Where form meets class. This stunning contemporary stair features beautiful American Oak timbers contrasting with a striking steel balustrade with feature timber panelling underneath the flight. This elegant design takes up residence in Mazzei’s Royal Melbourne Hospital Lottery home.

Cremorne Residence

Jodie Carter Design

Dining room featuring built in cabinetry and seating with storage. Great little reading nook. VJ panelling in Dulux Kimberley Tree
Inspiration for a mid-sized beach style open plan dining in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors and panelled walls.

Killara House

Nathan Gornall Design

This fresh extension to the heritage listed Killara House by Nathan Gornall Design offers a light-filled, contemporary new dining room and open plan kitchen for the family who own the property. Against a fairly neutral backdrop these bold colours in the rug, furniture and art have room to create impact without overpowering.

Yarrawarrah Private Residence

Michelle Viret Design

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

Mosman Village House

Annie Bowen Design

Stepping off the plane and through the door of their new home, the clients are embraced by serene spaces with pops of colour.
This is an example of a large contemporary dining room in Sydney with white walls and light hardwood floors.

Flinders , Sailors Whisk

Mermaid Bay Interiors

Inspiration for a mid-sized beach style kitchen/dining combo in Melbourne with light hardwood floors, white walls, a concrete fireplace surround and planked wall panelling.

Taringa House

Shane Marsh Architects

This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury open plan dining in Brisbane with white walls, light hardwood floors, brown floor and recessed.

Caringbah South Renovation

Coastal Hamptons Design Studio

Photo of a contemporary dining room in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Kaimana

Innovative Design and Build Group

This is an example of a modern dining room in Brisbane with white walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Kitchen/Dining

Drift Interiors

Design ideas for a large contemporary open plan dining in Wollongong with white walls, light hardwood floors and a two-sided fireplace.

Post & Gable House

Kirsten Johnstone Architecture

Inspiration for an expansive contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Melbourne with white walls, light hardwood floors and brown floor.

Brunswick Parlour

Mihaly Slocombe

Brunswick Parlour transforms a Victorian cottage into a hard-working, personalised home for a family of four. Our clients loved the character of their Brunswick terrace home, but not its inefficient floor plan and poor year-round thermal control. They didn't need more space, they just needed their space to work harder. The front bedrooms remain largely untouched, retaining their Victorian features and only introducing new cabinetry. Meanwhile, the main bedroom’s previously pokey en suite and wardrobe have been expanded, adorned with custom cabinetry and illuminated via a generous skylight. At the rear of the house, we reimagined the floor plan to establish shared spaces suited to the family’s lifestyle. Flanked by the dining and living rooms, the kitchen has been reoriented into a more efficient layout and features custom cabinetry that uses every available inch. In the dining room, the Swiss Army Knife of utility cabinets unfolds to reveal a laundry, more custom cabinetry, and a craft station with a retractable desk. Beautiful materiality throughout infuses the home with warmth and personality, featuring Blackbutt timber flooring and cabinetry, and selective pops of green and pink tones. The house now works hard in a thermal sense too. Insulation and glazing were updated to best practice standard, and we’ve introduced several temperature control tools. Hydronic heating installed throughout the house is complemented by an evaporative cooling system and operable skylight. The result is a lush, tactile home that increases the effectiveness of every existing inch to enhance daily life for our clients, proving that good design doesn’t need to add space to add value.

U House

C. Kairouz Architects

Open plan dining space connected to kitchen & living room with wall of cabinetry that hides a mirrored bar and views outside.
This is an example of a modern open plan dining in Melbourne with white walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Rhode Island

TARA BAKER

Large contemporary open plan dining in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace and a concrete fireplace surround.

Ibiza Spring

Susanna Cots

Inspiration for a contemporary dining room in Barcelona with white walls, light hardwood floors, beige floor and exposed beam.

A Queen's Sanctuary

Coyle Carpet One Floor & Home

8" White Oak Hardwood Floors from Anderson Tuftex: Kensington Queen's Gate
This is an example of a kitchen/dining combo in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, brown floor and exposed beam.

North Fork Waterfront

Chango

Architectural advisement, Interior Design, Custom Furniture Design & Art Curation by Chango & Co. Photography by Sarah Elliott See the feature in Domino Magazine

Valley Glen Drive

KBG Design

Photo of a transitional dining room in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Wallis Residence

Cornerstone Architects

Photography by Buff Strickland
Large mediterranean dining room in Austin with white walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

modern ranch in san jose

building Lab, inc.

Dining and Kitchen. Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors enable indoor/outdoor living. Photo by Scott Hargis.
This is an example of a large contemporary open plan dining in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Dining Room Design Ideas with White Walls and Light Hardwood 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!