Transitional dining room in Sydney with white walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Arts & Crafts House, Malvern

Brownlow Interior Design

Photo of a traditional dining room in Melbourne with grey walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Custom design and build

Horizon Homes

First impression count as you enter this custom-built Horizon Homes property at Kellyville. The home opens into a stylish entryway, with soaring double height ceilings. It’s often said that the kitchen is the heart of the home. And that’s literally true with this home. With the kitchen in the centre of the ground floor, this home provides ample formal and informal living spaces on the ground floor. At the rear of the house, a rumpus room, living room and dining room overlooking a large alfresco kitchen and dining area make this house the perfect entertainer. It’s functional, too, with a butler’s pantry, and laundry (with outdoor access) leading off the kitchen. There’s also a mudroom – with bespoke joinery – next to the garage. Upstairs is a mezzanine office area and four bedrooms, including a luxurious main suite with dressing room, ensuite and private balcony. Outdoor areas were important to the owners of this knockdown rebuild. While the house is large at almost 454m2, it fills only half the block. That means there’s a generous backyard. A central courtyard provides further outdoor space. Of course, this courtyard – as well as being a gorgeous focal point – has the added advantage of bringing light into the centre of the house.

New build

schemes & spaces

Clean and contemporary dining area with feature pendants
This is an example of a large contemporary dining room in Sydney with dark hardwood floors.

Contemporary Residence

User

Design ideas for a contemporary dining room in Melbourne with grey walls and dark hardwood floors.

Traditional Custom Home

Alto Design

Stephanie Johnson, architect. Jeffrey Jakucyk, photographer. David A Millett, interiors.
Photo of a mid-sized traditional separate dining room in Cincinnati with beige walls, dark hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Santa Barbara Style

White Sands Coastal Development

We remodeled this 5,400-square foot, 3-story home on ’s Second Street to give it a more current feel, with cleaner lines and textures. The result is more and less Old World Europe, which is exactly what we were going for. We worked with much of the client’s existing furniture, which has a southern flavor, compliments of its former South Carolina home. This was an additional challenge, because we had to integrate a variety of influences in an intentional and cohesive way. We painted nearly every surface white in the 5-bed, 6-bath home, and added light-colored window treatments, which brightened and opened the space. Additionally, we replaced all the light fixtures for a more integrated aesthetic. Well-selected accessories help pull the space together, infusing a consistent sense of peace and comfort.

Moving Water

BANDD DESIGN

A farmhouse coastal styled home located in the charming neighborhood of Pflugerville. We merged our client's love of the beach with rustic elements which represent their Texas lifestyle. The result is a laid-back interior adorned with distressed woods, light sea blues, and beach-themed decor. We kept the furnishings tailored and contemporary with some heavier case goods- showcasing a touch of traditional. Our design even includes a separate hangout space for the teenagers and a cozy media for everyone to enjoy! The overall design is chic yet welcoming, perfect for this energetic young family. Project designed by Sara Barney’s Austin interior design studio BANDD DESIGN. They serve the entire Austin area and its surrounding towns, with an emphasis on Round Rock, Lake Travis, West Lake Hills, and Tarrytown. For more about BANDD DESIGN, click here: https://bandddesign.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://bandddesign.com/moving-water/

Lake Austin

Luis Jauregui

Inspiration for a traditional dining room in Houston with dark hardwood floors.

Formal Dining & Butler's Pantry

Highland Homes, Inc.

Formal Dining with Butler's Pantry that connects this space to the Kitchen beyond.
Inspiration for a mid-sized separate dining room in New Orleans with white walls, dark hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Open Concept Dining Room

Michael F Simon Builders

Open Concept Dining Room
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional open plan dining in Other with white walls, dark hardwood floors, wallpaper and decorative wall panelling.

Grant Park Remodel

Atlanta Remodeling & Construction

Eat-In Kitchen Area
Inspiration for a traditional kitchen/dining combo in Atlanta with white walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Eastside Tudor Dinette and Picture Wall with Hidden TV

Amy Carman Design

This beautifully-appointed Tudor home is laden with architectural detail. Beautifully-formed plaster moldings, an original stone fireplace, and 1930s-era woodwork were just a few of the features that drew this young family to purchase the home, however the formal interior felt dark and compartmentalized. The owners enlisted Amy Carman Design to lighten the spaces and bring a modern sensibility to their everyday living experience. Modern furnishings, artwork and a carefully hidden TV in the dinette picture wall bring a sense of fresh, on-trend style and comfort to the home. To provide contrast, the ACD team chose a juxtaposition of traditional and modern items, creating a layered space that knits the client's modern lifestyle together the historic architecture of the home.

Glenview Classic

Dual Concept Design

A transitional dining room, where we incorporated the clients' antique dining table and paired it up with chairs that are a mix of upholstery and wooden accents. A traditional navy and cream rug anchors the furniture, and dark gray walls with accents of brass, mirror and some color in the artwork and accessories pull the space together.

Swede Style

Acacia Architects

Photo of a small scandinavian dining room in Minneapolis with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Natural Woven Weave Shades

Window Spaces

Natural Woven Weave Shades highlight the windows in this dining room.
Inspiration for a mid-sized beach style open plan dining in San Diego with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

The Six Branches

Edgell Building, Inc.

Photo of a large country dining room in Other with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Modern Blueberry Farm and House

Flavin Architects

Flavin Architects collaborated with Ben Wood Studio Shanghai on the design of this modern house overlooking a blueberry farm. A contemporary design that looks at home in a traditional New England landscape, this house features many environmentally sustainable features including passive solar heat and native landscaping. The house is clad in stucco and natural wood in clear and stained finishes and also features a double height dining room with a double-sided fireplace. Photo by: Nat Rea Photography

Mystic Residence

DSM Architect

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional open plan dining in New York with grey walls and dark hardwood floors.

Open Plan Traditional- Modern Living For Today's Family

HEYDT DESIGNS

David Duncan Livingston
Large beach style kitchen/dining combo in San Francisco with dark hardwood floors.

Dining Room Design Ideas with Dark Hardwood Floors and Bamboo 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!