Inspiration for a traditional dining room in DC Metro with beige walls and dark hardwood floors.

Tisdale Kitchen nook with Built-in bench seat .

A built-in bench seat makes a space warm and inviting. It also utilizes the entire space which make it look more roomy…a place to eat ,work or read a book.

Traditional Dining Room

Danielle Lancaster Interiors

Design ideas for a traditional dining room in Manchester.

Surrey Mansion

Stephenson Wright Ltd

Photo of a traditional separate dining room in Surrey with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and decorative wall panelling.

dieghton extending table

Banks Bespoke

walnut, oak, and brass 3 meters extending dining table
Design ideas for a traditional dining room in London.

Certified Luxury Builders - 41 West - Old Naples Custom Home

Dream Coast Builders

Mid-sized traditional dining room in Tampa with beige walls, ceramic floors, beige floor and no fireplace.

Crushed Velvet Chaise Lounge

Fishpools Furniture Store & Interior Designers

Fishpools Furniture does Mansion House Style.
This is an example of a traditional dining room in Hertfordshire with blue walls and dark hardwood floors.

Belmont Victorian

Cummings Architecture + Interiors

As seen on This Old House, photo by Eric Roth
Photo of a large traditional open plan dining in Boston with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround.

Town Houses in Tunbridge Wells

Mckerron Design

Photo of a traditional dining room in Kent.

Regal Reflection

Barnard & Speziale | The Interior Design Company

This is an example of a traditional kitchen/dining combo in Burlington with grey walls.

Goshen Ridge Model Home

Laura Bendik Interiors

Design ideas for a traditional dining room in DC Metro with blue walls and medium hardwood floors.

Transitional Elegance

Brian Morris Architect

Traditional dining room in Other with dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Marine Parade Hythe

Sonja Earl Photographer

Coastal Living Room / Diner and Kitchen Open Plan with original period features and sea views
Large traditional open plan dining in Kent with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, a standard fireplace and a metal fireplace surround.

Classic Living

Catherine Alison Interiors

This is an example of a traditional dining room in Toronto.

Appleby Place

Pizzale Design Inc.

The dining room has plenty of seating to comfortably fit 8 people. It is accented with custom molding and artwork to finish the look. The colour palette unifies the main floor with maintaining a clean look.

Antique Home - Cottonwood Place

Tina Bilazarian @ Remax Vision

Reverend Ward Cotton House, Circa 1800. Lovingly maintained and tastefully updated, located in Boylston's Historic Town Center, set 300 ft. off Main St. Home boasts 3 levels of comfortable living. 14 rooms, 9 fireplaces, 2 Dutch ovens, 5 bathrooms, wide pine floors, screened porch, eat in Cherry kitchen, granite counters. Potential craft room or workshop located off mudroom and kitchen. Dual staircases. 5 rooms with closets. Flexible usage of rooms.

Gentlemen's Office

Virginia Bishop Interiors

Traditional dining room in Brisbane.

Eclectic Style

Creative Design Construction, Inc.

Photo of a large traditional separate dining room in New York with blue walls and dark hardwood floors.

Clearhaven - 2013 Street of Dreams

Jamie Opsahl Interior Design

Photo of a traditional separate dining room in Portland with beige walls and dark hardwood floors.

Mercer Island Waterfront Estate

Shuler Architecture

Here's one of our most recent projects that was completed in 2011. This client had just finished a major remodel of their house in 2008 and were about to enjoy Christmas in their new home. At the time, Seattle was buried under several inches of snow (a rarity for us) and the entire region was paralyzed for a few days waiting for the thaw. Our client decided to take advantage of this opportunity and was in his driveway sledding when a neighbor rushed down the drive yelling that his house was on fire. Unfortunately, the house was already engulfed in flames. Equally unfortunate was the snowstorm and the delay it caused the fire department getting to the site. By the time they arrived, the house and contents were a total loss of more than $2.2 million. Our role in the reconstruction of this home was two-fold. The first year of our involvement was spent working with a team of forensic contractors gutting the house, cleansing it of all particulate matter, and then helping our client negotiate his insurance settlement. Once we got over these hurdles, the design work and reconstruction started. Maintaining the existing shell, we reworked the interior room arrangement to create classic great room house with a contemporary twist. Both levels of the home were opened up to take advantage of the waterfront views and flood the interiors with natural light. On the lower level, rearrangement of the walls resulted in a tripling of the size of the family room while creating an additional sitting/game room. The upper level was arranged with living spaces bookended by the Master Bedroom at one end the kitchen at the other. The open Great Room and wrap around deck create a relaxed and sophisticated living and entertainment space that is accentuated by a high level of trim and tile detail on the interior and by custom metal railings and light fixtures on the exterior.

Traditional Grey Dining Room Design Ideas

A traditional 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 traditional 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 traditional 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 traditional 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!