83 Designer-Approved Dining Room Ideas for Anyone Who Loves to Entertain

While the recognition of formal dining has waxed and waned over time, this at-domestic center of interest is currently seeing a resurgence in interest. Fueled with the help of nostalgia, the “granny” interior is having a second, which means rearward lounge seating and skirt seating. While it’s so much less complicated to just grab a plate and head straight to the couch, intentionally setting the desk and sitting down for a complete meal encourages greater communication and bonding with your family. If you’re not sure where to start with redesigning this space, we’ve curated a list of fashion designer-allowed dining room ideas to encourage you.

Despite its appearance, the restaurant shouldn’t feel precious or stuffy. Just like the relaxation in your home, this space should be lived in and used often. The first step to ensuring you do just that is through setup to maximize capabilities and set the mood. You can cover the partitions in a showstopping wallpaper, or choose bench seats for in shape in as many precious as possible. Having an additional credenza is perfect for storing the serveware you need, and don’t forget a bar cart!

If your restaurant is long overdue for a refresh, we have ever taken you up with eighty-three restaurant ideas that will give you the urgency you want to tackle the enterprise like a pro.

Additional reproduction with assistance from Medgina Saint-Elien, Kelly Allen and Kate McGregor.

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1

Install Sconces

If you love setting the mood through candlelight on your dining table but want a bit more lighting that isn’t directly overhead, install a few sconces on the walls as firm Sugarhouse Design & Architecture did in this Hamptons home. The soft glow will enhance the welcoming atmosphere while adding a pretty accent.

Tour the Entire Home

Matt Kisiday

2

Opt for an Oversized Pendant

In Krysta Gibbons’s own home, the designer specifically arranged the floor plan so that this formal dining room would be on display from the front door. A big lantern light stands out in the space, which is wrapped in a custom mural by Paul Montgomery.

MARC MAULDIN

3

Keep It Airy With Glass Doors

Allow light to flow into the dining room–without compromising on room separation—by enclosing the space with glass pocket doors. Outfit the space in a serene, neutral color palette with sculptural wood chairs and a statement-making chandelier, as designer Gabriela Eisenhart did in this dining room.

Trevor Tondro

4

Split It Up

In this Jeremiah Brent-designed Vermont home, there are two dining tables instead of one. For larger groups, the tables can be pushed together. When it’s just the owners, one piece allows for a more intimate meal.

Michael Clifford

5

Move It Outdoors

When the weather allows, there are few things nicer than dining outdoors. For this alfresco setup, designer Lauren Nelson used a dining set from RH made to withstand the elements, which means it’s nearly always guest-ready.

Read McKendree

6

Tuck the Space Away

In a small layout, a large dining table can impede the flow of traffic and look bulky. To avoid this, designer Meghan Shadrick opted for a corner banquette instead. “Banquettes work wonders when the dining area is small and interferes with traffic flow in and out of space,” Shadrick says.

Pär Bengtsson

7

Add Casual Elements

Here, designer Minnette Jackson chose a woven wallpaper to soften the formal dining room, which is adjacent to the outdoors. “The room opens right out onto our back patio, so I felt it called for an organic element to temper the more formal pieces,” Jackson says. “I used a neutral paper weave to add an earthy element, while the silk DeGournay panels and vintage stools give a luxe factor. I do love to entertain, and we eat here often!”

Emily Gilbert

8

Ground the Patterns

Perfecting the art of mixing prints requires using different colors and scales, something designer Colleen Simonds knew she would need to calm the busy wallpaper in this dining room idea. “The color and glaze on the lamps help balance the tones in the wallpaper,” she explains. The brown rug, chosen for its pops of color, grounds the entire room.

Stacy Zarin Goldberg

9

Double Your Lighting

If your dining table is long rather than round, odds are you’re going to need more light fixtures to ensure every seat can see their plate. Rather than recessed cans, designer Janelle Patton, founder of Lark Interiors, chose a pair of matching, dramatic chandeliers.

Peter Murdock

10

Create a Focal Point

Outside of the dining table, which is usually centered, dining rooms often lack a grounding element. In this dining room idea, designer Alexander Reid chose a contrasting, black china cabinet to draw the eye. “I love a touch of black,” Reid says about the custom cabinet. “It makes everything around it pop.”

Nicole Franzen

11

Create a Cozy Vibe

Recreate your favorite dining establishment by mimicking hospitality design in your own home. Key elements include moody paint colors, low lighting, and soft seating. Take a note from the team behind Of Place Studio and combat a dark wall hue with light wood tones.

Michael Clifford

12

Mix Design Styles

In this dynamic dining room by Lauren Nelson, botanical wallpaper is the star of the show. To offset its formality, it has been paired with a midcentury light fixture and a modern marble table. You don’t have to adhere to strict design styles when you mix and match eras skilfully.

