Photo of a transitional separate dining room in New York with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor, wallpaper and panelled walls.

Hyde Park Bungalow

Jeanne Schultz Design Studio

Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic open plan dining in Barcelona with multi-coloured walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and panelled walls.

Appartement Paris

Studio Catoir

Aménagement intérieur d'un appartement privé à Paris. Un espace élégant et paisible où les éléments traditionnels et contemporains sont combinés de manière délicate et originale. Des murs d'un blanc éclatant et des sols existants de couleur châtaigne servent de toile de fond à des créations poétiques faites sur mesure.

Rossano Veneto

Studio Ennedue

Sala da pranzo con tavolo in vetro, open space e vetrate che riempiono la stanza di luce. Vista sul giardino con piscina.
Modern open plan dining in Other with white walls, laminate floors, a corner fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, grey floor and panelled walls.

Roux at Parliament Square

Rosendale Design

Design ideas for a large traditional open plan dining in London with green walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, orange floor, coffered and panelled walls.

Dashing Duplex | Full renovation in Kensington, London, W8

Jemimah Barnett

Wall colour: Grey Moss #234 by Little Greene | Joinery by Luxe Projects London
Design ideas for a large traditional open plan dining in London with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a hanging fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor, coffered and panelled walls.

Cliff Classic

BPC Architecture + Interior Design

Photo of a traditional dining room in Boston with dark hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and panelled walls.

CMD Project River View

Chantelle McNeish Design

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional kitchen/dining combo in Toronto with white walls, laminate floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor and panelled walls.

Seaforth Residence

Karas Design

Hamptons style formal dining room with herringbone flooring. The curved staircase steals the show
This is an example of a beach style dining room with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor and panelled walls.

Commercial - Rustic Restaurant Cafe

LNDesigns

Having worked ten years in hospitality, I understand the challenges of restaurant operation and how smart interior design can make a huge difference in overcoming them. This once country cottage café needed a facelift to bring it into the modern day but we honoured its already beautiful features by stripping back the lack lustre walls to expose the original brick work and constructing dark paneling to contrast. The rustic bar was made out of 100 year old floorboards and the shelves and lighting fixtures were created using hand-soldered scaffold pipe for an industrial edge. The old front of house bar was repurposed to make bespoke banquet seating with storage, turning the high traffic hallway area from an avoid zone for couples to an enviable space for groups.

Mid-Century Midwestern Ranch

Hydrangea Hill Design Co.

Midcentury modern kitchen and dining updated with white quartz countertops, charcoal cabinets, stainless steel appliances, stone look flooring and copper accents and lighting

St Cadoc Road

Hygge and Cwtch Design Studio

Design ideas for a mid-sized scandinavian open plan dining in Cardiff with white walls, limestone floors, a wood stove, beige floor and panelled walls.

HOUSE IN KENSINGTON

STEPHEN FLETCHER ARCHITECTS

Inspiration for a large traditional open plan dining in London with green walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor, exposed beam and panelled walls.

Nobles Point 4

SHELTER Custom-Built Living

Design ideas for an expansive modern open plan dining in Charleston with white walls, light hardwood floors, a tile fireplace surround, panelled walls and a corner fireplace.

Airbnb Rental Unit

REGINA ADRIENNE DESIGNS, LLC.

Inspiration for a small contemporary open plan dining in Raleigh with grey walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, multi-coloured floor and panelled walls.

Timber-Lantern House

Mcmahon and Nerlich

View to dining room
This is an example of 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.

Traditional to modern

Just the Thing Decorating, Staging, and Windows

Fresh and modern home used to be dark and traditional. New flooring, finishes and furnitures transformed this into and up to date stunner.
Design ideas for an expansive modern dining room in Dallas with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, brown floor and panelled walls.

Bianco e oro

Brusa Nerini Architetti

Le gambe del tavolo principale sono state disegnate su misura e personalizzate per realizzare un ambiente unico e irripetibile; sono state inoltre verniciate in oro lucido per integrarle nel progetto, orientate e posizionate in modo da garantire una comoda seduta.

K HOUSE

Elif Arslan Interiors

Large contemporary separate dining room in Other with metallic walls, painted wood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, brown floor, exposed beam and panelled walls.

Alta Vista Collection | Balboa Oak | Brooklyn, New York

Hallmark Floors

Balboa Oak Hardwood– The Alta Vista Hardwood Flooring is a return to vintage European Design. These beautiful classic and refined floors are crafted out of French White Oak, a premier hardwood species that has been used for everything from flooring to shipbuilding over the centuries due to its stability.

All Fireplaces Dining Room Design Ideas with 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!