80 Stylish Dining Room Ideas

Go Coastal

Designer Kara Miller opted for a banquette to make the most of her small dining space. She paired shades of greens with pops of coral and a few grounding neutrals to give the room a cheery and tropical feel.

Make an Entrance

This delicately patterned Idarica Gazzoni wallpaper with a trompe l'oeil chair rail frames the preppy, coral-hued dining room.

Make a Small Dining Room Look Larger

Visually expand a small dining room by keeping the palette monochromatic and adding height with large art or plants. Furnish with a narrow table and armless dining chairs to maximize space. All of these elements help this light-filled dining room feel airy and open.

Layer Neutrals for a Relaxed Look

"To give Country French my minimalist spin, I avoid the expected ruffles and plaids and keep it about the painted antiques and white linens," says homeowner and designer Regina Lynch. She, along with her daughter, designer Destiny Lynch, came together to create this "less-is more" style.

Try a Round Table

Encourage conversation with a round table. To keep things intimate, your table shouldn't exceed 40-inches in diameter. With multiple doorways, using a round table in this dining room helps open up space as well.

Keep a Low-Profile

Even small spaces need a designated dining area. Designer Matthew Bees used the nook below the stairs of this Charleston loft to create the perfect space. The addition of a small chandelier ties the nook together.

Opt for Casual Seating

This space serves as a library and dining area. The room is casually arranged with a mismatched table and chairs and filled with brightly painted bookshelves, which bring light to the space.

Give a Splash of Bold Color

The homeowners wanted to have a fresh-feeling dining room, so designer Ashley Whittaker helped them pick a show-stopping lettuce green shade finished in a shiny lacquer for the walls. She complemented the walls with bright coral upholstered dining chairs. Painted lantern sconces on the chandelier play into the welcoming atmosphere established by the color scheme, while the antiques help ground the space.

Mix Color and Style

You can incorporate a mix of furniture styles if you keep color a constant. These red lacquer bamboo-style side chairs add a bold punch of color that coordinates with the cabinet interiors and drapery and upholstery fabrics.

Soften the Space with Linens

Simple details like the fabric of your linens help set the tone of your dining space. This round table and antique chairs are covered in simple linen and checked fabrics to create a friendly space. A dainty scalloped edge on the chairs and table topper adds a decorative, layered touch.

• See this Cape Cod Cottage Makeover

Keep it Simple

Designer Lauren Liess kept it simple in our 2020 Idea House dining room, framing the windows with a pop of color and installing a farm table with casual high-back chairs to complement it.

Save Space with Built-Ins

For a small space, add a built-in china cabinet for both decorative and practical storage. You'll not only save floorspace, but you'll also create an element that adds depth and character to a wall.

Include a Dose of Tradition

Interior designer Leta Foster and her daughter, Sallie Giordano, decorated this breakfast room of an early-1900s Richmond, Virginia, home. It is designed to fit a young family while honoring the original architecture and character of the space.

Create Privacy with Pocket Doors

Get the free traffic flow of an open plan and the intimacy of a closed dining room by using sliding pocket doors. On the left side of this room, reclaimed heart-pine pocket doors can be closed to hide the kitchen.

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Use a Calming Palette

Walls covered in a subtle blue grass cloth create a serene space, while the blush window treatments and slipcovered chairs bring warmth.

See more of this classic Birmingham home.

Splurge and Save

Prioritize your spending. When the homeowners renovated this 1,500-square-foot cottage, they used secondhand and bargain-store pieces to complete their desired look on a budget.

Be Playful

Designer Alexis Simpson didn't shy away from making a statement in her dining room, which opens to the patio through the French doors. She used a leafy Cole & Son wallpaper and a botanical-inspired chandelier by Julie Neill to bring the outside in, creating a playful yet elegant space.

Lighten Up with White

White paint and natural lighting can make a dining room feel bright and inviting, but be sure to use your furniture and accessories to add warmth. This homeowner used books in the built-ins and a mix of vintage chairs upholstered in canvas to bring character to the room.

Mix Upholstery

Add textural depth by mixing upholstery fabrics. These dining chairs sport patterned upholstery cushions while the backs are covered in a coordinating solid.

Take Your Cue from the Natural Surroundings

Reflecting its mountainous location, this house is decked out in a variety of natural materials—from rough-hewn beams to rustic furniture made from branches.

Multitask

Dining rooms can easily be made into multi-use spaces. This cozy room with a large dining table work surface makes this room a perfect place to double as the homeowner's design office. Just be sure to have a space to stow away your work when needed.

• See this Farmhouse Redo

Add Height

Emphasize the height of your dining room with vertical stripes. Floor-to-ceiling windows also help this space feel lofty and light, even with dark furnishings.

Keep It Stylish & Practical

In this Nashville home, the dining room serves as a pass-through between the living room and the kitchen, so designer Ashley Gilbreath decorated the space to complement both. She used a playful, soft wallpaper with traditional furnishings that will feel stylish forever.

Build a Banquette

Built-in banquette seating is a great option if you're short on space. It not only adds seating, but the space beneath the seat can also be used for storage. Using the same upholstery fabric helps tie together the bench and chairs.