Christian Harder

13

Listen to Your Architecture

If you’re lucky enough to have a floor plan with personality, like Serena Dugan’s New York home, let it inform your design choices. In this dining room idea, the painter allowed the fireplace to take center stage, keeping the rest of her furnishings minimal and in line with the home’s slightly ’70s aesthetic. A tonal painting on the mantel ties every element together.

Read McKendree

14

Let Your Seating Shine

It’s not every day that dining chairs can be a focal point in design. However, in this dining room by Palmer Weiss, the room’s fixtures were kept neutral to allow the green pattern to get its moment. Brass cabinet knobs mirror the brass nail detailing on the upholstery.

Jenna Peffley

15

Add a Banquette

If the goal of your dining room is to pack in as many loved ones as possible, it’s time to try bench seating. Take inspiration from this setup by design duo French & French Interiors. Pleated upholstery allows the benches to still feel formal while maximizing both comfort and seat space.

Jacob Snavely

16

Show Off Your Table Base

The top of your dining table may be where all the action happens, but for pedestal-style tables, the most stunning detail is often reserved for the base. Showcase the unique silhouette by choosing slim chairs with plenty of negative space, as designer Tina Ramchandani did with these metal-frame seats.

ALI HARPER

17

Repurpose a Sunroom

Your dining room doesn’t have to be directly off the kitchen. Take inspiration from this dining room idea by Liz Bonesio and reposition your floor plan to the most sun-filled space. The walls of windows also keep this often formal space from feeling too stuffy.

Nicole Franzen

18

Give Yourself Options

While a grand dining room works well for those who love to host, an expansive dining table can feel cold for smaller groups. Inspired by restaurant booths and yacht interiors, designer Michael Ellison instead opted for two smaller booths so this family could dine easily, with guests or not.

sara prince

19

Keep the Bar Close By

Take a note from Rita Chan’s California home and incorporate your home bar into the dining room. This way, guests don’t have to go far to get a refill. This also provides valuable storage for serveware and special-occasion pieces you only want to pull out when company is over.

Nate Sheets Photography LLC

20

Embrace an Open Floor Plan

By having the formal dining table connected to the living room, guests (and little ones) aren’t forced to remain at the table to feel like they’re still a part of the conversation. And if you’re lucky enough to have a gorgeous view (or 100-year-old stained glass windows, as seen in this home by designer Annie Kern), opt for a simpler dining set, as seen in this dining room idea, to let them take center stage.

Tim Williams

21

Be There and Be Square

Rather than have all your dinner guests spread out across the dining room along a large, rectangular table, opt for a square table to bring them closer together. This version, designed by BHDM Design, still sits eight, but now everyone is equidistant. And no one is left on the end away from the bustling conversation!

Lisa Petrole

22

Pare Down the Palette

Limiting color lets the architectural details in your space shine. In this dining room, Magnolia styling director Ashley Maddox and designer Hilary Walker used a subtle palette to keep the focus on the cantilevered soffit and clerestory windows.

T

KEVIN J. MIYAZAKI

23

Switch Up the Seating

Cut to the ultimate center of attention: this circular four-seater tête-à-tête between two dining tables. “Having two tables allows a bit more coziness and intimacy,” says Jenna Gross of Colordrunk Designs, who designed this space for House Beautiful’s 2023 Whole Home. “In a room this size, it could get stuffy really fast.”

AMY BARTLAM

24

Bring On the Shapes

Jenn Feldman of Jenn Feldman Designs proves that a pared-down look can deliver major impact through shapes and sculptural pieces. This dining room idea makes a statement from every angle, from the geometric pendant light to the round table and arch chairs.

Christian Torres

25

Keep the Original Molding

Jordan Slocum and Barry Bordelon of Brownstone Boys built a modern design into this 1899 brownstone in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. The white dining room brightens up the space tremendously and allows the original molding to shine. “It’s got some of the most ornate, gorgeous plaster medallions and molding that we’ve seen,” Bordelon says.

Luke White

26

Add Rustic Touches

This dining room idea looks like it could’ve come straight from a storybook! Designer Marshall Watson used a traditional plate rack to showcase everyday dishes as wall art in this Swedish home. A vintage table and chairs with a blue gingham seat cushion add a touch of country charm.

Yoshihiro Makino

27

Prioritize Hosting Guests

In a West Hollywood townhouse that gets tons of light, Tamara Honey, the principal and creative director behind House of Honey, designed a space that invites guests to hang out. This dining room is meant to be enjoyed around the clock—not just at mealtime. “This space is used more for game night than formal dinner parties,” she explains. “We love that it feels sophisticated without being fussy.”

Ema Peter

28

Lead With Details

The gentle color palette of this dining room, designed by Gillian Segal of Gillian Segal Interior Design, gets an edge from black accents and contrasting textures. From the chain links of the chandelier to vintage table bases made of solid coral, each detail brings something unique to the space.

Rikki Snyder

29

Pair Blue and Gold

Next Wave designer Hilary Matt created a dining room that every color-obsessed homeowner will love. A bold cobalt de Gournay wallpaper fills the space inside the arch molding in this dining room. Paired with mustard velvet chairs, it gives a glamorous yet approachable invitation to sit down at the table.

