in Dallas with blue walls and dark hardwood floors.

Suburban Family Home Renovation

Kelly Nelson Designs

Albert Yee
Photo of a transitional separate dining room in Philadelphia with blue walls, dark hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Greystone Country House

Artisan Signature Homes

Tim Furlong
Separate dining room in Louisville with blue walls, dark hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Brannan Condo

In the Deets

Dining nook in living room. Photo by Exceptional Frames.
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional open plan dining in San Francisco with blue walls, dark hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Blue Gray Contemporary Dining Room with Nearly Natural Blooming Hydrangea

Nearly Natural, Inc.

This contemporary dining room gets an elegant feel with the Celeste Chandelier from Pottery Barn, and wainscoting detail. To complement the black and white tones, Pottery Barn Artisanal Wall-Mount Pillar Lanterns frame the room. Featured in this image is the 8.5" x 10" blue Blooming Hydrangea w/ Vase arrangement. At Nearly Natural we craft our hydrangeas with the highest quality silk materials to bring the most life-like florals to your home.

Royal York Residence

LUX Design | Interior Design Build

This dining room was designed to create a moody and cozy atmosphere. The dark blue wall colour ads an element of drama, contrasted by a gold branch sculpture on the wall and two sconces on the farther end. A heritage rustic dining table is softened by tufted cream coloured linen dining chairs and accented with gold cutlery.

Contemporary Dining Room

Inspiration for a contemporary dining room in Phoenix with blue walls and dark hardwood floors.

Dining Room #2

Brian Benda

Casual dining room that connects to open living room and kitchen. Dining room table is from Pottery Barn's Benchwright line. Drapery and roman shades are custom made. Beams in ceiling are rough sawn and stained a custom blend to match other wood tones. Windows and sliding door to covered back porch are from Pella.

Preston Hollow Family-Friendly Furnishing

Nicole Arnold Interiors

Refurnishing this Melshire Estates home with a fresh, transitional look and feel was just what this client wanted. We mainly leveraged neutrals and some blues to keep things visually calm and then it was all about delivering comfort for their active family. The fireplace was updated with a cast stone surround, giving this family room focal point a much needed facelift. The powder bath received a sophisticated renovation and light fixtures throughout the home were replaced with fixtures that uniquely reflect the client’s personality in every room. The star of the show in this home is the dining room, featuring a large, commissioned original art piece as well as the most stunning ceiling light fixture. It’s impossible to feel anything but cheery when you walk by this room!

Dining Room Design Ideas with Blue Walls and Dark Hardwood Floors

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!