6 Fashionable New Dining Rooms
See the colors, materials and furnishings designers used to add personality and style to these spaces
Island seating and breakfast nooks are great for quick and casual meals. But sometimes an occasion calls for a more formal dining experience. Here, designers share the details they used in six dining rooms to create crowd-pleasing character and ambiance.
2. First Impression
Designer: Maya Axt Interiors
Location: Phoenix
Size: 174 square feet (16 square meters); 12 by 14½ feet
Homeowners’ request. “This project started with a completely blank slate and focused on creating an elevated formal dining room,” designer Maya Axt says. “Our clients love to entertain large groups of friends and wanted the formal dining room to stand out. Plus, it is the first room you see when you walk into the home, so it serves as an introductory statement as guests move through the rest of the house.”
Special features. “We added beams and a beautiful light fixture that doubles as a wind chime when the front door is open,” Axt says.
Modern black armchairs head the long reclaimed-pine farm table. Cane-backed nettlewood chairs fill out the rest of the seating. Two tall glass-front black metal cabinets flank a landscape painting and showcase accessories. The oversize striped rug pulls in the white and blue used elsewhere in the home.
Designer tip. “Measure three times before you order anything,” Axt says. “Tape out your furniture when working in a small space to make sure your furniture will fit with enough space to walk around it.”
Light fixture: Tiffany chandelier, Arteriors; wall paint: Agreeable Gray, Sherwin-Williams
Shop for dining room furniture
Designer: Maya Axt Interiors
Location: Phoenix
Size: 174 square feet (16 square meters); 12 by 14½ feet
Homeowners’ request. “This project started with a completely blank slate and focused on creating an elevated formal dining room,” designer Maya Axt says. “Our clients love to entertain large groups of friends and wanted the formal dining room to stand out. Plus, it is the first room you see when you walk into the home, so it serves as an introductory statement as guests move through the rest of the house.”
Special features. “We added beams and a beautiful light fixture that doubles as a wind chime when the front door is open,” Axt says.
Modern black armchairs head the long reclaimed-pine farm table. Cane-backed nettlewood chairs fill out the rest of the seating. Two tall glass-front black metal cabinets flank a landscape painting and showcase accessories. The oversize striped rug pulls in the white and blue used elsewhere in the home.
Designer tip. “Measure three times before you order anything,” Axt says. “Tape out your furniture when working in a small space to make sure your furniture will fit with enough space to walk around it.”
Light fixture: Tiffany chandelier, Arteriors; wall paint: Agreeable Gray, Sherwin-Williams
Shop for dining room furniture
3. Off the Wall
Designer: Caroline Finnegan of Hendren House
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Size: 130 square feet (12 square meters); 10 by 13 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This project was a part of a full renovation of the home,” designer Caroline Finnegan says. “This dining room used to be the client’s garage, so we started the space from scratch. We had created a design vision for the rest of the house that was layered, colorful and timeless. Adding wallpaper was a must for the space as well.”
Special features. Plant print wallpaper with painted wainscoting. “We had all the trim work match the navy color in the wallpaper,” Finnegan says. “The 15-lite doors to the home office are also one of my favorite design details to the space as well.”
Designer tip. “Elevate your space with larger molding if possible,” Finnegan says. “We did a three-piece crown molding in this room. We love the way the large molding creates a dramatic effect in the space.”
Chandelier: Etoile in gilded iron, Visual Comfort
20 Dining Rooms With Chic Chandeliers and Pendant Lights
Designer: Caroline Finnegan of Hendren House
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Size: 130 square feet (12 square meters); 10 by 13 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This project was a part of a full renovation of the home,” designer Caroline Finnegan says. “This dining room used to be the client’s garage, so we started the space from scratch. We had created a design vision for the rest of the house that was layered, colorful and timeless. Adding wallpaper was a must for the space as well.”
Special features. Plant print wallpaper with painted wainscoting. “We had all the trim work match the navy color in the wallpaper,” Finnegan says. “The 15-lite doors to the home office are also one of my favorite design details to the space as well.”
Designer tip. “Elevate your space with larger molding if possible,” Finnegan says. “We did a three-piece crown molding in this room. We love the way the large molding creates a dramatic effect in the space.”
