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

Inspiration for a large modern dining room in Melbourne with grey walls, porcelain floors, grey floor, wood and wood walls.

Contemporary Residence

User

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

Weather House

Mihaly Slocombe

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.

dining project

Inventory Interior

Photo of a contemporary dining room in Sydney with grey walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, beige floor and panelled walls.

Paddington Residence

Alena Smith Interior Design

Design ideas for a modern dining room in Sydney with grey walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Serene Family Home

Simply Home Decorating

In this serene family home we worked in a palette of soft gray/blues and warm walnut wood tones that complimented the clients' collection of original South African artwork. We happily incorporated vintage items passed down from relatives and treasured family photos creating a very personal home where this family can relax and unwind. Interior Design by Lori Steeves of Simply Home Decorating Inc. Photos by Tracey Ayton Photography.

Pequeños y grandes detalles

Clysa

Kris Moya Estudio
Large contemporary open plan dining in Barcelona with grey walls, laminate floors, a two-sided fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and brown floor.

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.

Light and Bright

Ally Whalen Design

Transitional dining room in Orlando with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Meriden Residence

Studio Steinbomer

Dining room after the renovation. Construction by RisherMartin Fine Homes Interior Design by Alison Mountain Interior Design Landscape by David Wilson Garden Design Photography by Andrea Calo

Calm & Collected

Endless Ideas Interiors Inc.

Small transitional kitchen/dining combo in Toronto with grey walls, medium hardwood floors and no fireplace.

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.

Chelsea Palace Gardens

Osborne House Interiors

Design ideas for a large transitional dining room in Essex with grey walls and a standard fireplace.

Offord Road

Run for the Hills

Photo of a transitional dining room in London with grey walls.

Modern Fusion

Perla Lichi LLC

Beautiful contemporary dining room in black and grey.
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary dining room in Miami with grey walls, white floor and no fireplace.

Hawks Landing – Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Interiors by SBI

Mid-sized contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Miami with grey walls, porcelain floors, no fireplace and beige floor.

Braintree Condo Interior Painting Project

Premiere Pros

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary separate dining room in Boston with grey walls, medium hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Misc Projects

The Front Door / Dwayne Carruth

This is an example of a small country kitchen/dining combo in New Orleans with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Contemporary Dining Room

Snell David LTD

Inspiration for a contemporary dining room in London with concrete floors and grey walls.

Dining Room Design Ideas with Grey 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!