Color and pattern enhance a classically designed North Shore home

Photo of a mid-sized traditional kitchen/dining combo in Chicago with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor, coffered and panelled walls.

Chelsea Pied a Terre

Studio Andreea Franca

Airy but moody lounge/dining for this Chelsea flat that was designed for short term lets.
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Miami with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, beige floor and coffered.

Dining Room

Rebekah Nicole Interiors

This dining room was in need of a makeover! Our client felt overwhelmed when it came to finding inspiration let alone redesigning this dining room. It was important to them that this room harmonized with the rest of their modern home. There were specific requests made at the consultation… First, they needed seating for 10, as they host many dinner parties. They also enjoyed wine and therefore had a fridge where they kept it. We pushed the clients a little bit and encouraged them to make decisions they wouldn’t normally do, like the coffered application on the ceiling, which turned out to be a real focal point of the room. We found a home for all the wine (and the fridge!) in this stunning walnut and marble wine fridge buffet… perfect for the hostess with the mostess! In addition to the ambient lighting, we added some brass sconces as accent lighting to set the mood for cozy, elegant dinners. We kept the room light and airy with this cool blue color palette and soft linen curtains that draw the eyes up to the ceiling.

San Francisco Edwardian

Cathie Hong Interiors

We updated this century-old iconic Edwardian San Francisco home to meet the homeowners' modern-day requirements while still retaining the original charm and architecture. The color palette was earthy and warm to play nicely with the warm wood tones found in the original wood floors, trim, doors and casework.

Cumberland House Plan

South Florida Design | House Plans

Design ideas for a mid-sized tropical dining room in Other with grey walls, concrete floors, brown floor and coffered.

Lyon 7" | Silvan Resilient Hardwood Collection Customer Space | FL

Flooret

Neutral greys and muted taupes commingle to create the perfect blend of beauty and simplicity. Silvan Resilient Hardwood combines the highest-quality sustainable materials with an emphasis on durability and design. The result is a resilient floor, topped with an FSC® 100% Hardwood wear layer sourced from meticulously maintained European forests and backed by a waterproof guarantee, that looks stunning and installs with ease.

Planche d'ambiance

AMLV Architecte d’intérieur

Création d'un agrandissement de la maison, avec un esprit scandinave et surtout ouvrir pour apporter de la luminosité.
Photo of a mid-sized scandinavian dining room in Paris with blue walls, light hardwood floors, a wood stove, a metal fireplace surround, brown floor and coffered.

Gibson Dining Room

K Marie Interiors

Photo of a mid-sized transitional kitchen/dining combo in New York with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and coffered.

Décoration d'un bel appartement Haussmannien

Espace de Vie Design

Décoration sobre et élégante pour maintenir le caractère "bonbonnière" à cette petite salle à manger, parée de moulures sur les murs et de caissons au plafond. Création d'une niche gris souris, pour mettre en valeur la porcelaine, qui se reflète dans le miroir doré suspendu dans la longueur sur le mur opposé

Reeves Kitchen

Mission 5 Designs

The dining room space,Looking into the new passage we framed to align with the new Pella french doors we installed.
Photo of a mid-sized midcentury kitchen/dining combo in Austin with medium hardwood floors and coffered.

Urban Modern Design in Silver Spring, Maryland

Calming Ground Interiors

Welcome to the Coolidge Urban Modern Dining and Lounge space. We worked with our client in Silver Spring, MD to add custom details and character to a blank slate and to infuse our client’s unique style. The space is a combined dining, bar and lounge space all in one for a comfortable yet modern take including plenty of color and pattern.

Modernisation d'un appartement aux allures baroque

Eloïse Gingeyne Architecte d'intérieur

Photo of a large contemporary open plan dining in Paris with marble floors, white floor and coffered.

Southern living Home

Sarah Yerger Interiors

Mid-sized traditional kitchen/dining combo in Atlanta with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a brick fireplace surround, coffered and wallpaper.

Birmingham, MI Craftsman Bungalow Reclamation

Dan Davis Design

The dining room was blessed with coffered ceilings so Dan David Design chose paint colors to make it the focal point of the room.
Design ideas for a mid-sized arts and crafts separate dining room in Detroit with orange walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor and coffered.

Appartamento nel centro storico di Firenze

ARKY'STUDIO

Inspiration for a small contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Florence with beige walls, light hardwood floors, coffered and wallpaper.

Kingswood Signature | Modin Rigid LVP Collection Coastal Customer Space | WA

Flooret

Tones of golden oak and walnut, with sparse knots to balance the more traditional palette. With the Modin Collection, we have raised the bar on luxury vinyl plank. The result is a new standard in resilient flooring. Modin offers true embossed in register texture, a low sheen level, a rigid SPC core, an industry-leading wear layer, and so much more.

Sarasota National #2

Toni Krenn Interiors, LLC

Photo of a mid-sized transitional dining room in Other with beige walls, ceramic floors, grey floor and coffered.

Chelsea Pied a Terre

Studio Andreea Franca

Airy but moody lounge/dining for this Chelsea flat that was designed for short term lets.
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Miami with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, beige floor and coffered.

Dining Room, Cambridge

KOBO 10

This is an example of a mid-sized modern separate dining room in Cambridgeshire with beige walls, light hardwood floors and coffered.

Open plan living and dining

Urban Den Architects

Dining room with feature ceiling, looking out onto the water.
Mid-sized contemporary dining room in Sydney with white walls, painted wood floors, beige floor and coffered.

Dining Room Design Ideas with Coffered

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!