This is a modern rustic dining room with a coastal vibe, for a family that enjoys entertaining for large gatherings. Lots of natural elements feature throughout the space including the rattan chandelier, dining chairs and floral centerpiece basket. An oval mirror with beautiful coral details, frames the wall flanked by an original abstract art piece. Custom embroidered drapes on decorative wood poles, finish off this one-of-a-kind, relaxed and cozy dining space.

Modern Organic

Annette Jaffe Interiors

Clean lines and a neutral palette with black accents highlight the original details of this 1920s Long Island Tudor that blends modern elegance with timeless charm. Classic elements meet modern furnishings for a warm, inviting space. This dining room boasts a gold leaf ceiling adorned with striking pendants. A sleek black dining table and chairs add a touch of modern drama, creating a sophisticated space for unforgettable meals.

Olson Residence

Staging North Shore

Phil Goldman Photography
Mid-sized transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor dining room photo in Chicago with blue walls

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Palo Alto Craftsman Restoration

Lane McNab Interiors

Elegant dining room photo in San Francisco

Wellesley - Contemporary Farm House

Structure Home

Set upon an oversized and highly sought-after creekside lot in Brentwood, this two story home and full guest home exude a casual, contemporary farmhouse style and vibe. The main residence boasts 5 bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms, each ensuite with thoughtful touches that accentuate the home’s overall classic finishes. The master retreat opens to a large balcony overlooking the yard accented by mature bamboo and palms. Other features of the main house include European white oak floors, recessed lighting, built in speaker system, attached 2-car garage and a laundry room with 2 sets of state-of-the-art Samsung washers and dryers. The bedroom suite on the first floor enjoys its own entrance, making it ideal for guests. The open concept kitchen features Calacatta marble countertops, Wolf appliances, wine storage, dual sinks and dishwashers and a walk-in butler’s pantry. The loggia is accessed via La Cantina bi-fold doors that fully open for year-round alfresco dining on the terrace, complete with an outdoor fireplace. The wonderfully imagined yard contains a sparkling pool and spa and a crisp green lawn and lovely deck and patio areas. Step down further to find the detached guest home, which was recognized with a Decade Honor Award by the Los Angeles Chapter of the AIA in 2006, and, in fact, was a frequent haunt of Frank Gehry who inspired its cubist design. The guest house has a bedroom and bathroom, living area, a newly updated kitchen and is surrounded by lush landscaping that maximizes its creekside setting, creating a truly serene oasis.

Dining Room

Grace Hill Design

Beach style dining room photo in Minneapolis

Farmhouse Dining Room

Dining room - cottage dining room idea in New York with multicolored walls and a standard fireplace

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Millersburg, OH

Schlabach Woodworks21 Reviews

Franklin County's Reclaimed Wood Professionals

New England Meets River Hills

Stone House Collective

When the homeowners purchased this house, it had good bones — but needed a vision. Ready for a new chapter, they wanted their dining room transformed into a proper gathering space: formal enough for holidays, warm enough to linger. The direction was sophisticated, earthy, and organic with a slightly masculine edge, inspired by the wife's New England roots. We kept the architecture and gutted the built-ins, rebuilding with purpose — custom millwork featuring reeded cabinet faces, a mirrored backsplash, dark wood tones, an arched detail, and an exotic stone top strike a balance between feminine and masculine. A hidden pantry door disappears flush into the wall, and wainscoting was added to ground the space. Floor-to-ceiling window treatments fill the wall for balance, with the curtain track tucked inside the bay window for a clean, floating effect. An iconic mural-style print from Rebel Walls anchors the room as a large-scale work of art — a subtle wash of earthy tones that doubles as a focal point. Every outlet and switch was swapped for aged brass, tying every detail together into a room that feels like it was always there.

Carole Fabrics Custom EZ Panels

Carole Fabrics

A sophisticated dining room featuring custom 3 Finger Pleat EZ Panels in the fabric In The Mirror Leather. The drapery is mounted on Kirsch Designer Metals Drapery Hardware in Black, accented with Briggs Duotone Finials in Black and Brushed Bronze, and coordinating Black Rings.

