This is an example of a contemporary dining room in Perth with white walls, grey floor and brick walls.

Weather House is a bespoke home for a young, nature-loving family on a quintessentially compact Northcote block. Our clients Claire and Brent cherished the character of their century-old worker's cottage but required more considered space and flexibility in their home. Claire and Brent are camping enthusiasts, and in response their house is a love letter to the outdoors: a rich, durable environment infused with the grounded ambience of being in nature. From the street, the dark cladding of the sensitive rear extension echoes the existing cottage!s roofline, becoming a subtle shadow of the original house in both form and tone. As you move through the home, the double-height extension invites the climate and native landscaping inside at every turn. The light-bathed lounge, dining room and kitchen are anchored around, and seamlessly connected to, a versatile outdoor living area. A double-sided fireplace embedded into the house’s rear wall brings warmth and ambience to the lounge, and inspires a campfire atmosphere in the back yard. Championing tactility and durability, the material palette features polished concrete floors, blackbutt timber joinery and concrete brick walls. Peach and sage tones are employed as accents throughout the lower level, and amplified upstairs where sage forms the tonal base for the moody main bedroom. An adjacent private deck creates an additional tether to the outdoors, and houses planters and trellises that will decorate the home’s exterior with greenery. From the tactile and textured finishes of the interior to the surrounding Australian native garden that you just want to touch, the house encapsulates the feeling of being part of the outdoors; like Claire and Brent are camping at home. It is a tribute to Mother Nature, Weather House’s muse.

Grange House

Shane Marsh Architects

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury open plan dining in Brisbane with white walls, light hardwood floors, brown floor, timber and brick walls.

A classic family home, Hampton's style

My Beautiful Abode

With a strict instruction to avoid a coastal theme, the brief for this home was to create a classic style that is easy for family living.
Photo of a beach style dining room in Melbourne with white walls, light hardwood floors, beige floor and decorative wall panelling.

Barkly Street

S&A Stairs

Where form meets class. This stunning contemporary stair features beautiful American Oak timbers contrasting with a striking steel balustrade with feature timber panelling underneath the flight. This elegant design takes up residence in Mazzei’s Royal Melbourne Hospital Lottery home.

Bryce Dallas Howard's New York Home

Emily Pertzborn Interiors

Design ideas for an expansive country separate dining room in New York with green walls, slate floors, a hanging fireplace, black floor, timber and brick walls.

MILAN

atelier daaa

Photo : Romain Ricard
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional open plan dining in Paris with green walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, beige floor and decorative wall panelling.

McHenry Road | Dining Room

HERE architecture + interiors

Inspired by the colors and textures found in spices while preparing meals for special occasions with the family, this formal Living and Dining room celebrates bold patterns and jewel tone finishes both on the walls and elements throughout. Layers of family heirlooms are paired with vintage finds and modern shapes of furniture for a unique and transitional touch.

Mulholland Drive- Bel Air

Rande Leaman Interior Design

The formal dining room looks out to the spacious backyard with French doors opening to the pool and spa area. The wood burning brick fireplace was painted white in the renovation and white wainscoting surrounds the room, keeping it fresh and modern. The dramatic wood pitched roof has skylights that bring in light and keep things bright and airy.

Belsize Village Apartment

NW3 Interiors Ltd

Photo of a transitional dining room in London with green walls, light hardwood floors, beige floor, brick walls and wallpaper.

Historic Barn Conversion

lisa furey interiors

Photo of a mid-sized country dining room in Philadelphia with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, exposed beam and decorative wall panelling.

Update Mansion - Minimalist French Country

Lisa Stewart Design

Grand view from the Dining Room with tray ceiling and columns with stone bases,
Inspiration for a large kitchen/dining combo in Raleigh with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor, recessed, panelled walls and decorative wall panelling.

Home staging rue du Cherche-Midi Paris 6

Frédérique Misdariis - Home Staging Paris

Inspiration for a transitional dining room in Paris with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and decorative wall panelling.

Mid-century Preservation

Ashby Collective

Mid-sized midcentury dining room in Austin with cork floors, brown floor, brown walls and brick walls.

Stonebridge Residence

Beard + Riser Architects

Large country kitchen/dining combo in Jackson with grey walls, grey floor, wood and brick walls.

Project Rush Haven

Terravista Interior Design Group

The homeowners wanted an updated style for their home that incorporated their existing traditional pieces. We added transitional furnishings with clean lines and a neutral palette to create a fresh and sophisticated traditional design plan.

Однокомнатная квартира для девушки 25 лет

Ксения Ерлакова

Mid-sized contemporary dining room in Yekaterinburg with white walls, grey floor and brick walls.

Lincoln Park Dining Room

Gardner & French Design Co

Design ideas for a transitional separate dining room in Boise with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and decorative wall panelling.

Oakland Hills House

Parco Studio

This is an example of a large contemporary open plan dining in San Francisco with white walls, concrete floors, grey floor and brick walls.

SNVT - ATTICO MILANO

Tommaso Giunchi Architetti

Sala da pranzo: sulla destra ribassamento soffitto per zona ingresso e scala che porta al piano superiore: pareti verdi e marmo verde alpi a pavimento. Frontalmente la zona pranzo con armadio in legno noce canaletto cannettato. Pavimento in parquet rovere naturale posato a spina ungherese. Mobile a destra sempre in noce con rivestimento in marmo marquinia e camino. A sinistra porte scorrevoli per accedere a diverse camere oltre che da corridoio

Dining Room Design Ideas with Decorative Wall Panelling and Brick Walls

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!