Make it Durable

Make sure all of your dining room materials and surfaces are spill-proof or easy to clean. These chairs, designed in a modified Parsons style, are upholstered in durable outdoor fabric to withstand upset cups and plates.

Color Your Furniture

Punch up the energy in your dining room with colored furniture. In this renovated 1960s rancher, Designer Meg Kelly brightened up the dark paneled room with a coat of white paint and added a bright pop of color with a blue painted vintage rattan table.

Hang Plush Drapery

Set the mood with lush window treatments. Luxurious curtains hung near the ceiling give grand scale to this smaller dining room.

Go Neutral

Even if you're not a fan of bright colors, you can still create a striking dining room. This mostly neutral dining room is anything but boring. A variety of fabrics and rich browns punctuated by small colorful accents gives a warm and inviting look to the room. The natural light keeps the dark brown walls from visually closing in the space.

Vary Your Finishes

Use mixed finishes for a casual look. These painted chairs are paired with a round mahogany dining table. The mix of finishes on the room's various furnishings provides a collected yet casual appeal.

• See this 1920s Home Makeover

Double Up

Designer Sarah Bartholomew used the same fabric for the wallcovering and window treatments to create a cohesive space.

Achieve Balance

If you have the space, use the layout of a formal dining room. This room highlights the homeowner's preference for symmetry and clean lines. An added built-in china cabinet is designed to look original to the circa-1920s house, adding to the traditional feel.

Design for Durability

When selecting your finishes, think about the wear and tear that your dining room may experience beyond spills. The white oak plank flooring with a limed finish in this coastal cottage dining room is perfect for disguising sand tracked in from the beach. A clear wax on top keeps it sealed and hardy.

• See this Pre-fab Coastal Cottage

Take Advantage of the View

If you want to highlight the view outside of your dining space, keep your furnishings and accessories minimal. This dining table is centered in front of a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows with simple curtains to soften and frame the space.

Plan Ahead for Flexibility

Add shelves for greater flexibility. A wall of library shelves in this dining room enhances the cozy cabin feel and offers homeowners the option of converting the space into an office or snug reading nook.

• Tour this Mountain Getaway

Customize Colors

Tell a cohesive color story in connected spaces. The wall color in this dining room was custom mixed to match the blue undertones of curtains in the adjoining living room.

Accent with Patterns

Add an unexpected touch to an elegant space by including playful patterns. The jazzy zebra upholstery on these dining chairs keeps the otherwise subdued room from feeling stuffy.

• See this Calm, Classic Southern Home

Show Off Antiques

Instead of refinishing antique pieces, let the natural character shine. Antique iron chairs surround a rustic table in this dining room to lend stylish history to the newly constructed space.

Include Family Pieces

Formal dining rooms are the perfect place to display family heirlooms and make fantastic conversation pieces when you entertain. A portrait of the homeowner's late mother, who taught her how to entertain, properly presides over this elegant dining room.

• Tour this Charming Southern Home

Think Outside the Color Box

Try a nontraditional color scheme. This formal dining room jazzes up a traditional foundation with unexpected color combinations. The graphic green upholstered chairs play off of the distinctive orange-and-gold wallpaper while gilded accents compliment the metallics in the pattern.

Keep it Casual

If you don't have the space for a formal dining room, look for opportunities to leverage another space to do double duty. This center entry hall also multifunctions as the dining room with built-in seating for added storage and a narrow table ensuring ample traffic flow.

Treat a Screened Porch Like a Room

Whether you need a primary dining room or just looking for a second entertaining area, turn your glassed- or screened-in porch into a multipurpose room. This one has a cozy appeal with the natural brick of the home's exterior and fireplace with warm wood tones.

Utilize Corner Spaces

A window-filled alcove in this beach house functions like a dining room with a casual table, two slipcovered end chairs, and a pillow-topped banquette. The built-in bench and wall of windows make this small space seem much larger while vintage light fixtures hung with nautical rope instead of standard chains illuminate and ground the space.

Create a Layered Look

Create a laid-back layered look by mixing and matching patterns - from the linens to the stemware.

Emphasize Architectural Details

Highlight architectural features with paint. The pastel green of the walls draws your attention to the design elements of the woodwork.

Be Creative with Corners

Small spaces are often the perfect place to install built-in storage. An awkward corner becomes a built-in buffet or bar in this dining room.

Add Built-In Bookshelves

Rows of books in built-in shelves make a beautiful patterned backdrop for the dining table in this space. The repetitive shape of the arches can tie together the room.

Hide Spills

Sloshing and splashing are inevitable in a family dining room. A small print rug is a forgiving choice in this kid-friendly space, as it's perfect for camouflaging spills.

Pick a Favorite Historical Period

Establish a historic style. These homeowners took inspiration from British colonial style, and they limited their color palette to crisp white and ebony. The furnishings in this dining space are classic American or English shapes.

• See this High Style Lowcountry Home

Create a Relaxed Look

Just because the dining room is traditionally a formal space doesn't mean you can't try a more casual feel. Mixing high-back upholstered seating with low, slipcovered chairs avoids the predictable formula of a table with matching chairs in this room.

