Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional separate dining room in Other with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and brown floor.

Dining Room Lighting: Cascade Luminaire by Boyd Lighting

Boyd Lighting

This dining room features the Cascade Luminaire by Boyd lighting.
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional separate dining room in San Francisco with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

New Photos

Milburn Home Design, LLC

Photo of a mid-sized separate dining room in Denver with beige walls, ceramic floors, a corner fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and beige floor.

Topanaga Project

Uberion Architecture + Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic separate dining room in Los Angeles with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

Wellingtton Crescent - Ramsgate

Gregory Davies Photography

Photo of a mid-sized traditional separate dining room in London with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

ReCreations Home Furnishing Nashville

ReCreations Home

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional separate dining room in Nashville with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

Dining Room

De Mattei Construction

The dining area is indoor-outdoor and includes a gas fireplace and large glass panel doors that open onto a patio.
This is an example of an expansive contemporary separate dining room in San Francisco with a ribbon fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

Sophisticated Mid-Century Home : Barnes

Cassidy Hughes Interior Design

Gregory Davies
Inspiration for a midcentury separate dining room in London with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

The Dining Room & Storage

Weave Interiors

A fresh, calm and inviting room ready for the tenants to add their own stamp to the walls and with their furniture
Design ideas for a small contemporary separate dining room in Surrey with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and brown floor.

Crystal Clear

Aspen Leaf Interiors

This is an example of a large contemporary separate dining room in Other with white walls, ceramic floors, a ribbon fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

Gullibles Roost

Spencer & Company

Inspiration for a large traditional separate dining room in Boston with blue walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

Brighton Home

Danielle Scandrett Interiors

Clare Box Photography
This is an example of a large eclectic separate dining room in Melbourne with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

Contemporary dining room

My Paradissi

Eleni Psyllaki
Mid-sized contemporary separate dining room in Other with white walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

Meadow (Preston Hollow)

Nixon Custom Homes

Photo of a mid-sized traditional separate dining room in Dallas with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and brown floor.

Once A Tree Furniture Designer Showcase

Dexter Dolores Interiors

Photo of a large traditional separate dining room in Vancouver with brown walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and brown floor.

Mercer Island Bedroom Retreat

AJX Design Co.

This is an example of a large country separate dining room in Seattle with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor and a plaster fireplace surround.

American Hearth Fireplaces

Pittsburgh Gas Grill & Heater Co

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional separate dining room in Other with red walls, dark hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and brown floor.

Benjamin Moore Line

Arte Bella Painting

Design ideas for a mid-sized eclectic separate dining room in Other with purple walls, porcelain floors, a standard fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

Seagrass

Kernow Fires and Biomass

Photo of an expansive contemporary separate dining room in Cornwall with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove and a plaster fireplace surround.

Las Campanas Southwestern Home

Pink Dwelling

Inspiration for a mid-sized separate dining room in Other with beige walls, terra-cotta floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, beige floor and exposed beam.

Separate Dining Room Design Ideas with a Plaster Fireplace Surround

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!