Large transitional dining room in Nashville with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and decorative wall panelling.

Modern Craftsman | Saratoga | Sobey

Brad Cox, Architect, Inc.

Simple and elegant, this dining room shines beneath the glow of a linear chandelier.
This is an example of a mid-sized separate dining room in San Francisco with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, recessed and decorative wall panelling.

A Daring Dining Room

MOTIF Design Solutions, LLC

The color palette in this moody dining room lays the perfect groundwork for hosting elaborate dinners. The velvet textured fabric on the dining room chairs and the Turkish hand woven rug on the floor create an inviting and comfortable place to entertain.

Cole Valley Flat

Gast Architects

Inspiration for a traditional dining room in San Francisco with medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and decorative wall panelling.

Happy Traditional Home

Cooper Interiors

Design ideas for a transitional separate dining room in New York with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, panelled walls, decorative wall panelling and wallpaper.

Streamline Batignolles

Anne Chemineau - Decor Interieur

Création d’un grand appartement familial avec espace parental et son studio indépendant suite à la réunion de deux lots. Une rénovation importante est effectuée et l’ensemble des espaces est restructuré et optimisé avec de nombreux rangements sur mesure. Les espaces sont ouverts au maximum pour favoriser la vue vers l’extérieur.

Completed Homes 5

Ten Oaks Homes

Dining room in Baltimore with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor, recessed and decorative wall panelling.

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.

Renovation dans un appartement haussmannien de 150m² à Paris 15

PROXIMA DESIGN - Décoration & Conception d'espaces

Touche de couleur pour mettre en valeur le mobilier.
This is an example of a contemporary dining room in Paris with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and decorative wall panelling.

Dining Rooms

Sidney Sharkey Design, LLC

This dining room design features deep teal walls and white wainscoting below, creating a rich and dramatic contrast. The dark wood pedestal dining table is complemented by a combination of four wooden slatted side chairs and upholstered armchairs. The armchairs feature natural linen on the backs and brown leather seats, offering both comfort and style. A teal, charcoal, and caramel colored ikat area rug adds pattern and interest to the space. White linen drapes with inset embroidered trim are hung over natural woven shades, providing privacy while still allowing natural light to filter into the room. Together, these elements create a welcoming and stylish dining room design that is perfect for hosting large gatherings and intimate dinners alike.

Woodland Heights Houston

Haven Design and Construction

The gorgeous coffered ceiling and crisp wainscoting are highlights of this lovely new home in Historic Houston, TX. The stately chandelier and relaxed woven shades set the stage for this lovely dining table and chairs. The natural light in this home make every room warm and inviting.

Dining Rooms

Room Reimagined Design - Gina Wolleat

Transitional dining room in Minneapolis with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and decorative wall panelling.

Atherton Dining Room

Lauren Nelson Design

Transitional separate dining room in San Francisco with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and decorative wall panelling.

Contemporaneo Sala Da Pranzo

Large contemporary separate dining room in Other with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, recessed and decorative wall panelling.

Blue Bell Entry, Living and Dining Room

Harth Builders

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional separate dining room in Philadelphia with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and decorative wall panelling.

Boston Common House

Walker Architects

Minimal dining furniture allows the eclectic detailing of the paneling, molding, flooring, and lighting to come to life. © Eric Roth Photography
This is an example of an eclectic dining room in Boston with grey walls and decorative wall panelling.

Oxford Street Breakfast Room

Jamie House Design

Our client’s are a busy young family who entertain frequently and needed a warm, welcoming, and practical home. They prefer a clean almost minimal traditional style. We kept the color palette to whites, grays, and navy. We used the dramatic Navy Blue to punch up the dining room, accent the kitchen, and in furnishings in the living room.

Timeless Dining Room

Heather Nadeau Interior Design

A timeless, curated dining room designed with a fresh look and color. The black and white furnishings keep the room feeling elegant, yet bold.
Small transitional separate dining room in Boston with wallpaper, panelled walls, decorative wall panelling, multi-coloured walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

1940s Georgian, Dining Room

Dalgliesh Gilpin Paxton - DGP - Architects

Traditional dining room in Other with green walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and decorative wall panelling.

Modern Craftsman Custom Home Dining Room

Paradigm Homes

Mid-sized transitional open plan dining in DC Metro with grey walls, beige floor and decorative wall panelling.

Dining Room Design Ideas with Decorative Wall Panelling

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!