Boulders Contemporary

Schouten Design Studio + Lash McDaniel

Southwest dining room photo in Phoenix

Blue Luxury

Your Design Envy

Example of a trendy dining room design in Tampa

25th Avenue Multi-Space Renovation

TVL Creative Ltd.

Our clients had just recently closed on their new house in Stapleton and were excited to transform it into their perfect forever home. They wanted to remodel the entire first floor to create a more open floor plan and develop a smoother flow through the house that better fit the needs of their family. The original layout consisted of several small rooms that just weren’t very functional, so we decided to remove the walls that were breaking up the space and restructure the first floor to create a wonderfully open feel. After removing the existing walls, we rearranged their spaces to give them an office at the front of the house, a large living room, and a large dining room that connects seamlessly with the kitchen. We also wanted to center the foyer in the home and allow more light to travel through the first floor, so we replaced their existing doors with beautiful custom sliding doors to the back yard and a gorgeous walnut door with side lights to greet guests at the front of their home. Living Room Our clients wanted a living room that could accommodate an inviting sectional, a baby grand piano, and plenty of space for family game nights. So, we transformed what had been a small office and sitting room into a large open living room with custom wood columns. We wanted to avoid making the home feel too vast and monumental, so we designed custom beams and columns to define spaces and to make the house feel like a home. Aesthetically we wanted their home to be soft and inviting, so we utilized a neutral color palette with occasional accents of muted blues and greens. Dining Room Our clients were also looking for a large dining room that was open to the rest of the home and perfect for big family gatherings. So, we removed what had been a small family room and eat-in dining area to create a spacious dining room with a fireplace and bar. We added custom cabinetry to the bar area with open shelving for displaying and designed a custom surround for their fireplace that ties in with the wood work we designed for their living room. We brought in the tones and materiality from the kitchen to unite the spaces and added a mixed metal light fixture to bring the space together Kitchen We wanted the kitchen to be a real show stopper and carry through the calm muted tones we were utilizing throughout their home. We reoriented the kitchen to allow for a big beautiful custom island and to give us the opportunity for a focal wall with cooktop and range hood. Their custom island was perfectly complimented with a dramatic quartz counter top and oversized pendants making it the real center of their home. Since they enter the kitchen first when coming from their detached garage, we included a small mud-room area right by the back door to catch everyone’s coats and shoes as they come in. We also created a new walk-in pantry with plenty of open storage and a fun chalkboard door for writing notes, recipes, and grocery lists. Office We transformed the original dining room into a handsome office at the front of the house. We designed custom walnut built-ins to house all of their books, and added glass french doors to give them a bit of privacy without making the space too closed off. We painted the room a deep muted blue to create a glimpse of rich color through the french doors Powder Room The powder room is a wonderful play on textures. We used a neutral palette with contrasting tones to create dramatic moments in this little space with accents of brushed gold. Master Bathroom The existing master bathroom had an awkward layout and outdated finishes, so we redesigned the space to create a clean layout with a dream worthy shower. We continued to use neutral tones that tie in with the rest of the home, but had fun playing with tile textures and patterns to create an eye-catching vanity. The wood-look tile planks along the floor provide a soft backdrop for their new free-standing bathtub and contrast beautifully with the deep ash finish on the cabinetry.

Maison de Provence

AOME Architects

The dining room is spare enough for the materials and view to carry the space. Credit: Miranda Estes
Dining room - mediterranean dark wood floor, brown floor, exposed beam and wood ceiling dining room idea in Seattle with beige walls

Dining Room Ideas

The opposite of bustling, multifunctional rooms like the kitchen, the dining room is a simple space devoted solely to hosting and feasting. While it’s a room that may be used infrequently, it is ideal for large get-togethers, family dinners and celebrations. When perusing dining room ideas, consider what kind of lighting, furniture and decorative accents will transform the space into an entertaining mecca.