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Play Up a Fun Color

Just as gold accessories can complete an outfit, the warm tones of brushed gold flatware and embellished glasses add a layer of warmth to a casual table and cheery room.

Add Character with Salvage Materials

Salvaged wood offers a distinctive warmth and texture that can't be replicated with new wood. The wood floors in this dining room were salvaged locally.

• See this Naturally Inspired Georgia Lake House

Rustic Iron and Wood Dining

Surrounded by a set of Queen Anne chairs scooped up at a secondhand shop in Charleston, this iron-and-wood dining room table crafted by Charles Calhoun creates a relaxed, rustic room.

Highlight the Season

Neutral dining spaces are perfect for highlighting seasonal decor. This dining room picks up the personality of seasonal florals and accents.

Repeat Shapes

Create some rhythm in your space by repeating the shape of your table in the rug. This rectangular rug is large enough that all four legs of pulled-back chairs remain on the rug.

Separate the Space

Separate spaces by using a portier. This dining and living room are adjoined by a large cased opening. Curtain panels make the space more versatile, add softness to the dining room, and provide privacy when necessary.

Focus Your Attention

Highlight a grand focal piece by pairing it with neutral accents. A shell-encrusted china cabinet is the star of this dining space; the neutral furnishings don't compete for attention.

Drape the Dining Room

Use draperies to bring texture to your dining room. Sheer curtain panels along the wall allow natural light to filter into the space.

Mix Sleek and Ornate

Don't feel tied to one style. Modern black dining chairs mixed with traditional armchairs make this dining space eclectic yet elegant.

Mix New Finds with Family Heirlooms

Supplement your family pieces with furniture found at antique and secondhand stores. For a modern contrast, this homeowner used flea-market-found barrel chairs in white to contrast the dark oak of his great-grandfather's dining table and sideboard.

• See this Chattanooga Bungalow

Hang a Lantern

Choose a lantern fixture for a more casual look. A standard chandelier would overwhelm this laid-back space, but a wrought-iron lantern fixture is just right.

Hang Plates as Art

Sure, you've seen plates hung on a wall before, but these rectangular beauties take the concept to the next level. The collection of 10 colorful plates acts as artwork in this dining room.

Repurpose an Unused Room

Turn an infrequently used space into a dining room. This conservatory is part dining room, part greenhouse. The open and airy space boasts spectacular views and plenty of natural light.

Raise the Fireplace

This dining room fireplace is raised to table height so it can be enjoyed by everyone in the room.

Select a Signature Style Item

Have at least one unique conversation piece in your dining room. A whimsical light fixture becomes a focal point over this dining table and speaks to the design sense of the homeowner.

Layer Window Treatments

Mix your window treatments for flexibility. Matchstick blinds with curtain panels control the level of light and privacy in this dining room.

Install a Plate Rail

A built-in shelf breaks up this very vertical space and offers a place to display plates and other accents.

Select for Scale

Select a light fixture that fits the scale of your space. A large rustic chandelier fits both the personality and size of this lofty dining space.

Repeat Shapes

An oval table is the perfect companion for this curved banquette.

Cover Your Chairs

Not only do slipcovers lend a casual cottage look to a space, but they also make a dining room more user-friendly. These monogrammed covers can easily be tossed in the wash in case of spills.

Repeat a Motif

The whimsical botanical wallpaper in this room is mirrored in the organic shapes of the chandelier, and the subtle zig-zag of the chair upholstery is repeated in the rug.

Wrap in Wood

Think beyond drywall for your walls and ceiling. This dining room is completely finished with wood. A warm wood ceiling and floor treatment paired with painted wood walls adds vintage character to the space.

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Set Up a Combination of Seating Arrangements

Give an everyday dining space a casual vibe with a combination of seating arrangements, like the wing chairs, curvy settee, and burlap-topped benches that circle this dining table.

Limit Materials for Minimalism

The white stained table and modern white chairs echo this home's minimalist vibe.

Historic Simplicity

This updated dining room offers a clean, modern look that is both private and quiet.

Add Pattern with your China

Let your china shine as the room's color and pattern. It's the secret to classic style that's not overdone.

Take Inspiration from Antiques

Pairing antiques with natural curiosities, like the modern gold-lined black shades on the chandelier, gives this room a more personal touch.

Mix Shapes and Sizes

A large round table in a square dining room makes conversations easier, and most have leaves for when you need extra seating.

Create a Sophisticated Family-Friendly Space

Anchored by a clean-lined Parsons table (left unpolished to stand up to fingerprints), the dining room is both sophisticated and family friendly. Galvanized-metal French Tolix chairs designed in the 1930s and a long bench (which has been known to hold as many as six kids) provide some much needed flexibility and style.

• See more of this Family-Friendly Remodel

Be Creative

Conical baskets, believed to have once been used by fishermen, are now airy pendant shades over this South Carolina pine dining table.

Set the Tone with Flooring

A brick floor is a great choice when you want a rustic, farm-style look. The various colors of the brick flooring inspired the color scheme in this dining space.