Dining room featuring built in cabinetry and seating with storage. Great little reading nook. VJ panelling in Dulux Kimberley Tree
Inspiration for a mid-sized beach style open plan dining in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors and panelled walls.

Rosanna

DSdezines Interiors

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary dining room in Melbourne with white walls, laminate floors, brown floor, recessed and panelled walls.

Timber-Lantern House

Mcmahon and Nerlich

View to double-height dining room
Inspiration for a large contemporary open plan dining in Melbourne with white walls, concrete floors, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround, grey floor, exposed beam and panelled walls.

Dry Bar at Dining Room

Pleasant Barn Road

Dry bar in dining room. Custom millwork design with integrated panel front wine refrigerator and antique mirror glass backsplash with rosettes.
Photo of a mid-sized transitional kitchen/dining combo in New York with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor, recessed 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.

Falmouth Renovation

Distinctive Interiors

This is an example of a beach style dining room in Boston with white walls, light hardwood floors, beige floor and panelled walls.

Rénovation d'appartement Haussmannien

Artem Renovatio

Design ideas for a contemporary dining room in Paris with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and panelled walls.

Elmsgate

Jenny Martin Design

custom home, custom millwork, historic home, luxury design,
Inspiration for a traditional dining room in Vancouver with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and panelled walls.

1930's doer-upper transformed into a beautiful modern family home

My Bespoke Room

Tracy, one of our fabulous customers who last year undertook what can only be described as, a colossal home renovation! With the help of her My Bespoke Room designer Milena, Tracy transformed her 1930's doer-upper into a truly jaw-dropping, modern family home. But don't take our word for it, see for yourself...

Appartement haussmannien Paris 10

10surdix

Contemporary dining room in Paris with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor 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.

Paradise Valley - Caballeros

Laura Kehoe Design

Design ideas for a transitional open plan dining in Phoenix with white walls, grey floor, wallpaper 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.

Pequot

Cynthia Hayes Interior Design

This is an example of a beach style dining room in Providence with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, coffered and panelled walls.

Fernleaf

Cree designs

Dining room
This is an example of a small beach style dining room in Orange County with white walls, vinyl floors, beige floor 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.

Cody Road Residence

AAHA Studio

Entertainment kitchen with integrated dining table
Mid-sized modern kitchen/dining combo in Los Angeles with white walls, porcelain floors, a corner fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, grey floor, vaulted and panelled walls.

Dining Room Design Ideas with White Walls 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!