Photo of a large transitional separate dining room in San Francisco with green walls, medium hardwood floors, green floor, exposed beam and wallpaper.

Project Rush Haven

Terravista Interior Design Group

The homeowners wanted an updated style for their home that incorporated their existing traditional pieces. We added transitional furnishings with clean lines and a neutral palette to create a fresh and sophisticated traditional design plan.

The Hen House - Open plan dining room

HEM Architects

Open plan kitchen diner with plywood floor-to-ceiling feature storage wall. Pendant lighting over dining table.
This is an example of a small contemporary open plan dining in Other with medium hardwood floors, brown floor, white walls, vaulted and wood walls.

Princeton Ave

Round Table Design

Photo of a transitional separate dining room in Austin with pink walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and panelled walls.

As Hot as BLUE Blazes

RSZ Design Development

Dinner is served in this spectacular dining room where birthday and holiday dinners will be surrounded by love, togetherness and glamour. Custom chairs with luscious fabrics partnered with a weathered reclaimed wood table, flanked by a beautiful and tall black antique server where comfort will be paramount.

Adding Details - Main Level No Longer Builder Boring

Lisa Stewart Design

Adding Architectural details to this Builder Grade House turned it into a spectacular HOME with personality. The inspiration started when the homeowners added a great wood feature to the entry way wall. We designed wood ceiling beams, posts, mud room entry and vent hood over the range. We stained wood in the sunroom to match. Then we added new lighting and fans. The new backsplash ties everything together. The Pot Filler added the crowning touch! NO Longer Builder Boring!

Kenilworth Project - Mid Century Modern Whole House Remodel

Haven Design and Construction

The design team elected to preserve the original stacked stone wall in the dining area. A striking sputnik chandelier further repeats the mid century modern design. Deep blue accents repeat throughout the home's main living area and the kitchen.

Modern Kitchen | Rutt Cabinetry | Metro Cabinet Company

Rutt Quality Cabinetry

This open concept modern kitchen features an oversized t-shaped island that seats 6 along with a wet bar area and dining nook. Customizations include glass front cabinet doors, pull-outs for beverages, and convenient drawer dividers. DOOR: Vicenza (perimeter) | Lucerne (island, wet bar) WOOD SPECIES: Paint Grade (perimeter) | Tineo w/ horizontal grain match (island, wet bar) FINISH: Sparkling White High-Gloss Acrylic (perimeter) | Natural Stain High-Gloss Acrylic (island, wet bar) design by Metro Cabinet Company | photos by EMRC

Wildwood Home Remodel

Liston Design Build

Inspiration for a transitional kitchen/dining combo in St Louis with black walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and planked wall panelling.

Exhale

Lee Waters Design

Photo of a mid-sized transitional separate dining room in Richmond with green walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor and decorative wall panelling.

Mequash

Cynthia Hayes Interior Design

Photo of a beach style dining room in Providence with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, timber, recessed and wood walls.

Northville, MI Whole Home Makeover

Dan Davis Design

Originally, the room had wainscoting that was not in scale. Architectural interest was added by creating an entirely new wainscoting. The new picture rail on the wainscoting allows for an interesting art display that repeats the angular shapes in the wainscoting.

Olson Residence

Staging North Shore

Blue grasscloth dining room. Phil Goldman Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional separate dining room in Chicago with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, no fireplace and wallpaper.

Huizache House

PAUL CREMOUX studio

A visual artist and his fiancée’s house and studio were designed with various themes in mind, such as the physical context, client needs, security, and a limited budget. Six options were analyzed during the schematic design stage to control the wind from the northeast, sunlight, light quality, cost, energy, and specific operating expenses. By using design performance tools and technologies such as Fluid Dynamics, Energy Consumption Analysis, Material Life Cycle Assessment, and Climate Analysis, sustainable strategies were identified. The building is self-sufficient and will provide the site with an aquifer recharge that does not currently exist. The main masses are distributed around a courtyard, creating a moderately open construction towards the interior and closed to the outside. The courtyard contains a Huizache tree, surrounded by a water mirror that refreshes and forms a central part of the courtyard. The house comprises three main volumes, each oriented at different angles to highlight different views for each area. The patio is the primary circulation stratagem, providing a refuge from the wind, a connection to the sky, and a night sky observatory. We aim to establish a deep relationship with the site by including the open space of the patio.

Eclectic Arts + Crafts Dining Room with Fireplace + Round Marble Top Table

Jennifer Gustafson Interior Design

• Craftsman-style dining area • Furnishings + decorative accessory styling • Pedestal dining table base - Herman Miller Eames base w/custom top • Vintage wood framed dining chairs re-upholstered • Oversized floor lamp - Artemide • Burlap wall treatment • Leather Ottoman - Herman Miller Eames • Fireplace with vintage tile + wood mantel • Wood ceiling beams • Modern art

Mid-Century Modern Home

Bower Leet Design

This is an example of a small midcentury dining room in St Louis with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, exposed beam and wood walls.

Providencia

Maria Alaverdyan

Inspiration for a beach style dining room in Los Angeles with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and wallpaper.

Canoe Camps

Woodhull

Design ideas for a country dining room in Portland Maine with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, exposed beam and wood walls.

AVENUE FOCH - Paris 16ème

Hava CASTRO

Inspiration for a contemporary dining room in Paris with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and wallpaper.

Wood Farmhouse Kitchen & Dining | Kimball Starr Interior Design

Kimball Starr Interior Design

This modern farmhouse dining area is enveloped in cedar-wood walls and showcases a gorgeous white glass chandelier.
Inspiration for a small contemporary kitchen/dining combo in San Francisco with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, beige floor and wood walls.

All Wall Treatments Dining Room Design Ideas with Medium 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!