40 Fresh Ideas for a Beautiful Dining Room

If it's time to remodel, redecorate, or simply refresh a tired old dining room, here are a wealth of ideas for taking what can be a stodgy, inflexible space and infusing it with beauty, flair, and comfort.

By Caitlin Castelaz | Published Jan 03, 2019 01:15 PM

Rug Refinement

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Rug Refinement

Placing a rug under the table can provide a visual anchor in a dining room. Particularly in an open floor plan, a rug helps define the dining space and separate it from the rest of the room. Here, bloggers at A Beautiful Mess chose to incorporate not one but two Persian-style rugs. 

abeautifulmess.com

Country Comfort

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Country Comfort

A rustic table can work well in a casual dining room or an eat-in kitchen. To amp up the cozy quotient, plop a pillow or custom-made cushion on each chair, and drape a faux fur throw over the bench.

fourgenerationsoneroof.com

Dramatic Artwork

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Dramatic Artwork

Bold is the watchword in Home Made By Carmona's dining room. Dark blue walls lend elegance to the dining space, while a gallery display of generously sized framed artwork adds interest to the walls.

homemadebycarmona.com

The Perfect Paper

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The Perfect Paper

Today's wallpaper comes in a variety of modern, elegant, and playful designs. In this dining room by In Honor of Design, a gold-and-cream-colored wallpaper from Hygge & West both sets the stage and steals the show.

Related: 7 Reasons to Reconsider Wallpaper

inhonorofdesign.com

An Assortment of Chairs

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An Assortment of Chairs

There's a time and a place for being matchy-matchy, but the dining room doesn't have to be one of them. Here, traditional dining room chairs and woven side chairs coexist beautifully.

jenwoodhouse.com

Focus on the Table

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Focus on the Table

If it has the right bones, a lackluster garage sale find can be transformed into a stellar dining table. Follow the lead of the blogger at Cherished Bliss by painting and distressing a worse-for-wear table to create a focal point for your dining room. Chalk paint, a belt sander, and a free afternoon are pretty much all you need to do the job. 

Related: 8 Unique Ways to Build Your Own Table

cherishedbliss.com

A Touch of Vintage

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A Touch of Vintage

Decorating this dining room was a treat for the brains behind Passionshake—and the results are a treat for the eyes. Vintage and modern elements merge in a delightful mélange of styles.

Related: 10 Vintage Decorating Ideas We Were Wrong to Abandon

passionshake.com

A Softer Bench

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A Softer Bench

If you like the look of bench seating but not the feel of a hard slab of wood, this dining room decorating idea from StoneGable Blog may be just what you need. For comfort and a softer appearance, a wooden bench is dressed in a skirted cushion, and the rest of the seating options are equally plush.

stonegableblog.com

Mixing Patterns

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Mixing Patterns

Why be boring when you can make a statement? That's the principle behind this dining room at The Gathered Home. The rug, curtains, and dining chair cushions each bring a different pattern into the mix, while the dark walls and black chairs bestow a sense of unity.

thegatheredhome.com

Spoiled for Color

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Spoiled for Color

The explosion of color in this blue dining room feels cheerful but not childish. Warmth and sophistication emanate from the wood chairs and the dining table base that echo the fireplace surround.  

Related: Set the Tone: 8 Colors for an Inviting Dining Room

thouswell.com

A Sense of Order

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A Sense of Order

Everything has its place in this well-planned dining room. With a bar cart and a coffee station standing sentry along the wall, both aperitifs and after-dinner coffee are within easy reach. 

littlehouseoffour.com

White and Wood

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White and Wood

The combination of white and raw wood evokes the simple beauty of farmhouse living. Here, the blogger at The Lily Pad Cottage plays up the theme with a collection of herbs in woven baskets.  

thelilypadcottage.com

Brightness Underfoot

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Brightness Underfoot

The dignified silhouette of Danish midcentury-style furniture stands out against the playful pattern of a colorful rug, creating a grown-up dining room that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Related: 10 Area Rugs You Can Actually Afford

thesweetbeastblog.com

Color on Color

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Color on Color

There's no reason to shy away from color in the dining room. Choose colors that play off each other—warm blue and pink work well together—to avoid visual chaos.

pmqfortwo.com

Sleek and Space-Saving

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Sleek and Space-Saving

An Art Deco archway in this Brooklyn home, renovated through Sweeten, opens onto an urbane dining area. The slender legs on the dining table and chairs take up minimal visual space, preventing the room from appearing cluttered.

Related: 10 Decorating Mistakes That Make Your House Look Smaller

blog.sweeten.com

Close the Door

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Close the Door

A pocket door blocks out kitchen noise and clutter without taking up the floor space that a traditional door would require. 

blog.sweeten.com

Modern Lines

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Modern Lines

When it came time to update their home, a comfortable and inviting dining room was a priority for these homeowners who entertain frequently. Their calm, dignified dining area would look entirely at home in a high-end furniture gallery.

blog.sweeten.com

Space Smart

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Space Smart

Many dining room tables seat at least six people, but if your family is small or if you don't host big sit-down dinners, there's no reason to spring for lots of seating. Particularly if the dimensions of your dining area are restricted, consider a small table with an extra leaf that will give you space when you really need it.  

