Dining room and main hallway. Modern fireplace wall has herringbone tile pattern and custom wood shelving. The main hall has custom wood trusses that bring the feel of the 16' tall ceilings down to earth. The steel dining table is 4' x 10' and was built specially for the space.

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.

Miami Shore

Luxe Design Studios

Large contemporary open plan dining in Miami with dark hardwood floors, multi-coloured walls, a two-sided fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Greenwich Waterfront Shingle

VanderHorn Architects

This Dining Room continues the coastal aesthetic of the home with paneled walls and a projecting rectangular bay with access to the outdoor entertainment spaces beyond.

Elevated Elegance in the Panhandle

Architect Mason Kirby Inc.

Removing a few walls opens up this little living room to the adjacent dining room, and keeps the cozy feeling without the claustrophobia. New built-in book shelves flank the fireplace, providing ample library space for window seat reading. A hanging chandelier provides light an elegant atmosphere, added to by matching pink chairs, ivory busts, and large area rugs. Dark wood furniture in the dining room adds gravity and a nice contrast to the auburn wood floors, grey walls, and white detailed moldings. This cozy retreat is in the Panhandle in San Francisco. Photo Credit: Molly Decoudreaux

House on Taylor's Branch

Ashby Collective

This is an example of an expansive midcentury kitchen/dining combo in Austin with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor, vaulted and brick walls.

Formal Dining Room Lighting

Fratantoni Luxury Estates Design/Build/Remodeling

Formal dining room with bricks & masonry, double entry doors, exposed beams, and recessed lighting.
Design ideas for an expansive country separate dining room in Phoenix with multi-coloured walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor, exposed beam and brick walls.

Contemporary Fireplace Design in Andersonville

Habitar Design

Designer, Kapan Shipman, created two contemporary fireplaces and unique built-in displays in this historic Andersonville home. The living room cleverly uses the unique angled space to house a sleek stone and wood fireplace with built in shelving and wall-mounted tv. We also custom built a vertical built-in closet at the back entryway as a mini mudroom for extra storage at the door. In the open-concept dining room, a gorgeous white stone gas fireplace is the focal point with a built-in credenza buffet for the dining area. At the front entryway, Kapan designed one of our most unique built ins with floor-to-ceiling wood beams anchoring white pedestal boxes for display. Another beauty is the industrial chic stairwell combining steel wire and a dark reclaimed wood bannister.

Four Pines Cabin #14

Jacque Jenkins-Stireman: A Design Studio

Design ideas for a country open plan dining in Other with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Venice Residence

JAWS

Eric Staudenmaier
This is an example of a modern dining room in Los Angeles with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and brown floor.

Complete Renovation of Historic Tudor Home

Hope Restoration & General Contracting

Inspiration for a large traditional separate dining room in Columbus with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Tuxedo Park Custom Home Buckhead Atlanta

Stokesman Homes

Design ideas for a country dining room in Atlanta with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Rustic Dining Room

Country dining room in Other with dark hardwood floors, a standard 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

Duplex Apartment Combination

JENDRETZKI LLC

This West Village is the combination of 2 apartments into a larger one, which takes advantage of the stunning double height spaces, extremely unusual in NYC. While keeping the pre-war flair the residence maintains a minimal and contemporary design.

William T Baker &Associates, Atlanta, GA

William T Baker

James Lockhart photo
Large transitional separate dining room in Atlanta with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and beige floor.

Modern Craftsman Custom Homes

Ritchie Construction Ltd

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern open plan dining in Vancouver with white walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor, no fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

James Hurt

James Hurt
Design ideas for a dining room in Dallas with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Traditional New Construction

Morgante Wilson Architects

Werner Straube Photography
Inspiration for a traditional dining room in Chicago with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a stone fireplace surround and a standard fireplace.

Windsor Residence

Carlton Edwards

David Dietrich
This is an example of a large contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Charlotte with a two-sided fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, beige walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

All Fireplace Surrounds Dining Room Design Ideas with 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!