Chandelier: Etoile in gilded iron, Visual Comfort
20 Dining Rooms With Chic Chandeliers and Pendant Lights
4. Bright Idea
Designer: Kirsten Krason of House of Jade Interiors
Location: Salt Lake City
Size: 100 square feet (9.3 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The dining area is adjacent to the entry and one of the first things you see when you come into the house,” designer Kirsten Krason says. “It’s a small area, so it needed a major impact.”
Special feature. “We brought in an impactful chandelier to draw the eye in and set the stage for the home,” Krason says.
Designer tip. “We often recommend bringing in two different chair options at the table,” Krason says. “In this situation, the head chairs are made from a beautifully textured rattan material, while the other chairs have upholstered seats and backs. The juxtaposition of the two elevates the whole design.”
Odette dining chair, Louise dining chair, Rowley dining table and accessories: House of Jade Home
Designer: Kirsten Krason of House of Jade Interiors
Location: Salt Lake City
Size: 100 square feet (9.3 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The dining area is adjacent to the entry and one of the first things you see when you come into the house,” designer Kirsten Krason says. “It’s a small area, so it needed a major impact.”
Special feature. “We brought in an impactful chandelier to draw the eye in and set the stage for the home,” Krason says.
Designer tip. “We often recommend bringing in two different chair options at the table,” Krason says. “In this situation, the head chairs are made from a beautifully textured rattan material, while the other chairs have upholstered seats and backs. The juxtaposition of the two elevates the whole design.”
Odette dining chair, Louise dining chair, Rowley dining table and accessories: House of Jade Home
5. Neutral Ground
Designer: Kara Smith of KES Studio
Location: Beverly Hills, California
Homeowners’ request. This home belongs to Tracy Tutor, an actress, author and real estate agent known for appearing in the reality TV series Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles. “She represents buyers and sellers for some of the most prestigious properties in Los Angeles and has impeccable taste and understanding of luxury,” designer Kara Smith says. “She wanted an interior that would be reflective of her sophisticated aesthetic and that would also be appropriate to Beverly Hills, which is why we describe the home as having an elegant merge of California ease and modernized Old Hollywood.”
Special features. “We played with neutrals, which comprised the color palette throughout the home,” Smith says. “We implemented a balance of curved lines, luxe organic materials and textiles.”
Other special features. Boucle-and-wood chairs. Hand-spun brass plate pendant light. Round pedestal table with scallop edge. Built-in rift-cut white oak cabinetry with floating honed travertine shelf. Plaster walls and architectural features.
Designer tip. “For a neutral color palette we recommend using various tones and textures,” Smith says. “Texture examples include using heavily woven or knubby fabrics and rugs in juxtaposition with smooth surfaces like lacquer or stone. For color, use different tones of a hue or neutrals that have different intensities to add layers to the space and create visual interest.”
Shop for dining chairs
Designer: Kara Smith of KES Studio
Location: Beverly Hills, California
Homeowners’ request. This home belongs to Tracy Tutor, an actress, author and real estate agent known for appearing in the reality TV series Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles. “She represents buyers and sellers for some of the most prestigious properties in Los Angeles and has impeccable taste and understanding of luxury,” designer Kara Smith says. “She wanted an interior that would be reflective of her sophisticated aesthetic and that would also be appropriate to Beverly Hills, which is why we describe the home as having an elegant merge of California ease and modernized Old Hollywood.”
Special features. “We played with neutrals, which comprised the color palette throughout the home,” Smith says. “We implemented a balance of curved lines, luxe organic materials and textiles.”
Other special features. Boucle-and-wood chairs. Hand-spun brass plate pendant light. Round pedestal table with scallop edge. Built-in rift-cut white oak cabinetry with floating honed travertine shelf. Plaster walls and architectural features.
Designer tip. “For a neutral color palette we recommend using various tones and textures,” Smith says. “Texture examples include using heavily woven or knubby fabrics and rugs in juxtaposition with smooth surfaces like lacquer or stone. For color, use different tones of a hue or neutrals that have different intensities to add layers to the space and create visual interest.”
Shop for dining chairs
6. Salvage Style
Designer: Luca Campacci and Vinh Le of Level Studio
Location: Mississauga, Ontario
Size: 121½ square feet (11 square meters); 9 by 13½ feet
Homeowners’ request. “Salvage a piece of the kitchen’s old countertop to be incorporated into the dining table,” designer Luca Campacci says.
Special features. “We salvaged the existing countertop from the old island and added a tulip base to create this custom dining table,” Campacci says. “We also custom-designed the wall panel layout to feature artwork and also frame the table visually.”
