Trending: The Most Popular New Dining Areas in Summer 2018
The once-formal room has become a more casual living space
Becky Harris
October 9, 2018
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
Our Trending Now series features the most-saved photos uploaded to Houzz in the previous three months.
These days, it’s not unusual for homeowners to forgo a formal dining room space. And dining areas are definitely trending more casual, whether in a stand-alone room or part of a great room or eat-in kitchen. Mix-and-match furniture is another design move popping up more often. Take a look at five trends from 10 of the most popular new dining spaces on Houzz.
These days, it’s not unusual for homeowners to forgo a formal dining room space. And dining areas are definitely trending more casual, whether in a stand-alone room or part of a great room or eat-in kitchen. Mix-and-match furniture is another design move popping up more often. Take a look at five trends from 10 of the most popular new dining spaces on Houzz.
Trend 1: Traditional Colonial Influence
These homeowners wanted a reminder of their former home on Cape Cod when restoring their Victorian-era home in San Francisco. They worked with builder Michael Miller of Phase2 Builders to create the appropriate wainscoting and restore the coved ceiling. Meanwhile, the antique English dining table, Windsor chairs, hand-painted wallpaper and sailboat model bring in Colonial Massachusetts style, while the light fixture adds a modern touch.
Style tip: An Oriental rug is a good choice for a dining room. Not only does it add warm color and a beautiful classic pattern that works with most styles, but it can also hide a multitude of stains from food and drink.
These homeowners wanted a reminder of their former home on Cape Cod when restoring their Victorian-era home in San Francisco. They worked with builder Michael Miller of Phase2 Builders to create the appropriate wainscoting and restore the coved ceiling. Meanwhile, the antique English dining table, Windsor chairs, hand-painted wallpaper and sailboat model bring in Colonial Massachusetts style, while the light fixture adds a modern touch.
Style tip: An Oriental rug is a good choice for a dining room. Not only does it add warm color and a beautiful classic pattern that works with most styles, but it can also hide a multitude of stains from food and drink.
This house actually is on Cape Cod, in the charming town of Cotuit, and dates back to 1740. While the dining room’s traditional-style oak table, chairs and millwork all nod to the home’s history, updated light fixtures, artwork and a metallic glaze on the walls bring in fresh touches.
Style tip: “I always think that interesting and warm is better than forcing a lighter wall color. Most dining rooms are used primarily at night, so I say embrace darker colors,” homeowner Beth Odence told Houzz.
Style tip: “I always think that interesting and warm is better than forcing a lighter wall color. Most dining rooms are used primarily at night, so I say embrace darker colors,” homeowner Beth Odence told Houzz.
Trend 2: Mixing and Matching
In days past, a matching set of table, chairs and buffet was practically a requirement for a dining room. This is far from how it is today, when mixing and matching chairs and styles as well as eras of furniture is popular. Here, designer Jamie Keskin’s mix of traditional rug, casual wicker host and hostess chairs, beautiful built-ins full of traditional china, chandelier and woven shades creates an inviting transitional vibe.
Style tip: If you’re tight on dining space, consider built-in china cabinets and buffets. They make efficient use of space.
In days past, a matching set of table, chairs and buffet was practically a requirement for a dining room. This is far from how it is today, when mixing and matching chairs and styles as well as eras of furniture is popular. Here, designer Jamie Keskin’s mix of traditional rug, casual wicker host and hostess chairs, beautiful built-ins full of traditional china, chandelier and woven shades creates an inviting transitional vibe.
Style tip: If you’re tight on dining space, consider built-in china cabinets and buffets. They make efficient use of space.
In this Charlotte, North Carolina, dining room, designers Berkeley Minkhorst and Kelley Lentini of House of Nomad gave their clients a space that reflected their love of travel. A turquoise accent wall catches the eye, while a combination of rattan and wood chairs mixes things up at the table. The brass chandelier adds a modern touch and a fiddlehead fig tree breathes life into the corner.
Style tip: You can change up the entire look of a room without chucking everything. The homeowners already had the bulk of this furniture, but the new turquoise wall, rug and styling moves completely refreshed the space.
Style tip: You can change up the entire look of a room without chucking everything. The homeowners already had the bulk of this furniture, but the new turquoise wall, rug and styling moves completely refreshed the space.
Trend 3: Built-In Benches
In this family-friendly breakfast nook in Nashville, Tennessee, a wraparound bench provides seating and extra storage. The farm table, antique bench and exposed brick lend a rustic vibe, while the faux fur throw and mirror layer in some glam.
Style tip: A large mirror can make a space feel larger and brighter.
See more of this home
In this family-friendly breakfast nook in Nashville, Tennessee, a wraparound bench provides seating and extra storage. The farm table, antique bench and exposed brick lend a rustic vibe, while the faux fur throw and mirror layer in some glam.
