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 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!
Mid Century Dining Set Floats in Open Floor Plan. Nanawall System connects inside to outdoors. Inspiration for a large rustic dark wood floor and black floor great room remodel in Seattle with no fireplace The architecture, including the ceiling beams and another set of steps, guides people down from the compressed entry to a long, open space that opens up completely to the views down the great lawn to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The beams are Douglas fir. Several of them were milled from trees on the property that were taken down during construction.
“The landscape is stunning and the climate is temperate, so a connection between indoors and outdoors was really important,” Donovan says. “Large w - yeeca
Brad Taylor Photography Example of a large transitional dark wood floor and white floor great room design in Dallas with white walls, a standard fireplace and a concrete fireplace Floors and the dark wood beams and bright white molding - catherinehodges
Nicole Franzen Inspiration for a scandinavian dark wood floor great room remodel in New York with red walls and no fireplace Everything! Rectangular table. Low backed chairs - lisa_barika
Starr Homes
Dining room - farmhouse beige floor and medium tone wood floor dining room idea in Kansas City with gray walls Love the windows with all the natural light. I also love the detail of the ceiling with the chandelier. - kelsey_johnson90
We placed reclaimed Douglas fir beams on the ceiling to add warmth.
Photo: Helynn Ospina Kitchen/dining room combo - midcentury modern ceramic floor and beige floor kitchen/dining room combo idea in San Francisco with white walls pretty dining room, maybe a tad bit smaller.. - rudari
Custom kitchen with Danby Marble and Pietra Cardosa Counters - Breakfast nook with built in banquette Country light wood floor and beige floor dining room photo in Boston with beige walls Dinging room -- I like this dinging room because the color blue and the wood brown are very harmonious. the color can consider as the complementary color Blue and Orange, it make the are vivid, clean and warm. I also like the booth seat around the window. the color are match the curtains and the kitchen cabinets. and by the booth people can sit as close as they want, it is very flexible. and the drop light has been repetition by the kitchen decoration. - kattie53
Example of a cottage medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen/dining room combo design in Seattle with white walls banc table à manger, intéressant !! - evesara_lake
New Yorkers are always on the prowl for innovative ways to make the most of the space they have. An upper east side couple, challenged with a slightly narrow L shaped apartment sought out Decor Aid’s help to make the most of their Manhattan condo. Paired with one of our senior designer, Kimberly P., we learned that the clients wanted a space that looked beautiful, comfortable and also packed with functionality for everyday living.
“Immediately upon seeing the space, I knew that we needed to create a narrative that allowed the design to control how you moved through the space,” reports Kimberly, senior interior designer.
After surveying each room and learning a bit more about their personal style, we started with the living room remodel. It was clear that the couple wanted to infuse mid-century modern into the design plan. Sourcing the Room & Board Jasper Sofa with its narrow arms and tapered legs, it offered the mid-century look, with the modern comfort the clients are used to. Velvet accent pillows from West Elm and Crate & Barrel add pops of colors but also a subtle touch of luxury, while framed pictures from the couple’s honeymoon personalize the space.
Moving to the dining room next, Kimberly decided to add a blue accent wall to emphasize the Horchow two piece Percussion framed art that was to be the focal point of the dining area. The Seno sideboard from Article perfectly accentuated the mid-century style the clients loved while providing much-needed storage space. The palette used throughout both rooms were very New York style, grays, blues, beiges, and whites, to add depth, Kimberly sourced decorative pieces in a mixture of different metals.
“The artwork above their bureau in the bedroom is photographs that her father took,”
Moving into the bedroom renovation, our designer made sure to continue to stick to the client’s style preference while once again creating a personalized, warm and comforting space by including the photographs taken by the client’s father. The Avery bed added texture and complimented the other colors in the room, while a hidden drawer at the foot pulls out for attached storage, which thrilled the clients. A deco-inspired Faceted mirror from West Elm was a perfect addition to the bedroom due to the illusion of space it provides. The result was a bedroom that was full of mid-century design, personality, and area so they can freely move around.
The project resulted in the form of a layered mid-century modern design with touches of luxury but a space that can not only be lived in but serves as an extension of the people who live there. Our designer was able to take a very narrowly shaped Manhattan apartment and revamp it into a spacious home that is great for sophisticated entertaining or comfortably lazy nights in. I like the symmetry and sasymmetry going on - cameron_manore
Inspiration for a contemporary light wood floor and beige floor dining room remodel in New York with gray walls can we do something this in foyer for a dining area off kitchen? - chrisa_nyc
A little greenery goes a long way. Here, moving the tall fiddle leaf fig tree next to the client's monumental painting was the perfect antidote to an otherwise gaping white space. Photo by Claire Esparros. Table and chair leg colot - design9725
LANDMARK PHOTOGRAPHY Example of a coastal dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen/dining room combo design in Minneapolis with white walls Nice table set however I’m not sure the whole fabric chair thing...to much work to keep it clean... - juliana_demedrano