Designer tip. “In less formal dining areas that will be used for eating every day, don’t use a rug underneath,” Campacci says. “Especially if you have kids. It’s just asking for trouble.”
“Uh-oh” moment. This project’s biggest issues were supply chain delays caused by COVID, but the clients were amazing and very understanding, Campacci says.
Chairs: Seneca, Sunpan; wall paint: Chantilly Lace, Benjamin Moore
More on Houzz
Read more dining area stories
Browse thousands of dining area photos
Hire a local design pro
Shop for dining area furniture
Designer: Luca Campacci and Vinh Le of Level Studio
Location: Mississauga, Ontario
Size: 121½ square feet (11 square meters); 9 by 13½ feet
Homeowners’ request. “Salvage a piece of the kitchen’s old countertop to be incorporated into the dining table,” designer Luca Campacci says.
Special features. “We salvaged the existing countertop from the old island and added a tulip base to create this custom dining table,” Campacci says. “We also custom-designed the wall panel layout to feature artwork and also frame the table visually.”
Designer tip. “In less formal dining areas that will be used for eating every day, don’t use a rug underneath,” Campacci says. “Especially if you have kids. It’s just asking for trouble.”
“Uh-oh” moment. This project’s biggest issues were supply chain delays caused by COVID, but the clients were amazing and very understanding, Campacci says.
Chairs: Seneca, Sunpan; wall paint: Chantilly Lace, Benjamin Moore
More on Houzz
Read more dining area stories
Browse thousands of dining area photos
Hire a local design pro
Shop for dining area furniture
Designer: Adina Hall Design
Builder: A&M General Contracting
Location: Chicago
Size: 290 square feet (27 square meters); 16 feet, 4 inches by 17 feet, 9 inches
Homeowners’ request. “The family was relocating from Columbus, Ohio, and they hired us to help them turn their new townhouse into a home,” says designer Adina Hall, whose clients used Houzz ideabooks to communicate their style preferences. “Their aesthetic was contemporary with an interest in sustainable and clean materials, which resonated with their health-minded outlook. Our design brief was to take inspiration from nature while weaving in Asian details, art and artifacts that they had collected from their travels. They also expressed a desire to host small dinner parties with drinks and ethnic foods, so we wanted to create an intimate environment for special events.”
Special features. “Our passion is to create designs that promote good energy and well-being in the home, so we often turn to the feng shui practice to set the intention for a space,” Hall says. “We wanted to create a grounding space, so we chose a palette rooted in earth tones. Brown is a grounding and nourishing color that’s connected to stable earth energy, while green is an uplifting color that promotes fresh energy and renewal.”
The wallcovering is made with 60% wood pulp from sustainably managed forests. “It’s a double-layer wallcovering with a nonwoven top layer that is laser-cut to reveal hints of metallic foil below, which adds a twinkling glimmer to the space, like an explosion of stars in the night,” Hall says.
Other special features. Velvet weave chairs. Pale oak veneer dining table. Multi-pendant chandelier. “The chandelier drops are surprisingly large and heavy and have a huge impact in the space,” Hall says. “They are made of solid glass with a small, hollow space for the lightbulb. They dim from bright to a delicate twinkle of light, offering control in setting the function and mood for the space.”
Designer tip. “Lighting is a key element in the design of a dining room,” Hall says. “As a rule of thumb, we always have three light sources in a space, especially in areas geared toward entertaining, in order to be able to control the mood of the room. A chandelier should provide warm lighting with light sources — bulbs — at no more than 2700K in temperature. People get tricked into buying ‘daylight’ temperature bulbs that are about 4000K and give out a very bright and bluish light — the higher the temperature, the bluer the light. For dining rooms we often prefer a chandelier with multiple light sources, starting at 36 inches over the table. In this space, the chandelier varies from 36 to 52 inches over the table.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “We really loved the design of the green velvet chairs, but only four were in stock for the foreseeable future,” Hall says. “Rather than reselecting, we suggested alternating the colors and introducing four off-white chairs. We were very lucky as the owner trusted us to take some major design leaps, and this was just one of many. When the chairs arrived, we were all thrilled with the outcome. I now think it would have been a missed opportunity not to mix and match the chairs, as the contrast adds so much to the design of the dining room.”
Chairs: Eterno velvet in green and off-white, MOD; console: Rio, Four Hands
Find an interior designer on Houzz