This is an example of a small separate dining room in Tampa with green walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor and timber.

White Oak House

Boxwood Avenue

This beautiful custom home built by Bowlin Built and designed by Boxwood Avenue in the Reno Tahoe area features creamy walls painted with Benjamin Moore's Swiss Coffee and white oak custom cabinetry. This dining room design is complete with a custom floating brass bistro bar and gorgeous brass light fixture.

Old Town Road

Best Builders ltd

Mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Vancouver with white walls, concrete floors, grey floor and timber.

Harmony Club Modern Farmhouse

restyle design, llc

This everyday dining space is so cozy and inviting. We used an indoor/outdoor rug from Dash and Albert, farmhouse table and cafe chairs in reclaimed wood, and an oversized buffet from Classic Home Furnishings. Added warmth with draperies in Pindler fabric and tongue and groove ceiling.

Newly Constructed High Hampton Luxury

Rhonda Lanier Interiors

Photo of a mid-sized country kitchen/dining combo in Other with white walls, dark hardwood floors, timber and planked wall panelling.

Open Shut House

WALA

Split levels - open plan living zone below and a mezzanine Study above - create a soaring atrium topped by a series of skylights that extend along the full width of the building. Photo by Dave Kulesza.

Franklin Park Residence

Purple Cherry Architects

In this transitional home, a casual breakfast nook sits adjacent to the kitchen and living room.
This is an example of a small transitional dining room in DC Metro with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and timber.

Serene Midcentury Modern

Whimsily

Dining with custom pendant lighting.
Design ideas for a large midcentury kitchen/dining combo in Indianapolis with white walls, medium hardwood floors, exposed beam, timber, vaulted and brown floor.

Eclectic Traveler’s Resort

Everything Home

Every detail of this European villa-style home exudes a uniquely finished feel. Our design goals were to invoke a sense of travel while simultaneously cultivating a homely and inviting ambience. This project reflects our commitment to crafting spaces seamlessly blending luxury with functionality. This once-underused, bland formal dining room was transformed into an evening retreat, evoking the ambience of a Tangiers cigar bar. Texture was introduced through grasscloth wallpaper, shuttered cabinet doors, rattan chairs, and knotty pine ceilings. --- Project completed by Wendy Langston's Everything Home interior design firm, which serves Carmel, Zionsville, Fishers, Westfield, Noblesville, and Indianapolis. For more about Everything Home, see here: https://everythinghomedesigns.com/

The Ranch House in Almaden Valley

Carmit Oron Interior Design

Design ideas for a large country separate dining room in San Francisco with white walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and timber.

Almont Drive

Brett D Karns Designs

This square dining room wasn't elongated so, a round table made sense. The drama is in the fixtures by Rejuvenation, the black ceiling with a ship lap design, herringbone floors and 8" baseboards. Also, all of the windows in the house are painted black wood from Marvin.

Modern Farmhouse

Lauren Jacobsen Interior Design

This contempoary breakfast room is part of the larger kitchen. Perfect for smaller meals early morning before work or school. Upholstered chairs in citron green fabric for comfort and a classic mid-century design Tulip table all grounded with a light-colored hide rug. Simple design, edited colors and textures, make for the best result here.

Holden Row

Area3 Design Studio Inc.

Large beach style open plan dining in Vancouver with white walls, light hardwood floors, beige floor and timber.

Encino House Remodel - Dining Room

JHW Properties

The dining room of our MidCentury Modern Encino home remodel features a statement black shiplap vaulted ceiling paired with midcentury modern rectangular dining table and dining chairs. An accent piece of midcentury lighting, light hardwood floors on an open floor plan with large windows complete the space.

Think Outside the Kitchen “Box”! - Designer's HOME

TOC design & construction inc.

You Can Make It into a Multipurpose Room Using different rooms for different purposes is so outdated. These days, the majority of people want their kitchen to be a family-hub where everyone can gather for meals, but still have enough space to do their own thing too. Depending on the size of your kitchen, you may want to combine preparation and cooking areas with dining areas and living zones. Even if your kitchen isn’t huge, having an area in the kitchen where you can enjoy a meal or a glass of wine with friends will allow you to continue being part of the conversation even if you’re washing the dishes or preparing food.

Breakfast room addition and renovated kitchen

Krieger + Associates Architects, Inc.

A new small addition on an old stone house contains this breakfast room or casual dining room leading to a renovated kitchen, plus a mudroom entrance and a basement-level workout room. Photo: (c) Jeffrey Totaro 2020

Brilliant Blue Condo

Tailored Spaces, Natalie Spiniolas

We opened this condo up and took advantage of all the storage we could get. We staying within a neutral pallet, but used navy as our base color. This is a perfect reflection off the lake.

Proposed Bungalow Extension

Jade Jefferies

Proposed dining area within a new extension to a 1930's bungalow.
Mid-sized scandinavian open plan dining in Surrey with white walls, limestone floors, no fireplace, grey floor and timber.

Red Hill House

Bella Vie Interiors

This classic Queenslander home in Red Hill, was a major renovation and therefore an opportunity to meet the family’s needs. With three active children, this family required a space that was as functional as it was beautiful, not forgetting the importance of it feeling inviting. The resulting home references the classic Queenslander in combination with a refined mix of modern Hampton elements.

Searle Residence

B&B Builders

Dining Room
Large country kitchen/dining combo in Other with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and timber.

Dining Room Design Ideas with Timber

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!