Exposed heart pine scissor trusses, birch bark walls (not wallpaper), oyster shell chandelier, and custom bar area.
Country dining room in Other with exposed beam and wood walls.

Scarborough Modern Farmhouse Kitchen Renovation

The Good Home - Interiors & Design

Country dining room in Portland Maine with beige walls, light hardwood floors, exposed beam and wood walls.

Contemporary Dining Room

Contemporary dining room in Mumbai with white walls, beige floor and wood walls.

Pendrith Residence

PLANT Architect Inc.

In the breakfast room, clean-lined custom cabinetry is integrated with a ceiling nook.
This is an example of a small contemporary dining room in Toronto with blue walls and wood walls.

Rio Del Mar Dining Room - Built In Bench Seat

Urbana Design Studio

With limited space, we added a built-in bench seat to create a cozy, comfortable eating area.
This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury dining room in Other with white walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor, vaulted and wood walls.

Coastal Cottage waterside view

Cura Design

View of dining area and waterside
This is an example of a small beach style dining room in Devon with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, yellow floor, exposed beam and wood walls.

Dining Room

Laura Brophy Interiors

Design ideas for a contemporary dining room in Other with multi-coloured walls, light hardwood floors, wallpaper and wood walls.

Brown

Roundhouse

Contemporary dining room in London with multi-coloured floor and wood walls.

HEREFORD RAOD

Modern Architectural Practice

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary dining room in London with brown walls, grey floor and wood walls.

Soffit Saga: Breakfast Area

Tamara Day Design

Dining room in Kansas City with multi-coloured walls, vaulted and wood walls.

projet Anières

Plain Design Sàrl

vue sur l'espace salle à manger depuis le salon. Une banquette sur mesure a été ajoutée afin d'optimiser l'espace. cette banquette est aussi un coffre, ce qui permet de ranger décoration et coussins variés

Guest House Renovation

Anne Architecture

This is an example of a large country dining room in Charleston with white walls, light hardwood floors, brown floor, vaulted and wood walls.

Hill

Ross Builders, Inc.

Dining Room
Large transitional dining room in Chicago with grey walls, light hardwood floors, brown floor, vaulted and wood walls.

Stella, New Rochelle

Lena Lugo Interiors

Dinning nook with bistro table and slat wall.
Photo of a small contemporary dining room in New York with black walls, light hardwood floors, beige floor and wood walls.

Casa Cortina 4

Outline Studio 74

Country dining room in Other with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, wood and wood walls.

Waterfront Cottage

b Architecture Studio

Inspiration for a small beach style dining room in Boston with white walls, light hardwood floors, beige floor, exposed beam and wood walls.

Dinning Room FINAL

Matterhorn Development Co.

Breakfast nook next to the kitchen, coffered ceiling and white brick wall.
Photo of a large traditional dining room in Austin with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, brown floor, coffered and wood walls.

Cafe 27

Kos Interiors

Cafe 27 is a puts all of its energy into healthy living and eating. As such it was important to reinforce sustainable building practices convey Cafe 27's high standard for fresh, healthy and quality ingredients in their offerings through the architecture. The cafe is retrofit of an existing glass greenhouse structure. As a result the new cafe was imagined as an inside-out garden pavilion; wherein all the elements of a garden pavilion were placed inside a passively controlled greenhouse that connects with its surroundings. A number of elements simultaneously defined the architectural expression and interior environmental experience. A green-wall passively purifies Beijing's polluted air as it makes its way inside. A massive ceramic bar with pastry display anchors the interior seating arrangement. Combined with the terrazzo flooring, it creates a thermal mass that gradually and passively heats the space in the winter. In the summer the exterior wood trellis shades the glass structure reducing undesirable heat gain, while diffusing direct sunlight to create a thermally comfortable and optically dramatic space inside. Completing the interior, a pixilated hut-like elevation clad in Ash batons provides acoustic baffling while housing a pastry kitchen (visible through a large glass pane), the mechanical system, the public restrooms and dry storage. Finally, the interior and exterior are connected through a series pivoting doors further blurring the boundary between the indoor and outdoor experience of the cafe. These ecologically sound devices not only reduced the carbon footprint of the cafe but also enhanced the experience of being in a garden-like interior. All the while the shed-like form clad in natural materials with hanging gardens provides a strong identity for the Cafe 27 flagship. AWARDS Restaurant & Bar Design Awards | London A&D Trophy Awards | Hong Kong PUBLISHED Mercedes Benz Beijing City Guide Dezeen | London Cafe Plus | Images Publishers, Australia Interiors | Seoul KNSTRCT | New York Inhabitat | San Francisco Architectural Digest | Beijing

Breakfast Nook and Sitting Room

CS Thomas Construction

Exposed heart pine scissor trusses, birch bark walls (not wallpaper), oyster shell chandelier. 17-ft accordion doors open to the screen porch.
Inspiration for a country dining room in Other with exposed beam and wood walls.

Weir Residence

Geoff Chick & Associates

Inspiration for a small transitional dining room in Other with grey walls, light hardwood floors, brown floor, recessed and wood walls.

Breakfast Nook Dining Room Design Ideas with Wood 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!