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

Hinsdale, Illinois

DDK Kitchen Design Group

What a stunning view. This custom kitchen is breathtaking from every view. These are custom cabinets from Dutch Made Inc. Inset construction and stacked cabinets. Going to the ceiling makes the room soar. The cabinets are white paint on maple. The island is a yummy walnut that is gorgeous. An island that is perfect for snacking, breakfast or doing homework with the kids. The glass doors were made to match the exterior windows with mullions. No detail was over looked. Notice the corner with the coffee makers. This is how a kitchen designer makes the kitchen perfect in beauty and function. Countertops are Taj Mahal quartzite. Photographs by @mikeakaskel. Designed by Dan and Jean Thompson

Palmerston Parisian

CAB Architects

Inspiration for a modern kitchen/dining combo in Toronto with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor and panelled walls.

Farmhouse on the Lake

SKD Architects

Saari & Forrai Photography MSI Custom Homes, LLC
Photo of a large country kitchen/dining combo in Minneapolis with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor, coffered and panelled walls.

Pinecrest Home Remodel Japandi Style

Janet Patterson Interior Design (JPID)

Modern family and dining room with built-in media unit.
This is an example of a large modern open plan dining in Miami with beige walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, beige floor and panelled walls.

Contemporary apartment by Whitespace

Whitespace

Sunny, airy and carefree, the dining room is the epitome of a breezy summer’s day. A large open display unit filled with handpicked curios stimulates visual interest while adding cheer to the decor scheme. “We perpetuated the living room aesthetic with a base palette of white, while cutting the monotony with bright yellows and blues. We were particular about maintaining a European sensibility by way of colour, material and texture. We used royal blues, whites, greys and wines to curate a colour spectrum reminiscent of Europe. We complemented these hues with muted fabrics and subtle patterns, and plenty of pine wood.

Medium Wood Engineered Hardwood Floors | Hallmark Floors

Hallmark Floors

The Malibu Oak from the Alta Vista Collection is such a rich medium toned hardwood floor with longer and wider planks. PC: Abby Joeilers
Design ideas for a large modern separate dining room in Los Angeles with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, multi-coloured floor, vaulted and panelled walls.

East Willowdale

Pizzale Design Inc.

Inspiration for a small modern separate dining room in Toronto with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor and panelled walls.

Interior Design // Newnan GA

Robyn Studios Architecture & Interiors

The client wanted to change the color scheme and punch up the style with accessories such as curtains, rugs, and flowers. The couple had the entire downstairs painted and installed new light fixtures throughout.

Seagull Two Project

White Horse Design

Transitional separate dining room in Philadelphia with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor, vaulted and panelled walls.

Noe Valley

Brooks McDonald Architecture

This is an example of a transitional kitchen/dining combo in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor and panelled walls.

una casa di famiglia

VALENTINA AUTIERO architecture interiors design

Design ideas for a mid-sized mediterranean open plan dining in Naples with white walls, porcelain floors, no fireplace, red floor and panelled walls.

Madison

Wills Design Associates

Design ideas for a transitional dining room in Houston with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor and panelled walls.

Architecture Photography for Arterberry Cooke

Weller Photography

Transitional dining room in Los Angeles with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor, panelled walls and planked wall panelling.

Valencia at Viera - St. Martin Model Dining Room

Masterpiece Design Group

The intent of the antique mirror feature wall was to create a vibe of old world meets new world intertwined. The built-in wine display is a splendid touch for the space. Introducing different wood tones in the floor, ceiling, and furniture gives the space the warmth and depth needed.

Whole Home Remodel, Kitchen, Bath and More - Centerville, Ohio

Greater Dayton Building & Remodeling

Inspiration for a traditional dining room in Other with grey walls, vinyl floors, no fireplace and panelled walls.

Scandinavian Dining Room

This is an example of a scandinavian open plan dining in New York with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor and panelled walls.

Cardiff Road, Taffs Well

Glorious Spaces

What problems do you want to solve?: I want to replace a large, dark leaking conservatory with an extension to bring all year round living and light into a dark kitchen. Open my cellar floor to be one with the garden, Tell us about your project and your ideas so far: I’ve replaced the kitchen in the last 5 years, but the conservatory is a go area in the winter, I have a beautiful garden and want to be able to see it all year. My idea would be to build an extension for living with a fully opening glass door, partial living roof with lantern. Then I would like to take down the external wall between the kitchen and the new room to make it one space. Things, places, people and materials you love: I work as a consultant virologist and have spent the last 15 months on the frontline in work for long hours, I love nature and green space. I love my garden. Our last holiday was to Vancouver island - whale watching and bird watching. I want sustainable and environmentally friendly living.

Russian Hill view property

EAG Studio

Transitional separate dining room in San Francisco with black walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor, wallpaper and panelled walls.

Watch Hill Beach House

Evergreen Building Systems LLC

Beach style dining room in Providence with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor, panelled walls and decorative wall panelling.

Dining Room Design Ideas with No Fireplace and Panelled 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!