- Dining Room
Dining Room Ideas and Designs
Dining room ideas can range from the dramatic overhaul of layout, walls, doors, fireplaces or lighting features, to the refresh of furniture such as dining tables and chairs, or even smaller details such as dinnerware, cutlery, chair covers and small decorative features. So whether you are looking to completely redesign your dining room or you’re just looking for some dining room decorating ideas, you’re bound to find some inspiration from other homeowners, designers and stylists who’ve uploaded images of their dining rooms on Houzz.
How should I choose my dining room table?
Dining tables can be large, imposing pieces of furniture and so it’s a good idea to choose your table first and plan your decor around them. Comfort and ease of movement in dining rooms is key – even though we spend most of our time sitting, it’s preferable not to dine in cramped quarters (and crucial as a host to be able to move around the table to serve your guests). When choosing your dining room table, consider the number of people you expect to regularly seat – the perfect size for a dining table allows an intimate meal without feeling crowded. A round table leaves plenty of room for serving food at its centre, but a rectangular table is more flexible for seating extra guests at either end. If you’re after true versatility, drop leaf or extendable dining room tables are the most convenient option.
The material of your selected table will set the character of your room. Glass dining tables look sleek and modern, whilst a pine or oak dining table will lend dining rooms a rustic country vibe. For a more traditional dining table opt for a dark polished wood like mahogany. Check out all the dining room decorating ideas on Houzz to see how different materials of dining table are incorporated into different rooms.
What are the best dining chairs for my table?
If your table hasn’t been sold with matching chairs then you have some extra flexibility to select dining chairs that suit your desired dining room feel. For traditional dining rooms you will want to opt for a full set of high backed formal dining chairs, whether these are upholstered, leather or wood framed. If you are looking for a more informal dining room, then a selection of mismatched chairs in different materials such as moulded plastic and even metal can be a great way to achieve this. For a really relaxed dining experience, you could even opt for a full length bench, which has the additional advantage of saving space as it can be tucked away under the table when not in use.
How should I decorate my dining room?
Elegant, neutral palettes are the safest dining room decorating ideas for smaller rooms, creating a calm dining environment for your guests. Pattern in a dining room can be a great choice to create drama but in order to not overwhelm your guests you might want to stick to a few stand-out elements – for example, wallpaper, curtains or chair covers. If you are lucky enough to have a large formal dining room then you could consider bold, opulent shades for your walls to create a grander feel. Your tableware and serveware should ideally be chosen to coordinate with your decor choices, but if all else fails keep it white, bright and simple.
Lighting is also key to your dining room decor – aim for dimmable light that you can adjust to create the mood that will allow your guests to relax but still be able to see their food. Low pendant lights directly over the dining table are both practical and striking, or for large formal dining rooms you may want to opt for a traditional chandelier hung from the centre of the room. Additional wall sconces along the walls can be a great way to brighten up the room for late night dinner parties, and don’t forget how a couple of candles along your dining room table can add a delicate, finishing touch.
Discover more of these popular design photo ideas.
Whether you want inspiration for planning a dining room renovation or are building a designer dining room from scratch, Houzz has 634,105 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including Poliform UK and Mulroy Architects. Look through dining room photos in different colours 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 ideas photo gallery and find out exactly why Houzz is the best experience for home renovation and design.
Large kitchen/living room open space
Shaker style kitchen with concrete worktop made onsite
Crafted tape, bookshelves and radiator with copper pipes
Brick - finmee7
Oak veneered Cabinets finished in Charleston Grey.
Bespoke polished steel surrounds the ovens and forms concealed handles to the tall units.
Finished with Caesarstone Work-surfaces in Snow
Photography by Andy Ward @ Brill Creative
A big table with big chairs - kmtholland
Elegant dining room with custom made furniture and bespoke Murano glass chandelier. Photo credits: Atelier Interior Design, Belfast by Victor Branco
Dining chairs - webuser_559789078
Not only does the breakfast bar form a natural separation between the kitchen and the dining area, it also prevents diners from seeing any mess in the kitchen! Situated right by the double doors that open out onto a large garden, it allows the outside to be brought in on warm days.
scale - lucycurtayne
Eleanor Walpole
Black door wooden units - webuser_393815626
We use Sanderson paint that have created a colour palette of 140 subtle shades taken from the complete spectrum colour range of 1,352 colours to make your decorating choices simple.
colores cocina - margarita_rubio94
The open plan dining area opens out into the living space.
Love the stove, mirror, table, lamp - jamesj_oconnor1
Kitchen glazing and garden fence - joannemarmelstein
Darren Chung
Kitchen/windows - jakki_begley
An elegant dining room featuring the Poliform Concorde dining table and Ventura chairs in hide. The top is colour bordeaux glass and the rug is also Poliform
Photos by Patrick Khachfe