Related: 14 Ways to Pull Off a Double-Duty Dining Room

blog.sweeten.com

Playful in Pink

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Playful in Pink

No, pink isn't everyone's first pick for the dining room, but Exuberant Pink by Sherwin-Williams strikes a surprisingly sophisticated pose in this dining room.

sherwin-williams.com

Claim a Space

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Claim a Space

If you don't have a dedicated dining room, you can put one wherever you want. When centered on top of a textured rug, this dining set becomes a room unto itself in a wide-open entryway. 

colorhousepaint.com

Kitschy and Cute

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Kitschy and Cute

With Grandma's dishes in the china cabinet and faux fur on the midcentury-style chairs, different decades collide harmoniously in this white dining room. The disparate elements are unified by the monochromatic color scheme.

Related: 8 Things You Never See on the Dining Table Anymore

songbirdblog.com

Flexible Seating

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Flexible Seating

A bench may be one of the most space-smart seating options around, and it's especially well suited to a long farmhouse table. With a bench, you can squeeze in more diners than you could with individual dining room chairs, and it adds a rustic charm. 

thediyplaybook.com

Better with Banquettes

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Better with Banquettes

The benefits of a banquette can't be overstated. They're not only cushy and comfortable, but many can also be customized to provide storage for linens, cutlery, and so much more right below the seat. Genius!

Related: Is a Kitchen Banquette Right for You?

theinspiredroom.net

Breezy Style

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Breezy Style

Beachy vibes abound in this seagrass-hued dining room. The addition of natural textures like wood and wicker amp up the beach house aesthetic. 

theturquoisehome.com

The Timeless Appeal of Wainscoting

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The Timeless Appeal of Wainscoting

Clad in board-and-batten, this two-tone dining room is as simple as it is stunning, a lovely mix of modern and traditional.

worthingcourtblog.com

Spotlight on the Centerpiece

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Spotlight on the Centerpiece

A large floral arrangement is nice for special occasions, but for everyday a few branches in a vase make an excellent centerpiece. If greenery is too tall to see over, remove it from the dining room table before you sit down to eat.

erinspain.com

Consider Pastels

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Consider Pastels

Though they're not often seen in the dining room, pastels can bring a refreshing and tranquil vibe to a room that's often considered stilted and stuffy. 

younghouselove.com

Drink Up

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Drink Up

A well-stocked bar behind the dining room table means cocktail hour can blend seamlessly into dinnertime. 

abeautifulmess.com

On the Map

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On the Map

If you love eating your way through cuisines from around the world, a map on a dining room wall can encourage you to learn where your ingredients hail from and marvel at the diversity on your plate.

lemonthistle.com

A Shiplap Canvas

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A Shiplap Canvas

Shiplap and hardwood floors provide an earthy palette for a white dining table, chairs, and trim in this modern and eclectic dining room at A Beautiful Mess.

Related: 17 Times Shiplap Made the Room

abeautifulmess.com

Stripes Aplenty

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Stripes Aplenty

From the board-and-batten walls to the spindle-back chairs, wooden floorboards, and bold, stripey rug, lines abound in this dining room. The motif welds together the many elements of the space and energizes the design. 

Related: 10 Doable Designs for a DIY Rug

itallstartedwithpaint.com

A Green Thumb

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A Green Thumb

Plants, plants, and more plants enliven this sunny dining room. Broad, dramatic leaves catch the eye, and an array of succulents on the wall serve as artwork.  

abeautifulmess.com

Light the Way

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Light the Way

A deconstructed chandelier helps define the dining area in this open floor plan space. Consisting of a cluster of pendant lights hung at different lengths, the "fixture" is a work of art unto itself. 

Related: 16 Brilliant Lighting Ideas You Can DIY on a Dime

liagriffith.com

In the Round

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In the Round

A sunny nook has just enough space for a round table set atop a round rug, giving a family of four a bright, attractive spot for comfortable dinners at home.

Related: 15 Photos That Prove You Need a Breakfast Nook

littleredbrickhouse.com

Rugged Yet Refined

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Rugged Yet Refined

While the antler chandelier and large dining table bring to mind a hunting lodge, the geometric artwork and upholstered dining chairs hint at softness and sophistication. A warm, rich wall color—Sierra Redwood from Sherwin-Williams—pulls it all together.

Related: The New Neutrals: 9 Colors You Can Trust for Today's Home

sherwin-williams.com

The Personal Touch

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The Personal Touch

Put a selection of your favorite treasures on display in the dining room. Here, the blogger at Lolly Jane installed farmhouse-style shelves and gathered together evocative items, focusing on clean whites and pops of light aqua that echo the shade of the colorful pendant.

lollyjane.com

A Multipurpose Space

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A Multipurpose Space

This blogger transformed a seldom-used formal dining room into a multipurpose space, part library, part dining room. Built-in shelves accommodate books and give the room a cozy vibe, while a small round dining table fits in comfortably, allowing the space to continue to serve its original function when needed.

Related: Why 7 Families Ditched the Dining Room

thriftydecorchick.com

Red, White, and Blue

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Red, White, and Blue

Country style and love of country meet in this farmhouse-inspired dining room. A frame made from 1x4 scrap wood sits on top of an American flag (an antique market find) for patriotic flair. 

thelilypadcottage.com

A Dark Accent

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A Dark Accent

It's incredible what a coat of dark paint and a fiddle-leaf fig can do for a room. If you're reluctant to cover all four walls with a bold navy or black paint, choose just one wall and make it the focal point. A sideboard, artwork, and other decorative elements can provide even more emphasis. 

northstory.ca

Comfort and Color

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Comfort and Color

Add a splash of color and a welcome element of comfort to your dining chairs by providing each one with a lumbar pillow. This little bit of support will encourage guests to linger after dinner and make conversation more enjoyable.

amykrist.org

Dining Room Decor

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Dining Room Decor

Turn your dining room into a comfortable spot to gather. 

bobvila.com

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