Amy Bartlam
Photo of a transitional dining room in Los Angeles with no fireplace and yellow walls.

Linly Designs’ knows that the dining room is the place you host your family and friends for all of your special occasions. Let us make your dining room a truly unique space that is worthy of your celebrations. We will give your dining room a personal and impressive look with custom window treatments, specialized paint techniques, and the finest in designer furniture and lighting selected just for you.

Island Cottage

Fiorentino Group Architects

Photo Credit: Rob Karosis
Inspiration for a mid-sized beach style kitchen/dining combo in Boston with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Beverly Hills Estate

Woodson & Rummerfield's House of Design

Red Dining Room with Art Deco rug, vintage chairs, Chinoiserie wallpaper. The beautiful, vibrant wonderland of Christina Aguilera's residence. Photography by Douglas Friedman.

Rustic Dining Room

Photo of a country kitchen/dining combo in Other with yellow walls and dark hardwood floors.

Window Treatments

Lily Mae Design

Design ideas for a traditional dining room in DC Metro with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Mid-Century Modern Vancouver Special

PlaidFox Studio

This terracotta feature wall is one of our favourite areas in the home. To create interest in this special area between the kitchen and open living area, we installed wood pieces on the wall and painted them this gorgeous terracotta colour. The furniture is an eclectic mix of retro and nostalgic pieces which are playful, yet sophisticated for the young family who likes to entertain.

South Ocean Boulevard | Oceanfront Estate

Woolems Luxury Builders

New 2-story residence consisting of; kitchen, breakfast room, laundry room, butler’s pantry, wine room, living room, dining room, study, 4 guest bedroom and master suite. Exquisite custom fabricated, sequenced and book-matched marble, granite and onyx, walnut wood flooring with stone cabochons, bronze frame exterior doors to the water view, custom interior woodwork and cabinetry, mahogany windows and exterior doors, teak shutters, custom carved and stenciled exterior wood ceilings, custom fabricated plaster molding trim and groin vaults.

Central Park

Samantha Gore Interiors + Design

This is an example of a small contemporary dining room in New York with yellow walls.

Mocabee

Gustave Carlson Design

Design ideas for a country open plan dining in San Francisco with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Crescent Arch Dining Set

Anthony Kahn Furniture

Scott Fitzgerrell Phoptography. He was also the buyer of this set.
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional open plan dining in San Francisco with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Cambridge

E. B. Mahoney Builders, Inc.

Traditional dining room in Philadelphia with brick floors and yellow walls.

Moroccan Dining Room

Interiors by Myriam, LLC

Design ideas for a mediterranean dining room in Miami with red walls.

Kirkwood - South Clay

Tim Hollerbach Designs, LLC

This is an example of an expansive country separate dining room in St Louis with red walls, light hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Notting Hill

Aerie Interiors

Design ideas for a transitional separate dining room in Atlanta with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Nevada Street Kitchen Remodel- Finished Pictures

Gehrels Custom Homes

Inspiration for a large country kitchen/dining combo in San Francisco with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Multi-Level Home Renovation in Arlington Heights

Advance Design Studio, Ltd.

This well-loved home belonging to a family of seven was overdue for some more room. Renovations by the team at Advance Design Studio entailed both a lower and upper level addition to original home. Included in the project was a much larger kitchen, eating area, family room and mud room with a renovated powder room on the first floor. The new upper level included a new master suite with his and hers closets, a new master bath, outdoor balcony patio space, and a renovation to the only other full bath on in that part of the house. Having five children formerly meant that when everyone was seated at the large kitchen table, they couldn’t open the refrigerator door! So naturally the main focus was on the kitchen, with a desire to create a gathering place where the whole family could hang out easily with room to spare. The homeowner had a love of all things Irish, and careful details in the crown molding, hardware and tile backsplash were a reflection. Rich cherry cabinetry and green granite counter tops complete a traditional look so as to fit right in with the elegant old molding and door profiles in this fine old home. The second focus for these parents was a master suite and bathroom of their own! After years of sharing, this was an important feature in the new space. This simple yet efficient bath space needed to accommodate a long wall of windows to work with the exterior design. A generous shower enclosure with a comfortable bench seat is open visually to the his and hers vanity areas, and a spacious tub. The makeup table enjoys lots of natural light spilling through large windows and an exit door to the adult’s only exclusive coffee retreat on the rooftop adjacent. Added square footage to the footprint of the house allowed for a spacious family room and much needed breakfast area. The dining room pass through was accentuated by a period appropriate transom detail encasing custom designed carved glass detailing that appears as if it’s been there all along. Reclaimed painted tin panels were added to the dining room ceiling amongst elegant crown molding for unique and dramatic dining room flair. An efficient dry bar area was tucked neatly between the great room spaces, offering an excellent entertainment area to circulating guests and family at any time. This large family now enjoys regular Sunday breakfasts and dinners in a space that they all love to hang out in. The client reports that they spend more time as a family now than they did before because their house is more accommodating to them all. That’s quite a feat anyone with teenagers can relate to! Advance Design was thrilled to work on this project and bring this family the home they had been dreaming about for many, many years. Photographer: Joe Nowak

Rose cottage

Drummond House co.

Christopher Kolk Wonderful, warm gracious dining room. This room is used for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Magical room at night with walls that glow with warmth and bonhomie. Bookcase holds a collection of cookbooks and blue and white china. Antique chairs painted black keep all the furniture from matching and give it some sophistication.

Eastbourne Apt., Bronxville, NY

Patricia O'Shaughnessy Design

Steven Mays
Mid-sized eclectic separate dining room in New York with red walls, medium hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Newton House

Leslie Saul & Associates

New construction of large house in Newton, MA.
Photo of a large transitional separate dining room in Boston with yellow walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Dining Room Design Ideas with Red Walls and Yellow 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!