This is an example of a small separate dining room in Tampa with green walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor and timber.

Cresswind Twin Lakes - Spruce Model Dining Room

Masterpiece Design Group

A Modern Farmhouse formal dining space with spindle back chairs and a wainscoting trim detail.
Design ideas for a mid-sized country separate dining room in Atlanta with light hardwood floors, brown floor, timber, decorative wall panelling and green walls.

Transitional Dining Room

Photo of a transitional separate dining room in New York with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor, exposed beam, timber, vaulted and wallpaper.

Denver | Project 2110

Shadow Creek Homes

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary separate dining room in Denver with white walls, no fireplace, timber and light hardwood floors.

Hermosa Beach Custom

Hudson Home

Photo of a mid-sized beach style separate dining room in Los Angeles with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, grey floor and timber.

ホテルライクなマンションリノベ

リノベーションスタジオKULABO

ダイニング、リビング、キッチンと各スペース事に床材や壁のテイストを変え、別々の空間としてはっきりさせている
Inspiration for a mid-sized separate dining room in Nagoya with grey walls, light hardwood floors, beige floor and timber.

Eclectic Traveler’s Resort

Everything Home

Every detail of this European villa-style home exudes a uniquely finished feel. Our design goals were to invoke a sense of travel while simultaneously cultivating a homely and inviting ambience. This project reflects our commitment to crafting spaces seamlessly blending luxury with functionality. This once-underused, bland formal dining room was transformed into an evening retreat, evoking the ambience of a Tangiers cigar bar. Texture was introduced through grasscloth wallpaper, shuttered cabinet doors, rattan chairs, and knotty pine ceilings. --- Project completed by Wendy Langston's Everything Home interior design firm, which serves Carmel, Zionsville, Fishers, Westfield, Noblesville, and Indianapolis. For more about Everything Home, see here: https://everythinghomedesigns.com/

The Ranch House in Almaden Valley

Carmit Oron Interior Design

Design ideas for a large country separate dining room in San Francisco with white walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and timber.

Almont Drive

Brett D Karns Designs

This square dining room wasn't elongated so, a round table made sense. The drama is in the fixtures by Rejuvenation, the black ceiling with a ship lap design, herringbone floors and 8" baseboards. Also, all of the windows in the house are painted black wood from Marvin.

The Evans Floor Plan as a Model Home

Bercher Homes

White parson chairs around a weathered grey rectangle table
Photo of a mid-sized arts and crafts separate dining room in Atlanta with black walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor and timber.

Virginia Country House

Norris Architecture

Photo of a traditional separate dining room in Other with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor, timber and vaulted.

Williams Kitchen

Brickhouse Kitchens and Baths

Inspiration for a beach style separate dining room in Baltimore with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor and timber.

Montecito Transitional

DD Ford Construction

This is an example of a large transitional separate dining room in Santa Barbara with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor, medium hardwood floors and timber.

Historic Contemporary Cottage

Lisa Stewart Design

The Dining Room wall color is Sherwin Williams 6719 Gecko. This darling Downtown Raleigh Cottage is over 100 years old. The current owners wanted to have some fun in their historic home! Sherwin Williams and Restoration Hardware paint colors inside add a contemporary feel.

Turtle Creek Timeless

Ashby Collective

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional separate dining room in Dallas with white walls, brown floor, medium hardwood floors, exposed beam, timber, vaulted, planked wall panelling and decorative wall panelling.

Coral Gables

Gabriel Volpi Architecture Photographer

This is an example of a beach style separate dining room in Miami with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, exposed beam, timber and wallpaper.

Madera | Bellevue

JayMarc Homes

The Madera's Dining Room showcases an elegant and timeless design. White walls create a bright and airy atmosphere, allowing the natural light to illuminate the space. White chairs surrounding the dining table add a touch of simplicity and modernity, while the dark wooden shiplap ceiling brings a sense of warmth and character to the room. Gray carpet covers the floor, providing comfort and a soft texture underfoot. A large mirror on one of the walls not only enhances the sense of space but also reflects the beauty of the dining area. The centerpiece of the room is a stylish gray wooden table, serving as a gathering spot for family and friends. A potted plant adds a touch of greenery, bringing nature indoors and contributing to a fresh and inviting ambiance. Completing the look is the light hardwood flooring, which complements the overall design and ties the elements of The Madera's Dining Room together, creating a sophisticated and welcoming space for memorable meals and gatherings.

Horsham Addition

Harth Builders

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional separate dining room in Philadelphia with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and timber.

Modern Hillside

GLDESIGN

Design ideas for an expansive modern separate dining room in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, brown floor and timber.

Highlands Back Country Remodel

Vesta Design Studio, LLC

Mid-sized country separate dining room in Denver with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, timber and panelled walls.

Separate Dining Room Design Ideas with Timber

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!