Achieving an effective dining room design can be a little tricky. However, one of the easiest changes you can make is swapping out your furniture; as the focal point of the room, your table should be your biggest investment. Take time to consider various furniture pieces and what works best for your needs. Don’t be afraid to splurge — a good table can last you decades! Once you have this cornerstone piece figured out, you can then focus on implementing your favorite dining room decorating ideas and storage options.

What kind of dining room furniture should I get?

Dining areas come in all shapes and sizes, as do their accompanying tables. As you browse dining room ideas, consider a few things. What is your dining room layout? How often do you entertain? How many people usually attend? What kind of events do you like organizing - big dinners or intimate gatherings? What kind of dining rooms are you personally drawn to at other homes? If you don’t host anything because you are hindered by your current dining room design, consider what kind of soirees you would ideally throw and work from there.

If you want a dining table with options, purchase one with a leaf so you can accommodate varying numbers of guests. Keep in mind that to ensure visitors won’t be bumping elbows with their fellow dinner guests, each person needs about two feet of eating space (typically the table manufacturer will be able to recommend the amount of people that can comfortably sit at the table).

In terms of shapes, round tables are optimal for achieving some of the smaller dining room design ideas you might see. They fit into tight areas and have no sharp corners to bump into when you’re serving a hot casserole or pouring a glass of water. Round pedestal tables are also useful alternatives - they offer more legroom than conventional designs. For a larger space, a square table works well, and a rectangular table is ideal for a long, narrow room.

No matter shape, size or material, make sure you measure table-to-wall clearance. To do this, measure the space around the room. Try to leave 42-48" between your table and the walls so diners can sit down and get up easily from their chairs. If there is furniture in the dining space, begin your 42-48” measurement from the edge of the furniture instead of the wall.

What kind of dining room decor should I have?

When looking for dining room decorating ideas, remember that you don’t want to overwhelm this refined space with too much clutter. However, simple does not mean plain, and this is a room where you can take some stylistic liberties. When decorating dining rooms, think about color schemes (after choosing your table, of course!). Usage of color can really make or break dining room designs, and the cohesion of a matching furniture set allows for colorful decor choices. Try light blue or gray walls for an elegant look, or go timeless with a black and white theme. If you want to stick to white paint, throw in some gold or copper accents, or splashes of bright colors to keep it interesting; geometric patterns, custom-painted ceilings and unique wallpapers are also effective at livening up a dining area.

Top off your dining room remodel with a statement light fixture, some inspirational artwork and a large mirror to reflect more light throughout the room. Lastly, don’t forget the dining room table decor! A seasonal centerpiece, table runner or plant arrangement can immediately brighten up the entire space.

How do I add storage to my dining room?

When choosing storage for dining rooms, focus on functionality. Do you want to have a place to lay out food? Do you want more storage? Do you want to showcase any items? Take a look at various dining room pictures to see how others have incorporated storage and pull the ideas you like for your own.

A china cabinet or hutch is a great way to store and display dishes or art pieces. If you need storage as well as a place to lay out food, sideboards - a long, low storage piece with short legs (also known as a “buffet”) - typically are your best bets as they have cabinets. “Servers” tend to be smaller, more formal and lighter in scale than sideboards; they can have drawers and an open bottom on taller legs, or they may have cabinets. Credenzas tend to be long, low cabinets on slender legs, often with sliding doors. Lastly, if you’re going to be using your dining area primarily for cocktail hour (or even if you’re not), consider investing in a rolling bar cart or a permanent wet bar. The dining room ideas you can choose from are really endless, so try not to get overwhelmed and remember you can always change the design down the road!

Whether you want inspiration for planning a dining room renovation or are building a designer dining room from scratch, Houzz has 488,083 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including Brion Jeannette Architecture and AOME Architects. Look through dining room pictures in different colors and styles and when you find a dining room design that inspires you, save it to an Ideabook or contact the Pro who made it happen to see what kind of design ideas they have for your home. Explore the beautiful dining room photo gallery and find out exactly why Houzz is the best experience for home renovation and design.