Inspiration for a transitional separate dining room in Seattle with light hardwood floors, no fireplace and white walls.

Private Residence, Pacific Northwest

TOBE DesignGroup, LLC

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional separate dining room in Seattle with grey walls, limestone floors, no fireplace and grey floor.

Dining Rooms

Platinum Homes by Mark Molthan

Large contemporary separate dining room in Dallas with beige walls and dark hardwood floors.

Skye in Palm Springs, California

Woodbridge Pacific Group

Residence 4 at Skye Palm Springs
This is an example of a midcentury separate dining room in Orange County with white walls, no fireplace and beige floor.

Brooklyn NY Brownstone

David Kaplan Interior Design LLC

Mentis Photography Inc
Design ideas for a transitional separate dining room in New York with beige walls and medium hardwood floors.

Montclair, Upper Mountain Ave

MODCLAIR

Large contemporary separate dining room in New York with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Transitional Dining Room

Design ideas for a transitional separate dining room in Los Angeles with black walls, light hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Centenary Feb 2013

Coats Homes

Nathan Schroder Photography
Transitional separate dining room in Dallas with dark hardwood floors.

Highland Park Classic

Traci Connell Interiors

Continuing through the home, a cobalt blue pop in the dining room brings the color scheme to fruition. We love the accent fabric on the chair backs that brings a touch of modern mixed with traditional into the space.

Classic Transitional

JAUREGUI Architecture Interiors Construction

This is an example of a traditional separate dining room in Houston with dark hardwood floors, multi-coloured walls and no fireplace.

Vibrant Elegant Total Home Makeover

Maria Causey Interior Design

Christy Kosnic
Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic separate dining room in DC Metro with dark hardwood floors, multi-coloured walls and no fireplace.

Dining Spaces

Pam Kelley Design

Design ideas for a traditional separate dining room in Dallas with yellow walls and medium hardwood floors.

Mediterranean Dining Room

Mediterranean separate dining room in Miami with beige walls.

Contemporary Los Gatos Hills

Charisma Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary separate dining room in San Francisco with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and brown floor.

Georgian Colonial Renovation

Rosen Kelly Conway Architecture & Design

Photographer: Mike Van Tassell Interior Designer: Sonja Gamgort Design Contractor: KDH Home Design LLC
Photo of a traditional separate dining room in New York with multi-coloured walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Tropical Interior with Asian Influences

Innovations Designer Home Decor & Accent Furniture

The formal dining room is elegant and serene. The leather side chairs are perfect for the family's two young children. Ted Dayton Photography
Inspiration for a large asian separate dining room in Los Angeles with beige walls, medium hardwood floors and no fireplace.

A Mid-Century Modern Apartment Makeover

Décor Aid

New Yorkers are always on the prowl for innovative ways to make the most of the space they have. An upper east side couple, challenged with a slightly narrow L shaped apartment sought out Decor Aid’s help to make the most of their Manhattan condo. Paired with one of our senior designer, Kimberly P., we learned that the clients wanted a space that looked beautiful, comfortable and also packed with functionality for everyday living. “Immediately upon seeing the space, I knew that we needed to create a narrative that allowed the design to control how you moved through the space,” reports Kimberly, senior interior designer. After surveying each room and learning a bit more about their personal style, we started with the living room remodel. It was clear that the couple wanted to infuse mid-century modern into the design plan. Sourcing the Room & Board Jasper Sofa with its narrow arms and tapered legs, it offered the mid-century look, with the modern comfort the clients are used to. Velvet accent pillows from West Elm and Crate & Barrel add pops of colors but also a subtle touch of luxury, while framed pictures from the couple’s honeymoon personalize the space. Moving to the dining room next, Kimberly decided to add a blue accent wall to emphasize the Horchow two piece Percussion framed art that was to be the focal point of the dining area. The Seno sideboard from Article perfectly accentuated the mid-century style the clients loved while providing much-needed storage space. The palette used throughout both rooms were very New York style, grays, blues, beiges, and whites, to add depth, Kimberly sourced decorative pieces in a mixture of different metals. “The artwork above their bureau in the bedroom is photographs that her father took,” Moving into the bedroom renovation, our designer made sure to continue to stick to the client’s style preference while once again creating a personalized, warm and comforting space by including the photographs taken by the client’s father. The Avery bed added texture and complimented the other colors in the room, while a hidden drawer at the foot pulls out for attached storage, which thrilled the clients. A deco-inspired Faceted mirror from West Elm was a perfect addition to the bedroom due to the illusion of space it provides. The result was a bedroom that was full of mid-century design, personality, and area so they can freely move around. The project resulted in the form of a layered mid-century modern design with touches of luxury but a space that can not only be lived in but serves as an extension of the people who live there. Our designer was able to take a very narrowly shaped Manhattan apartment and revamp it into a spacious home that is great for sophisticated entertaining or comfortably lazy nights in.

Willow Glen Residence

Lizette Marie Interior Design

Photo Credit: David Duncan Livingston
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional separate dining room in San Francisco with multi-coloured walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Atherton Timeless Estate

Spectrum Interior Design, Inc.

Large traditional separate dining room in San Francisco with dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor and beige walls.

Birmingham House

McIntosh Poris Associates

Brett Mountain
This is an example of a mid-sized industrial separate dining room in Detroit with dark hardwood floors and beige walls.

Separate 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!