Style tip: A large mirror can make a space feel larger and brighter.
See more of this home
This London dining space by Imperfect Interiors has an enviable conservatory feel thanks to its glass roof and expansive windows. The built-in bench allows room for more folks to cozy up in here than chairs would, while scads of throw pillows keep things comfortable.
Style tip: Keep the lighting cozy, particularly when it’s overhead, by adding dimmers to control the brightness. It allows you to completely change the mood of a room.
Browse pendant lights
Style tip: Keep the lighting cozy, particularly when it’s overhead, by adding dimmers to control the brightness. It allows you to completely change the mood of a room.
Browse pendant lights
Trend 4: Chic and Unfussy
Many Houzz users took note of the navy accent wall and how it complements the artwork in this Upper East Side dining room by Décor Aid. (The paint color is Rich Navy by Glidden.) The overall color palette of grays, blues, beiges and whites conveys a calm and comfortable feel. Speaking of comfort, upholstered chairs like this will keep everyone relaxing at the table for a good long while.
Style tip: A mix of metals keeps a design interesting.
Many Houzz users took note of the navy accent wall and how it complements the artwork in this Upper East Side dining room by Décor Aid. (The paint color is Rich Navy by Glidden.) The overall color palette of grays, blues, beiges and whites conveys a calm and comfortable feel. Speaking of comfort, upholstered chairs like this will keep everyone relaxing at the table for a good long while.
Style tip: A mix of metals keeps a design interesting.
Interior designer Rachel Madden used a lighter color palette and new juxtapositions to make this San Francisco dining room feel fresher and younger. While keeping the existing dark dining table, chairs and buffet, she updated the look with a metallic wallpaper and a new rug, lamp and artwork.
Style tip: Look to your favorite artwork for color inspiration. The painting inspired this color palette.
See more of this makeover
Style tip: Look to your favorite artwork for color inspiration. The painting inspired this color palette.
See more of this makeover
Trend 5: No Dining Room
A separate formal dining room no longer earns automatic floor space in home plans today. People who gather elsewhere for more casual meals are finding that a formal dining room is generally wasted in their households. In this home near Bozeman, Montana, a large dining table is convenient to the kitchen but still feels separate thanks to the division provided by the peninsula.
Style tip: Perform small makeovers to change the look of something you already have. In this case, the homeowners removed small lampshades from the chandelier and switched out the bulbs to give the fixture a new-to-them look.
Learn more about this Houzz Kitchen of the Week
A separate formal dining room no longer earns automatic floor space in home plans today. People who gather elsewhere for more casual meals are finding that a formal dining room is generally wasted in their households. In this home near Bozeman, Montana, a large dining table is convenient to the kitchen but still feels separate thanks to the division provided by the peninsula.
Style tip: Perform small makeovers to change the look of something you already have. In this case, the homeowners removed small lampshades from the chandelier and switched out the bulbs to give the fixture a new-to-them look.
Learn more about this Houzz Kitchen of the Week
This eat-in area off the kitchen serves as the only dining space in architect Laurie Kruhoeffer’s home on Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota. A chandelier she and her husband have had for many years adds an unexpected ornate touch overhead. They hung it high enough to keep the views to the lake open.
Style tip: Provide some sense of division between the working part of the kitchen and an adjacent dining space. In this house, a buffet (left) that matches the kitchen cabinetry provides a gentle transition between the dining and kitchen areas.
Learn more about this Houzz Kitchen of the Week
More
How to Refresh Your Dining Room on a Budget
Find a local interior designer to spice up your dining space
Style tip: Provide some sense of division between the working part of the kitchen and an adjacent dining space. In this house, a buffet (left) that matches the kitchen cabinetry provides a gentle transition between the dining and kitchen areas.
Learn more about this Houzz Kitchen of the Week
More
How to Refresh Your Dining Room on a Budget
Find a local interior designer to spice up your dining space
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I decided to share my past dining room that I loved but rarely used. However it was a getaway area for me when I wanted to get in touch with my feminine side. I admit I miss it but it would sit and gather dust if I still had it. We used the informal breakfast room more often also below that had a view out the windows for miles from the top of our mini mountain. We just have a more casual room now.
I have a formal dining room and a large eat-in kitchen area. I love to use my formal dining room and my husband and I eat in there, at least once a week, as just the two of us particularly in the winter. If we have people for dinner I mostly eat in there also and people seem to enjoy that I've taken the time to make it special for them. The pets join us as well. I don't need such a formal space but do like a separate space with no dirty dishes to look at around the sink. Whatever you like is fine I just wish people would remember to teach their kids basic table manners without anything needing to be too formal. Enjoy being together where ever!
I quite liked all the photos but loved the atrium kitchen in London.
I love your ideas, it maybe trendy to mix and match but I have done it my whole marriage 41yrs, in Nov. But I really found this awesome!