Small traditional separate dining room in Tampa with brown walls, ceramic floors, no fireplace and beige floor.

Photo of a mid-sized modern kitchen/dining combo in San Francisco with grey walls, slate floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

Working with Patterns

DBR Designs

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional kitchen/dining combo in New Orleans with grey walls, ceramic floors and no fireplace.

Evergreen Log Home Kitchen Renovation

TVL Creative Ltd.

This project's final result exceeded even our vision for the space! This kitchen is part of a stunning traditional log home in Evergreen, CO. The original kitchen had some unique touches, but was dated and not a true reflection of our client. The existing kitchen felt dark despite an amazing amount of natural light, and the colors and textures of the cabinetry felt heavy and expired. The client wanted to keep with the traditional rustic aesthetic that is present throughout the rest of the home, but wanted a much brighter space and slightly more elegant appeal. Our scope included upgrades to just about everything: new semi-custom cabinetry, new quartz countertops, new paint, new light fixtures, new backsplash tile, and even a custom flue over the range. We kept the original flooring in tact, retained the original copper range hood, and maintained the same layout while optimizing light and function. The space is made brighter by a light cream primary cabinetry color, and additional feature lighting everywhere including in cabinets, under cabinets, and in toe kicks. The new kitchen island is made of knotty alder cabinetry and topped by Cambria quartz in Oakmoor. The dining table shares this same style of quartz and is surrounded by custom upholstered benches in Kravet's Cowhide suede. We introduced a new dramatic antler chandelier at the end of the island as well as Restoration Hardware accent lighting over the dining area and sconce lighting over the sink area open shelves. We utilized composite sinks in both the primary and bar locations, and accented these with farmhouse style bronze faucets. Stacked stone covers the backsplash, and a handmade elk mosaic adorns the space above the range for a custom look that is hard to ignore. We finished the space with a light copper paint color to add extra warmth and finished cabinetry with rustic bronze hardware. This project is breathtaking and we are so thrilled our client can enjoy this kitchen for many years to come!

Sophisticated Desert Modern

Full Circle Custom Homes

Mid-sized modern open plan dining in Phoenix with grey walls, ceramic floors and no fireplace.

Sophisticated Desert Modernr

Full Circle Custom Homes

Design ideas for a mid-sized modern open plan dining in Phoenix with grey walls, ceramic floors and no fireplace.

French Country

Vignettes

Red accents create a charm to this home.
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional separate dining room in Orange County with beige walls, ceramic floors and beige floor.

Heat & Glo Escape See-Through Gas Fireplace

User

The best fire. The cleanest look. And an authentic masonry appearance. Escape to warmth and comfort from two sides. With this captivating functional focal point.

Bantry Bay

MacCormick & Associates Architects

Looking through the landscape courtyard towards the front door. Photo Credit : Huw Lambert
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Sydney with white walls and ceramic floors.

Homes Under 700 sq feet

Mandeville Canyon Designs

The dining room adds a fresh burst of color with sustainably harvested furniture from Martha's Vineyard Furniture. Woven grasses on the windows add to the natural feeling creating privacy without sacrificing much coveted light.The bench can be easily moved to create addition seating or to work as a coffee table. In a small space everything needs to pull double duty. Photo~ Nat Rea

Organic Dining Room

Pu'uwai Design & Construction

This is an example of a large tropical open plan dining in Hawaii with white walls, ceramic floors, no fireplace and grey floor.

Country Dining Room

No.54 Interiors

Custom built, hand painted bench seating with padded seat and scatter cushions. Walls and Bench painted in Little Green. Delicate glass pendants from Pooky lighting.

The Avenue

Finch Lockerbie

Open plan kitchen/living/dining space with glass box window seat. Large format tiled floor in a grid formation reflecting the grid layout of the glass panels in the roof.

Green Oaks Home Remodel

Eclectic Design Source

Kitchen: Added crown molding. Light fixture: Cyan. Wall color: Sherwin Williams Colonnade Gray 7641. Table: Noir. Chairs: Gabby. Custom Roman Shade: Fabric by Maxwell, fabrication by Horizon. Photo: Michael Donovan, Realtor Media

Like living in the 70s

Steffen Welsch Architects

The open-plan living and dining areas use a warm material palette, consisting of stone, concrete and timber. Photograph by Rhiannon Slatter
Midcentury dining room in Melbourne with ceramic floors.

Deerman Residence

Sunlight Homes

This is an example of a kitchen/dining combo in Albuquerque with beige walls and ceramic floors.

Burke, Kansas City

+ Modern Design

Modern Penthouse Kansas City, MO - High End Modern Design - Glass Floating Wine Case - Plaid Italian Mosaic - Custom Designer Closet Wesley Piercy, Haus of You Photography

Emerald & Copper Craftsman

Mom's Design Build

The banquette dining area is a more casual space for eating. The kitchen has tons of storage with the custom green cabinetry wall including many smart storage solutions.

Dublin Townhouse

The Design Yard Dublin

Classical kitchen with Navy hand painted finish with Silestone quartz work surfaces & mirror splash back.
This is an example of a large traditional kitchen/dining combo in Dublin with ceramic floors and white floor.

Jupiter Residence

Reardon | Peloso Interior Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional separate dining room in Other with grey walls, ceramic floors and grey floor.

Dining Room Design Ideas with Slate Floors and Ceramic 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!