Photo of a small beach style kitchen/dining combo in Los Angeles with grey walls, light hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Virginia Highlands Home

WAKE + LOOM DESIGN

Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury separate dining room in Los Angeles with grey walls, no fireplace and light hardwood floors.

Rural Lane

Kennedy Cole Interior Design

Design: Three Salt Design Co. Photography: Lauren Pressey
Mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Orange County with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and no fireplace.

Dining table & bench

Black Fox Interiors

This is an example of a small contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Dublin with grey walls, dark hardwood floors and black floor.

Meyers Park Built Ins & Kitchen

IMPACT design Resources

Mid-sized transitional separate dining room in Charlotte with dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor and grey walls.

Park Lane | Fair Haven, NJ

S.O.M.E. Architects, P.C.

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional separate dining room in New York with grey walls and light hardwood floors.

Dining room remodel

Designing Works

Design ideas for a small traditional kitchen/dining combo in Milwaukee with grey walls and light hardwood floors.

Houston kitchen, living room, patio remodel with Restoration Hardware products

InnovationLand

This Houston kitchen remodel turned an outdated bachelor pad into a contemporary dream fit for newlyweds. The client wanted a contemporary, somewhat commercial look, but also something homey with a comfy, family feel. And they couldn't go too contemporary, since the style of the home is so traditional. The clean, contemporary, white-black-and-grey color scheme is just the beginning of this transformation from the previous kitchen, The revamped 20-by-15-foot kitchen and adjoining dining area also features new stainless steel appliances by Maytag, lighting and furnishings by Restoration Hardware and countertops in white Carrara marble and Absolute Black honed granite. The paneled oak cabinets are now painted a crisp, bright white and finished off with polished nickel pulls. The center island is now a cool grey a few shades darker than the warm grey on the walls. On top of the grey on the new sheetrock, previously covered in a camel-colored textured paint, is Sherwin Williams' Faux Impressions sparkly "Striae Quartz Stone." Ho-hum 12-inch ceramic floor tiles with a western motif border have been replaced with grey tile "planks" resembling distressed wood. An oak-paneled flush-mount light fixture has given way to recessed lights and barn pendant lamps in oil rubbed bronze from Restoration Hardware. And the section housing clunky upper and lower banks of cabinets between the kitchen an dining area now has a sleek counter-turned-table with custom-milled legs. At first, the client wanted to open up that section altogether, but then realized they needed more counter space. The table - a continuation of the granite countertop - was the perfect solution. Plus, it offered space for extra seating. The black, high-back and low-back bar stools are also from Restoration Hardware - as is the new round chandelier and the dining table over which it hangs. Outdoor Homescapes of Houston also took out a wall between the kitchen and living room and remodeled the adjoining living room as well. A decorative cedar beam stained Minwax Jacobean now spans the ceiling where the wall once stood. The oak paneling and stairway railings in the living room, meanwhile, also got a coat of white paint and new window treatments and light fixtures from Restoration Hardware. Staining the top handrailing with the same Jacobean dark stain, however, boosted the new contemporary look even more. The outdoor living space also got a revamp, with a new patio ceiling also stained Jacobean and new outdoor furniture and outdoor area rug from Restoration Hardware. The furniture is from the Klismos collection, in weathered zinc, with Sunbrella fabric in the color "Smoke."

SF Spanish Mediterranean

Hearth Design

photo credit: www.davidduncanlivingston.com
Photo of a small transitional kitchen/dining combo in San Francisco with grey walls and medium hardwood floors.

Summit Signature Homes, Inc.

Beechen & Dill Homes

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional dining room in Chicago with grey walls and dark hardwood floors.

Mid Century MOD Austin Remodel

Becca Stephens Interiors

Molly Winters Photography
Photo of a small midcentury kitchen/dining combo in Austin with grey walls and ceramic floors.

Gray, Black and White Dining Room

Pamela Harvey Interiors

photo by Chuck Thomas
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional open plan dining in DC Metro with grey walls and light hardwood floors.

Anderson, Kansas City

+ Modern Design

Mid Century Condo Kansas City, MO - Mid Century Modern Design - Bentwood Chairs - Geometric Lattice Wall Pattern - New Mixed with Retro Wesley Piercy, Haus of You Photography

2019 - Parade Home

Black Door Interiors

Mid-sized country kitchen/dining combo in Boise with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and grey floor.

Fairway Elegance

A. Perry Homes

Photo of a mid-sized separate dining room in Chicago with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Riverside Farmhouse, Yarmouth Maine

Brush and Hammer Builders

This modern farmhouse dining area features built-in benches, a custom pottery barn table, World Market lighting and black windows.
Mid-sized country kitchen/dining combo in Portland Maine with grey walls and light hardwood floors.

Dinning Room

Gruebmeyer Builders

Design ideas for a small transitional separate dining room in Columbus with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Flower Mound New Home

Homestyle Select Decor

This beautiful dining room has a mix of rustic furnishings with elegant touches to elevate the look. Starburst gold light fixtures immediately draw one's attention. The blue accent wall ties in the blue accents throughout the room. Custom host chairs with a beautiful blue fabric on the back provide the perfect accent to the casual yet sophisticated drapery treatment. The wall gems bring some of the blue color onto the opposite wall, creating an inviting space for entertaining.

Downsizing Magic!

Mimi Wilson - MW Design Group

This classic dining room needed an update to match the fresh new paint color. A light round area rug, new upholstered dining chairs, and understated art work transforms this room without taking away its key elements.

Modern Farmhouse

Neff Designs

Jen Jones
Design ideas for a small country dining room in Seattle with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

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!