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50+ Beautiful Dining Rooms Designed with Intimate Entertaining In Mind

Dressing up for dinner never felt so good.

a patterned wallpaper in chocolate brown surrounds a round dining table and chairs that sit on a persian bijar rug
Nelson Hancock

In many homes, the dining room is often regarded as a more formal, sometimes even stuffy, space in the house. Today's modern families tend to take a more casual approach to gathering for meals, whether it's dinner around the kitchen table, breakfast in a cozy banquette, or lunch at the kitchen island. Dining room tables seem to be reserved for fancier occasions and holiday festivities.

However, we can learn a thing or two from world-renowned interior decorators, whose attention to the dining room speaks for itself: Dining rooms are special and should be the central hub for entertaining and family gatherings. No matter your style, there’s dining room decor to suit your taste, from timeless elegance with antiques and calmer color palettes to taking design risks with saturated hues or bold wallpaper. Designers discover clever ways to make small spaces feel larger and continue to dream up inspiring upgrades for walls, lighting, furniture, and flooring.

Take cues from these stunning dining room ideas, all from designer homes, to update your space with elevated decor, because a beautiful space paired with a memorable menu is sure to impress friends and family. Now, it’s time to plan your next dinner party!

a landscape mural on one wall sets the scene for a wooden dining table and wood and upholstered chairs
Emily J Followill
1 of 60
Change of Scenery

A serene mural of Low Country marshland (Bob Christian Decorative Art) and reclaimed white oak beams accentuate lofty ceilings, a defining element of this Brays Island, South Carolina, cottage designed by Beth Webb. The flooring is Belgian bluestone. Lanterns and table, English Accent Antiques.

a hand painted wall mural depicts the tonal beauty of rammed earth and envelops a round dining table with chairs and a fancy chandelier hanging overhead
DOUGLAS FRIEDMAN
2 of 60
Outside In

At this Healdsburg, California, home designed by Ken Fulk, the main house dining room reflects its natural surroundings via its interiors. A hand-painted wall mural by Katherine Jacobus depicts the tonal beauty of rammed earth, while a console table with a tree base features branches that appear to grow right out the window. Vintage wicker dining chairs, Bořek Šípek

the illusion of a tented ceiling in a dining room with a custom trompe l’oeil treatment complete with candy striped trim and corner poles
DYLAN THOMAS
3 of 60
Striped to Perfection

At his own home, a historic manor house in England, designer Richard Smith created the illusion of a tented ceiling with a custom trompe l’oeil treatment complete with candy-striped trim and corner poles.

green metal industrial pendants animate the ranch house’s dining room which is furnished with a spanish trestle table
DOUGLAS FRIEDMAN
4 of 60
Good Vintage

In the guest house of this California wine country estate designed by Ken Fulk, green metal industrial pendants enliven the dining room, which is furnished with a Spanish trestle table surrounded by rush woven chairs (Ralph Lauren Home).

a patterned wallpaper in chocolate brown surrounds a round dining table and chairs that sit on a persian bijar rug
Nelson Hancock
5 of 60
Pattern Play

At this Connecticut home designed by Markham Roberts, traditional pattern covers nearly every surface for a quite modern effect. “The way the dining room’s intense pattern repeats across the walls excites me,” says Roberts, who trimmed the chocolate wall print in a rosy grosgrain gimp and mixed in a Persian bijar carpet and Swedish neoclassical chandelier.

david netto connecticut dining room
Francesco Lagnese
6 of 60
Chocolate Box

For a sophisticated backdrop to more casual furnishings, the dining room walls of this Connecticut home designed by David Netto are painted Tanner’s Brown (Farrow & Ball) in full gloss. Plaster cone hanging light, Rose Uniacke. Wicker chairs, Soane Britain

cliff fong lake toxaway dining room
William Abranowicz
7 of 60
Elemental Design

At this Lake Toxaway, North Carolina, home designed by Cloff Fong and Al and Parker Platt, a wealth of materials, like the reclaimed brushed hemlock ceiling cladding, white oak millwork, and granite chimney, were sourced within a one-hour radius of the house.

matthew carter harbour island cottage dining room
Brie Williams
8 of 60
Island Style

Designer Matthew Carter layered in textures to elevate the casual dining room in his Bahamas cottage. A Noguchi paper lantern illuminates the white Parsons-style dining table, while a set of rattan chairs (Palecek) adds a nod to the island setting.

a formal dining room with dark wood furniture and mahogany framed woven panels
Douglas Friedman
9 of 60
Tropical Zone

At this Naples, Florida, home, designer Celerie Kemble relaxes the vibe of the formal dining room with mahogany-framed woven panels, rooting the space in raw, native beauty. A Marseilles Opera House backdrop (Obsolete, Inc.) depicting tropical flora and fauna becomes large-scale artwork in the dining room. Jamaican mahogany chairs, The Raj Company

a dining room with a custom gilded rock form table with chairs all around light wood paneling is on the walls
William Abranowicz
10 of 60
Natural Wonder

