Photo of a midcentury kitchen/dining combo in Sacramento with grey walls, porcelain floors, a corner fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and grey floor.

Wohn-Esszimmer mit Sitzfenster

Heerwagen Design Consulting

Wohn-Esszimmer mit Sitzfenster
Inspiration for a large contemporary open plan dining in Munich with white walls, plywood floors, a corner fireplace and beige floor.

Napa Modern

Kimberley Kay Interiors

Breakfast nook with concrete table
Design ideas for a large mediterranean dining room in Phoenix with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a corner fireplace and brown floor.

Bernal Heights Residences

Knock Architecture and Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized modern open plan dining in San Francisco with a corner fireplace and a wood fireplace surround.

80m2 rénovés tout en douceur

ADORA Rénovation

Design ideas for a modern dining room in Paris with white walls, light hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, beige floor and decorative wall panelling.

Kitchen - Home Staging

White Oak Home Staging

Design ideas for a mid-sized scandinavian separate dining room in San Diego with ceramic floors, white walls, a corner fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

SÖDRA VÄGEN FYRTIOETT

Ahre Fastighetsbyrå

This is an example of a large eclectic open plan dining in Gothenburg with light hardwood floors, white walls, a corner fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

Einfamilienhaus "B" Esslingen

Nadja Thalau Innenarchitektur

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Stuttgart with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

Restructuration d’une maison de 90m2 en RDC et 1er étage

Expression Architecte Intérieur

Salle à manger avec la cheminée et le parquet conservés Crédit photo : Eric Bouloumié
Photo of a scandinavian dining room in Bordeaux with a corner fireplace, white walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Potrero Hill House & Studio

Cathie Hong Interiors

This young married couple enlisted our help to update their recently purchased condo into a brighter, open space that reflected their taste. They traveled to Copenhagen at the onset of their trip, and that trip largely influenced the design direction of their home, from the herringbone floors to the Copenhagen-based kitchen cabinetry. We blended their love of European interiors with their Asian heritage and created a soft, minimalist, cozy interior with an emphasis on clean lines and muted palettes.

Agrandissement d'une pièce de vie

Fables de Murs

L'escalier a été ouvert pour agrandir visuellement l'espace du salon, Une télé tableau a pris place sur le mur de l'escalier. Le salon s'ouvre sur la terrasse.Une marche en marbre noire facilité l'accès.

Piedmont Hills, Modern Home

Alma Home Studio

This modern dining room accompanies an entire home remodel in the hills of Piedmont California. The wet bar was once a closet for dining storage that we recreated into a beautiful dual wet bar and dining storage unit with open shelving and modern geometric blue tile.

Rye Residence

Crozier Gedney Architects

Mid-sized transitional kitchen/dining combo in New York with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and brown floor.

Rose Lane New

Mel McDaniel Design

Inspiration for a large traditional separate dining room in Philadelphia with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a corner fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Ravenswood Ground Floor Conversion

Studio Fabbri

Mid-sized contemporary kitchen/dining combo in London with white walls, cork floors, a corner fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and brown floor.

Résidence Aquablu par Patrick Robichaud

FX Studio par Clairoux

Julien Perron-Gagné
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Montreal with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and brown floor.

Society Hill Living/Dining Room with Wet Bar

Buckminster Green LLC

Our clients brought us in to make a second floor refuge in advance of the arrival of their first child. This Society Hill rowhome had original baseboard and casing with decades of wear and layers of lead paint. In this case we decided restoration was not the best option for various reasons. We installed all new trim profiles, custom built-ins and radiator covers. Floors were refinished. The bar got a refresh. The original fireplace mantle in the dining room was, and is amazing - that stayed. The living room mantle was an awkwardly sized wood piece. We designed a more contemporary stone mantle that would complement, not compete with the dining room. Both got a black brick interior to tie them together stylistically.

Form Marries Function

Ashley Campbell Interior Design

Layers of texture and high contrast in this mid-century modern dining room. Inhabit living recycled wall flats painted in a high gloss charcoal paint as the feature wall. Three-sided flare fireplace adds warmth and visual interest to the dividing wall between dining room and den.

Privathaus in Gütersloh

Fotografie Frank Schoepgens

Architekt: Beckmann Architekten Gütersloh Fotografie: www.schoepgens.com Frank Schoepgens ist ein professioneller Fotodesigner aus Köln / NRW mit den Schwerpunkten Porträtfotografie, Architekturfotografie und Corporatefotografie / Unternehmensfotografie.

COASTAL HOUSE - Sydney

Brendan Wong Design

This is an example of a contemporary separate dining room in Sydney with white walls and a corner fireplace.

White Dining Room Design Ideas with a Corner Fireplace

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!