SLIDE INTO STYLE. An expansive sliding glass door allows access to the sprawling new outdoor deck and amenities. Photography by Anice Hoachlander
Photo of a contemporary dining room in DC Metro with white walls and medium hardwood floors.

Yellow Bear Trail Residence

MHK Architecture & Planning - Carolinas

This is an example of a mid-sized country kitchen/dining combo in Other with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Cutting Edge Contemporary - Home Remodel

McCutcheon Construction Inc.

The new dining room while open, has an intimate feel and features a unique “ribbon” light fixture. Robert Vente Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury open plan dining in San Francisco with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, grey floor and a tile fireplace surround.

Stone Canyon

TNT Simmonds

Transitional open plan dining in Los Angeles with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Kirby Road, Mclean, VA

Sidd Kashyap

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional open plan dining in DC Metro with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Salon Paris

MEERO

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional open plan dining in Paris with white walls, medium hardwood floors and a standard fireplace.

Mount Pleasant House - Dining Space + Kitchen

Roundabout Studio Inc.

This is an example of a scandinavian kitchen/dining combo in Toronto with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace and a metal fireplace surround.

Wohnhaus, Riemerling

Löffler Weber | Architekten

Fotos: Alexander Ehlich, München
Inspiration for a large contemporary open plan dining in Munich with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

Colorful Condo

Falken Reynolds Interiors

After living in their 1,300 square foot condo for about twenty years it was a time for something new. Rather than moving into a cookie-cutter development, these clients chose to embrace their love of colour and location and opted for a complete renovation instead. An expanded “welcome home” entry and more roomy closet space were starting points to rework the plan for modern living. The kitchen now opens onto the living and dining room and hits of saturated colour bring every room to life. Oak floors, hickory and lacquered millwork provide a warm backdrop for new and refurbished mid-century modern classics. Solid copper pulls from Sweden, owl wallpaper from England and a custom wool and silk rug from Nepal make the client’s own Venetian chandelier feel internationally at home. Photo: Lucas Finlay

GATINEAU HILLS

Marvin

Architect: Rick Shean & Christopher Simmonds, Christopher Simmonds Architect Inc. Photography By: Peter Fritz “Feels very confident and fluent. Love the contrast between first and second floor, both in material and volume. Excellent modern composition.” This Gatineau Hills home creates a beautiful balance between modern and natural. The natural house design embraces its earthy surroundings, while opening the door to a contemporary aesthetic. The open ground floor, with its interconnected spaces and floor-to-ceiling windows, allows sunlight to flow through uninterrupted, showcasing the beauty of the natural light as it varies throughout the day and by season. The façade of reclaimed wood on the upper level, white cement board lining the lower, and large expanses of floor-to-ceiling windows throughout are the perfect package for this chic forest home. A warm wood ceiling overhead and rustic hand-scraped wood floor underfoot wrap you in nature’s best. Marvin’s floor-to-ceiling windows invite in the ever-changing landscape of trees and mountains indoors. From the exterior, the vertical windows lead the eye upward, loosely echoing the vertical lines of the surrounding trees. The large windows and minimal frames effectively framed unique views of the beautiful Gatineau Hills without distracting from them. Further, the windows on the second floor, where the bedrooms are located, are tinted for added privacy. Marvin’s selection of window frame colors further defined this home’s contrasting exterior palette. White window frames were used for the ground floor and black for the second floor. MARVIN PRODUCTS USED: Marvin Bi-Fold Door Marvin Sliding Patio Door Marvin Tilt Turn and Hopper Window Marvin Ultimate Awning Window Marvin Ultimate Swinging French Door

Chelsea , London , England

Senno Interiors Workroom

Clean lines light colours created throughout ...a sense of space and size created
Inspiration for a contemporary dining room in London with white walls and a standard fireplace.

Los Gatos Residence

RUFproject

Dining Room & Kitchen Photo by David Eichler
Mid-sized scandinavian open plan dining in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Evanston, Il 3

DDK Kitchen Design Group

DDK Kitchen Design Group Photographs by Rick Tripple
This is an example of a contemporary dining room in Chicago with white walls.

Tonto Verde Contemporary 1

Rains Design

Inspiration for a contemporary dining room in Phoenix with white walls.

Beach Style Dining Room

Design ideas for a mid-sized beach style open plan dining in Other with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Riptide

Polhemus Savery DaSilva

Brian Vanden Brink
Inspiration for a beach style dining room in Boston with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Gold Dining Room

Optimise Home

Optimise Design completed the extension, refurbishment and interior design of a 4 bedroom house in Dublin, Ireland.
Contemporary dining room in Dublin with white walls, dark hardwood floors and a standard fireplace.

Dining Room with custom concrete table

K West Images, Interior and Garden Photography

Photo: ©Kelly Horkoff, K West Images www.kwestimages.com
This is an example of a contemporary dining room in Calgary with a tile fireplace surround and white walls.

Ranch House Renovation

Koch Architects

This is an example of a modern dining room in San Francisco with a stone fireplace surround, white walls, light hardwood floors and a ribbon fireplace.

Modern Beach Retreat

Lindsey Brooke Design

Light and Bright with rich color and textures. Photo by Amy Bartlam
Inspiration for a beach style open plan dining in Orange County with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and beige floor.

Dining Room Design Ideas with White 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!