Modern Dining Room in an open floor plan, sits between the Living Room, Kitchen and Backyard Patio. The modern electric fireplace wall is finished in distressed grey plaster. Modern Dining Room Furniture in Black and white is paired with a sculptural glass chandelier. Floor to ceiling windows and modern sliding glass doors expand the living space to the outdoors.

HD Woven Wood shades and Custom Drapery

Interior Essentials

Hunter Douglas Provenance Woven Wood shades with Custom Drapery side panels on iron rods.
Inspiration for a large transitional open plan dining in Phoenix with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and brown floor.

Dining Room

Forte Building Group, LLC

Garett & Carrie Buell of Studiobuell / studiobuell.com
Photo of a transitional open plan dining in Nashville with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Malibu Beach Cottage

Jeffrey Smalley Architects

Photo of a small beach style kitchen/dining combo in Los Angeles with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and grey floor.

Apartment in Dublin 6

houseology

Compact white dining area with oak floor. Tulip table and ikea chairs, ikea rug. Photograph by Philip Lauterbach
Design ideas for a contemporary open plan dining in Dublin with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a metal fireplace surround.

kontrast

Fabi Architekten BDA part gmbb

Herbert Stolz, Regensburg
Photo of a large contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Munich with white walls, concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and grey floor.

West Perry Street

Rethink Design Studio

Richard Leo Johnson Wall Color: Gray Owl - Regal Wall Satin, Latex Flat (Benjamin Moore) Trim Color: Super White - Oil, Semi Gloss (Benjamin Moore) Wallpaper: Trove Chandelier: Old Plank Wall Plaques: Lazy Susan Gazelle Horns - J Douglas Mirror: Prescott Gold Leaf Round Mirror - Arteriors Dining Table: Oval Dining Table - DWR Dining Chairs: Eames Molded Plastic Wood Dowel Chairs - DWR Dining Chairs (Captain): Antique (reupholstered) Bar Cart: Ponce Iron Bar Cart - Arteriors Stools: Suite NY

eichler in marinwood

building Lab, inc.

Eichler in Marinwood - In conjunction to the porous programmatic kitchen block as a connective element, the walls along the main corridor add to the sense of bringing outside in. The fin wall adjacent to the entry has been detailed to have the siding slip past the glass, while the living, kitchen and dining room are all connected by a walnut veneer feature wall running the length of the house. This wall also echoes the lush surroundings of lucas valley as well as the original mahogany plywood panels used within eichlers. photo: scott hargis

Fieldstone House

Bruns Architecture

Tricia Shay Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern open plan dining in Milwaukee with concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, white walls and brown floor.

Fire Island Home

GDG Designworks

GDG Designworks completely furnished this new Fire Island beach house. We also advised on all kitchen and bathroom fixtures and finishes throughout the house.

Dining Room Breakfront

Great Rooms Building Group

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional separate dining room in Chicago with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Scandi Style Lounge Renovation

Janey Butler Interiors

The total renovation, working with Llama Projects, the construction division of the Llama Group, of this once very dated top floor apartment in the heart of the old city of Shrewsbury. With all new electrics, fireplace, built in cabinetry, flooring and interior design & style. Our clients wanted a stylish, contemporary interior through out replacing the dated, old fashioned interior. The old fashioned electric fireplace was replaced with a modern electric fire and all new built in cabinetry was built into the property. Showcasing the lounge interior, with stylish Italian design furniture, available through our design studio. New wooden flooring throughout, John Cullen Lighting, contemporary built in cabinetry. Creating a wonderful weekend luxury pad for our Hong Kong based clients. All furniture, lighting, flooring and accessories are available through Janey Butler Interiors.

Upper Montclair, NJ, New home, Marion Road

Oasis Architecture

The fireplace, open on three sides, anchors the room and allows for enjoyment of the fireplace from different parts of the space. Greg Martz Photography.

Eclectic Dining Room

Design ideas for an eclectic kitchen/dining combo in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors and a two-sided fireplace.

КП "Ромашки"

artELLE-design

Large scandinavian separate dining room in Moscow with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and a ribbon fireplace.

Butler's Pantry with Dining Room Beyond

DeBaker Design Group, Ltd.

This is an example of a small transitional separate dining room in Chicago with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Chelsea Palace Gardens

Osborne House Interiors

Design ideas for a large transitional dining room in Essex with grey walls and a standard fireplace.

Lake Granbury

Le Belle Maison Interiors Inc.

Desiree Roberts
This is an example of a large traditional open plan dining in Dallas with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Wohnhaus M

Architekturbüro zwo P Planungsgesellschaft mbH

Photo of a large contemporary open plan dining in Stuttgart with a wood stove, a plaster fireplace surround, grey floor and white walls.

Dining Area Detail

Angela Reynolds Designs

Photo of an expansive transitional open plan dining in Miami with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor and black walls.

All Fireplaces Grey Dining Room Design Ideas

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!