Spacious Mid-Century Modern dining room with a wooded view. Navy upholstered chairs accent wood table with angled legs.
Mid-sized midcentury dining room in Seattle with beige walls, light hardwood floors and no fireplace.

HGTV Big City Digs

Mary Rossi Designs

Contemporary Neutral Living Room With City Views. Low horizontal furnishings not only create clean lines in this contemporary living room, they guarantee unobstructed city views out the French doors. The room's neutral palette gets a color infusion thanks to the large plant in the corner and some teal pillows on the couch.

Classic Meets Contemporary

Eagleview Construction

Ryan Salisbury
Mid-sized transitional open plan dining in Toronto with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and brown floor.

Guardian Homes/Webb

Universal Flooring, LLC.

This is an example of a country dining room in Other with light hardwood floors, white walls and beige floor.

Bellaire 2- Dining Room

BwCollier Interior Design, BwC Studio, Inc

Large transitional separate dining room in Houston with beige walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Mercer Island Project

Studio McGee

Photo of a large transitional kitchen/dining combo in Salt Lake City with white walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Beacon Hill Duplex

Eleven Interiors

Transitional kitchen/dining combo in Boston with light hardwood floors.

Midcentury Dining Room

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury kitchen/dining combo in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and beige floor.

Harding Kitchen

Mimi & Hill interiors

This is an example of a transitional kitchen/dining combo in New York with light hardwood floors, brown floor and beige walls.

Irvine XIII

27 Diamonds Interior Design

Design by 27 Diamonds Interior Design www.27diamonds.com
Mid-sized transitional kitchen/dining combo in Orange County with light hardwood floors, beige walls, no fireplace and beige floor.

Chicago - DeSitter Flooring / Synergy Remodeling

DeSitter Flooring

Ryan Ocasio Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional open plan dining in Chicago with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and brown floor.

Formal Dining Room Fireplace

Fratantoni Design / Residential Architects

This gorgeous formal dining room has a custom stone fireplace.
This is an example of an expansive traditional kitchen/dining combo in Phoenix with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Zane Goodman Renovation

CentrePoint Construction

Design ideas for a large contemporary open plan dining in Los Angeles with white walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

White Street Loft

kimberly peck architect

photos by Pedro Marti This large light-filled open loft in the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City was purchased by a growing family to make into their family home. The loft, previously a lighting showroom, had been converted for residential use with the standard amenities but was entirely open and therefore needed to be reconfigured. One of the best attributes of this particular loft is its extremely large windows situated on all four sides due to the locations of neighboring buildings. This unusual condition allowed much of the rear of the space to be divided into 3 bedrooms/3 bathrooms, all of which had ample windows. The kitchen and the utilities were moved to the center of the space as they did not require as much natural lighting, leaving the entire front of the loft as an open dining/living area. The overall space was given a more modern feel while emphasizing it’s industrial character. The original tin ceiling was preserved throughout the loft with all new lighting run in orderly conduit beneath it, much of which is exposed light bulbs. In a play on the ceiling material the main wall opposite the kitchen was clad in unfinished, distressed tin panels creating a focal point in the home. Traditional baseboards and door casings were thrown out in lieu of blackened steel angle throughout the loft. Blackened steel was also used in combination with glass panels to create an enclosure for the office at the end of the main corridor; this allowed the light from the large window in the office to pass though while creating a private yet open space to work. The master suite features a large open bath with a sculptural freestanding tub all clad in a serene beige tile that has the feel of concrete. The kids bath is a fun play of large cobalt blue hexagon tile on the floor and rear wall of the tub juxtaposed with a bright white subway tile on the remaining walls. The kitchen features a long wall of floor to ceiling white and navy cabinetry with an adjacent 15 foot island of which half is a table for casual dining. Other interesting features of the loft are the industrial ladder up to the small elevated play area in the living room, the navy cabinetry and antique mirror clad dining niche, and the wallpapered powder room with antique mirror and blackened steel accessories.

Bell Mountain

Amity Worrel & Co.

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional kitchen/dining combo in Austin with white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Estate- Highland, Utah (36)

Magleby Construction

Joshua Caldwell
Expansive contemporary dining room in Salt Lake City with white walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Mount Maunganui Beach Home

Forté - Timber Flooring

Photo of a small beach style kitchen/dining combo in Other with light hardwood floors, white walls and beige floor.

Serving Up Hospitality

AMEK Custom Builders

For homeowners who love inviting guests to share their cooking and hospitality, this new open floor plan is a gamechanger. Having a kitchen that isn't closed off was a focus for the project as well as having a large island, plus retaining a dining room and breakfast nook. Photo by Emily John Photography.

Wilston

Angus Cowan Constructions Pty. Ltd

Stuart Murray
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional open plan dining in Brisbane with white walls, light hardwood floors and brown floor.

Bellevue, Boulogne Billancourt

Olivia de Revel // 02R architecte d'intérieur

Renaud Konopnicki
Photo of a large scandinavian open plan dining in Paris with blue walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Dining Room Design Ideas with Light Hardwood Floors and Slate 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!