In the dining room of this Hamptons beach house designed by Alex Papachristidis, natural woods and gilded finishes reflect the sun-kissed landscape outside. A custom gilded rock-form table (Eve Kaplan through Gerald Bland) is flanked by chairs inspired by Jean-Michel Frank. Swedish bronze and crystal chandelier, Therien & Co.

dunham dining room california
David Tsay
11 of 60
Open Air

Nature, sunlight, and the soft fragrance from Mandevillea vines flood this Peter Dunham–designed dining room thanks to the arched iron-and-glass entry that opens up to the Southern California home's bountiful garden. International antiques, such as the 1930s Italian chandelier and Chinese plates, mingle with modern textiles decorating the chairs (Keleen Leathers) and the floor (Jamal's Rug Collection). The walls are painted Wimborne White by Farrow & Ball.

gidiere-dining-room-alabama
Brian Woodcock
12 of 60
Garden Views

Designer Caroline Gidiere covered the jib doors in a chinoiserie de Gournay wallpaper to ensure continuity throughout her dining room. The proximity of her extensive tableware collection makes entertaining a breeze. Flirty tassels (Samuel & Sons) on the table skirt fabric (Elizabeth Eakins) add a textural element to the tablescape. Blue-and-white fabrics from Les Indiennes and Schumacher reinvent the vintage dining chairs found at the Paris Flea Market.

vevaud dining room paris veranda
Stephan Julliard
13 of 60
Jungle Love

Lively panoramic wallpaper (Besson) and a mischievous monkey sconce (Seletti) in this Paris dining room by Le Berre Vevaud transport guests to the middle of a flourishing jungle filled with chirping birds and native fruits. Curved chairs from Finn Juhl surround the glass table from the designers' own collection. The banquette velvet and drapery fabric are both by Pierre Frey.

andrew-howard-dining-room-south-carolina-veranda
Helen Norman
14 of 60
Stripes Ahead

Upon learning his client's favorite color was green, designer Andrew Howard looked for ways to incorporate the verdant shade throughout this storied South Carolina estate. Howard customized a textural grass cloth wallcovering from Kravet and Stephen Floyd Design with bold, exuberant stripes to enliven the dining room. Neutral drapery fabric from Zak+Fox tempers the vibrant trim color (Guacamole by Benjamin Moore).

kimberly whitman dining room
David Tsay
15 of 60
Free Spirit

As a nationally renowned hostess, Kimberly Schlegel Whitman needed her dining room to remain highly functional yet exude a personality of it's own. Her longtime designer, Jan Showers, stepped up to the challenge by allowing wild patterns and gutsy color to run free within the space. Eye-catching copper and palm leaf artwork (Tam Van Tran) on the melon walls (Persian Melon by Benjamin Moore) draw the eye upward. The drapery fabric is from Schumacher.

deniot dining room in paris
Christoph Theurer
16 of 60
Abstract Appeal

At night, moonlight engulfs this Jean-Louis Deniot–designed dining room, causing the touches of metallic paint in the mural by Florence Girette to shimmer, evoking the lights from the neighboring Tuileries. The vintage blush chairs and blue-toned rug from Galerie Diurne pop against the grisaille walls.

winfrey dining room
Lesley Unruh
17 of 60
Luminous Lacquer

In this brick Georgian home by Shazalynn Cavin-Winfrey, lacquered classic-blue walls and silver leaf–papered ceilings reflect light from the roaring fireplace and antique chandelier. The ceiling paper is by Brunschwig & Fils, and the velvet upholstery is by Schumacher.

philip-mitchell-dining-room-nova-scotia-veranda
Annie Schlechter
18 of 60
Seaside Comfort

To honor their Nova Scotia cottage's original woodwork, designer Philip Mitchell and his husband, Mark Narsansky, replaced the wainscot and trim details that had been removed in a previous renovation. The dining chairs upholstered in a Brunschwig & Fills surround a pedestal table from HH Ruseau.

Amy Morris-Designed Atlanta Dining Room, Veranda
Simon Upton
19 of 60
Monochromatic Digs

In a 100-year-old Atlanta home, designer Amy Morris used a restricted color palette to honor the urban manse's unique architecture. Silken fabrics (Holland & Sherry) covering the chairs offer a soft spot for the owner's family to gather to chat about their days over dinner. The chandelier is from Casa Midy.

anthony baratta dining room colonial williamsburg veranda
Annie Schlechter
20 of 60
Modern Revolution

The drums used by costumed members of the Williamsburg Fife and Drums Corp inspired the pleasant blue-and-yellow palette in this dining room designer by Anthony Baratta for Colonial Williamsburg. The braided rug from Capel Rugs enhances the room's color story. The trim paint is Damask Gold and the lower wall paint is Lafayette Blue, both by Benjamin Moore.

david scott kips bay palm beach dining room veranda
Nickolas Sargent
21 of 60
An Artful Mix

