A generous dining area joining onto kitchen and family room
Design ideas for a large contemporary open plan dining in Other with white walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and grey floor.

Tawny 7" | Regal + Collection | Luxury Vinyl Plank SPC

Naturally Aged Flooring

Design ideas for a large open plan dining in Other with grey walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and beige floor.

Tilden Signature | Modin Rigid LVP Collection Customer Space | IL

Flooret

This LVP driftwood-inspired design balances overcast grey hues with subtle taupes. A smooth, calming style with a neutral undertone that works with all types of decor. With the Modin Collection, we have raised the bar on luxury vinyl plank. The result is a new standard in resilient flooring. Modin offers true embossed in register texture, a low sheen level, a rigid SPC core, an industry-leading wear layer, and so much more.

Basement Envy Anyone?

Innovative Design Build

This full basement renovation included adding a mudroom area, media room, a bedroom, a full bathroom, a game room, a kitchen, a gym and a beautiful custom wine cellar. Our clients are a family that is growing, and with a new baby, they wanted a comfortable place for family to stay when they visited, as well as space to spend time themselves. They also wanted an area that was easy to access from the pool for entertaining, grabbing snacks and using a new full pool bath.We never treat a basement as a second-class area of the house. Wood beams, customized details, moldings, built-ins, beadboard and wainscoting give the lower level main-floor style. There’s just as much custom millwork as you’d see in the formal spaces upstairs. We’re especially proud of the wine cellar, the media built-ins, the customized details on the island, the custom cubbies in the mudroom and the relaxing flow throughout the entire space.

Oakdale Modern

Brent Cornman Construction Inc.

Photo of a mid-sized arts and crafts separate dining room in Oklahoma City with beige walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and grey floor.

GATHERING ROOM, DINING ROOM, HOME OFFICE, Farmhouse, Fairport, NY

CHERYL BARKER Interiors

This former family room was transformed to be a gathering room with so much more function. Now it serves as a Dining room, TV room, Family room, Home Office and meeting space. Beige walls and white crown molding surround white bookshelves and cabinets giving storage. Brick fireplace and wood mantel has been painted white. Furniture includes: wood farmhouse dining table and black windsor style chairs.

Greener Pastures | Oregon City Home Addition

Mountainwood Homes

The black windows in this modern farmhouse dining room take in the Mt. Hood views. The dining room is integrated into the open-concept floorplan, and the large aged iron chandelier hangs above the dining table.

Oversized Glass Windows for Magnificent Mountain Views

Christine Lakas, The Designer, LLC

Soli Deo Gloria is a magnificent modern high-end rental home nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains includes three master suites, two family suites, triple bunks, a pool table room with a 1969 throwback theme, a home theater, and an unbelievable simulator room.

Whole Home Renovation - Oakland

The Home Co.

Design ideas for a small transitional dining room in San Francisco with beige walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Artisan Craft Homes New Headquarters and Home

Artisan Craft Homes

Artisan Craft Homes
Inspiration for a mid-sized country open plan dining in Grand Rapids with brown walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and brown floor.

Sturgeon County Silverchief Estates - Main Floor Renovation

Four Elements Construction

Our clients with an acreage in Sturgeon County backing onto the Sturgeon River wanted to completely update and re-work the floorplan of their late 70's era home's main level to create a more open and functional living space. Their living room became a large dining room with a farmhouse style fireplace and mantle, and their kitchen / nook plus dining room became a very large custom chef's kitchen with 3 islands! Add to that a brand new bathroom with steam shower and back entry mud room / laundry room with custom cabinetry and double barn doors. Extensive use of shiplap, open beams, and unique accent lighting completed the look of their modern farmhouse / craftsman styled main floor. Beautiful!

Mid-Century Beach Bungalow

Suncrest Home Builders

Design ideas for a small midcentury kitchen/dining combo in Tampa with grey walls, vinyl floors and a standard fireplace.

Blackthorne Home Remodel

Satin & Slate

This image is of the dining area of the open concept kitchen/dining. As you can see the fireplace provides separation of the living room. The fireplace has a grey smooth stucco finish with a modern look and feel.

Light Modern Condo

DK Homes

This stand-alone condominium blends traditional styles with modern farmhouse exterior features. Blurring the lines between condominium and home, the details are where this custom design stands out; from custom trim to beautiful ceiling treatments and careful consideration for how the spaces interact. The exterior of the home is detailed with white horizontal siding, vinyl board and batten, black windows, black asphalt shingles and accent metal roofing. Our design intent behind these stand-alone condominiums is to bring the maintenance free lifestyle with a space that feels like your own.

Greener Pastures | Oregon City Home Addition

Mountainwood Homes

Tilden Signature | Modin Rigid LVP Collection Customer Space | IL

Flooret

Whole Home Renovation - Oakland

The Home Co.

Small transitional dining room in San Francisco with beige walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Lakeshore Modern Farmhouse

Livingston Homes of West Michigan

Photo of a country dining room in Grand Rapids with white walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor, timber and planked wall panelling.

Harvey Maria Luxury Vinyl Tile Flooring - Official Photographs

Pauls Floors

Harvey Maria Dee Hardwicke luxury vinyl tile flooring, shown here in Hayfield, zoned with Antique Oak, also available in 5 other colours - waterproof and hard wearing, suitable for all areas of the home. Photo courtesy of Harvey Maria.

Nicklaus II | Traditional | Calgary

Augusta Fine Homes

Earl Raatz
Photo of a large traditional kitchen/dining combo in Calgary with beige walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Dining Room Design Ideas with Vinyl Floors and a Standard Fireplace

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!