Modern meets traditional in this ethereal space, where designer David Scott paired furnishings made by contemporary artisans, like the Zhipeng Tan table and chandelier by master glass artist Jeff Zimmerman, with 1790s chalk-painted French armchairs. Natural textures, such as the woven leather rug from Doris Leslie Blau and the lacquered raffia wallpaper from Phillip Jeffries, ground the space, while neutral drapery fabric and trim from Holland & Sherry and a sky blue ceiling keeps the mood light and airy. The painting is by Larry Poons.

mark d. sikes green dining room veranda
Amy Neunsinger
22 of 60
Verdant Vision

A garden view is always in bloom with a hand-painted wallcovering by Gracie. To amp up the fresh feel, designer Mark D. Sikes added other green accents, such as the pendant light by Visual Comfort & Co., Quadrille dining chair fabric, and vintage majolica plates. The table is by Century.

trends we loved this decade bunny williams pink dining room veranda
Francesco Lagnese
23 of 60
Polished in Pink

This sweet shade looks all grown up when paired with pedigreed antiques (like the vintage Murano chandelier and 18th-century Italian commode), modern art, and a graphic, geometric rug by Doris Leslie Blau. Designer Bunny Williams covered the ceiling with a lattice and leafy wallcovering as a nod to the home’s lush Palm Beach garden.

meg braff green dining room veranda
Annie Schlechter
24 of 60
Outdoors In

In this sunny breakfast room, designer Meg Braff brought in the greens of the garden for a soothing connection between indoors and outdoors. The lattice wallpaper, by Meg Braff Designs, camouflages the rooms tight quarters, while the apple-green molding, painted Sweet Daphne by Benjamin Moore, draws the eye up. The Serge Roche-style chairs are covered in Bernard Thorp botanical-print linen.

phoebe howard dining room veranda
J. Savage Gibson
25 of 60
Classic Blue & White

Sticking to a simple color palette allowed designer Phoebe Howard to play with patterns in this Palm Beach dining room. The wallcovering, inspired by a 16th-century ottoman bedcover, is by Katie Leede & Company. The whitewashed fretwork dining chairs from Dennis & Leen (along with the tole palm tree and planter from Maitland-Smith) and the striped rug are nods to the nearby beach.

katie ridder yellow dining room veranda
Thomas Loof
26 of 60
Shine On

Lacquered walls in a school-bus yellow shade set a not-so stuffy tone in this Long Island, New York, dining room from the start. Designer Katie Ridder reinforced the playful mood by pulling up rattan chairs from Janus et Cie to the carved wood table, from The Raj Company, and by skipping a rug and instead opting for painted floors, which were inspired by a Moroccan checkerboard tile pattern. The drapery fabric is from Harbinger, and the chandelier is from Avery & Dash.

ashley whittaker blue dining room veranda 
MAX KIM-BEE
27 of 60
Twist on Tradition

Elegant style takes a laidback turn in this New York City dining room designed by Ashley Whittaker. A woven rug from Serena & Lily sets a casual tone for the bold Prussian blue Gracie wallcovering and a slew of antiques, like the table from Christie’s and the chandelier. Whittaker also shook things up by upholstering the dining chairs, from John Rosselli & Associates, in two fabrics: The outside backs are covered in a floral Muriel Brandolini fabric while inside backs and seats in a plum Global Leathers leather. Silk curtains from Scalamandre plus an antique mirror from 1stdibs play up the room’s height.

sig bergamin miami dining room veranda
Bjorn Wallander
28 of 60
Beachfront Beauty

In this Miami dining room designed by Sid Bergamin, a bespoke tiled wall offers a graphic, glossy backdrop to a plush, tufted banquette covered in a rosette pattern from Pierre Frey. The dining table and chairs are from Jalan Jalan, and the chair upholstery is Raoul Textiles. The coral prints, a nod to the nearby ocean, are from Jalan Jalan, and the diaphanous drapery fabric is Ralph Lauren.

meg braff dining room veranda
Annie Schlechter
29 of 60
Peaches and Green

This Locust Valley, New York, dining room by designer Meg Braff takes its color cues from a pair of antique chinoiserie panels that flank the entrance. A punchy table cloth by Lulu DK and the grass cloth wall covering by Meg Braff Designs provide relaxed contrast to the room’s more formal antiques, like the Regency chairs from Rumi Antiques, the Baltic crystal chandelier, and other decor, such as the apple green drapery and valance, both in a fabric from Holland & Sherry. A black lacquer credenza, by Jansen, grounds the pastel space with sophisticated polish.

bunny williams blue dining room
Francesco Lagnese
30 of 60
Seaside Elegance

In this Palm Beach dining room designed by Bunny Williams, a custom-painted sisal rug by Stark subtly evokes the shore with an oversize wave and chain pattern. The aqua blue walls are finished with a custom tinted Venetian plaster. A sleek, resin-topped table stylishly coexists with antiques, such as the 18th-century Italian console and 19th-century English mahogany cabinet from Alexander Cohane. Contemporary art infuses a youthful vibe.

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