Emily Minton Redfield

30

Install Grasscloth Wallcoverings

In an open-concept floor plan, a grasscloth wallcovering can “help define the dining space as its own,” says Julee Wray, lead designer and founder of Truss Interiors, who overhauled this Denver penthouse. This dining room idea is filled with special touches, including the Italian-made dining table and the console that features hidden freezer drawers to offer more food storage.

KEVIN MIYAZAKI

31

Opt for a Vibrant Color Story

Jenna Gross of Colordrunk Designs dressed this dining room in the guest quarters of House Beautiful’s 2023 Whole Home in head-to-toe coral, blue, and green. The custom pedestal table by Aronson Woodworks functions as a card table, home office, and spot for meals. The four velvet swivel chairs by Coley Home can be tucked under the table when the party is over.

Nicole Franzen

32

Revamp Black and White

Brit Epperson, founder of the design firm Studio Plow, took on the challenge of giving this historic San Francisco townhouse a makeover in just five weeks. With minimalist but high-end touches of black and sculptural art, she designed a home that feels current and elevated and can easily be built upon. This dining room idea showcases multiple finishes and materials with an airy, cool flair.

Francesco Lagnese

33

Honor Passed-Down Furniture

Phillip Smith was in search of a dining table for his Rhinebeck, New York, weekend house when “a friend of mine’s mother passed,” he says. “I adored her, and when my friend went through her things, she said, ‘There’s a table here with your name on it!’ I was nearly in tears.” The gray-blue patina looks beautiful next to the chrome chairs and green-gray wall paint. It also contrasts softly with the off-white ceiling.

Avery Nicole Photography

34

Make a Bookcase the Centerpiece

This dining room is full of eye candy, starting with the personal library that’s its centerpiece. Designer Sarah Stacey says, “For this bookshelf, we made sure to balance the styling of them not only on each shelf, individually, but throughout the entire bookcase so that your eye moves around.” The result, she adds, “showcases a refined taste and love for a curated life.”

Ema Peter

35

Paint It Dark Green

Here’s one way to bring the outdoors in with ease. The deep green walls of this dining room idea, designed by Gillian Segal Interior Design, create mystery and intrigue. The sculptural chandelier and mixed-material dining chairs add eclectic charm.

Douglas Friedman

36

Reupholster the Furniture

In the elegant dining room of this Manhattan duplex designed by Garrow Kedigian, a circa-1900 mahogany table is surrounded by antique chairs that were purchased at a Paris flea market and re-covered in a Schumacher velvet. The high-gloss finish of the deep berry blue walls reflects the ornate chandelier.

Justin Chung

37

Consider a Japandi Makeover

The Japandi design style of this dining room idea by Joel Wong and Amanda Gunawan of OWIU Design rings true. Natural light enters through the clerestory windows and plays on the plants, wood, and organic materials. The dining table is only a few inches taller than a traditional coffee table.

Add Color to Niches

38

Infuse Wall Niches With Color

It’s easy to fill wall niches in your dining room with decor, but you can emphasize them even more with a simple wallcovering. In this Virginia dining room, designer Joe Ireland used a handmade tissue wallcovering by Twin Diamond Studios to set an elegant backdrop for decorative plates.

Frank Frances

39

Mix Up the Upholstery and Finishes

If you like the idea of mixed dining chairs but still appreciate an element of cohesiveness, try different takes on a single style. Here, design duo Cortney and Robert Novogratz surrounded the 12-foot-long dining table in their West Village home with the same chair in several different neutral fabrics and wood finishes.

Roger Davies

40

Make Room for a Kids’ Table

Kids’ tables can certainly be cozy and chic. Just take it from this small seating area in the dining room of a California Victorian home designed by Alexandra Loew. Situated in the bay window, the setup serves as the kids’ table during big gatherings.

Read McKendree

41

Mix Dark Wood and Bright Colors

In designer Chauncey Boothby’s own dining room, Farrow & Ball Lulworth Blue paint—one of our favorite blue paint colors— coordinates perfectly with the Thibaut wallpaper to give traditional dark brown wooden furniture a youthful update.

Eric Roth

42

Fake a Banquette

For the coziest seating possible, pull up a cushy sofa as designer Liz Caan did in this dining room idea. You get the look of a half-banquette and the character of a vintage piece. Just pick one with lots of pillows for back support, and pair it with equally comfy dining chairs.

Thijs de Leeuw/Space Content/Living Inside

43

Make It Pink

Once used as a greenhouse, the dining room in actors Candice van Houten and Guy Pearce’s Amsterdam home is romantic yet playful. Designer Nicole Dohmen of Atelier ND Interior added a bubblegum pink dining table by Sabine Marcelis and pink striped Roman shades. The purple curtains match the walls and ceiling, giving the room an overall sophisticated yet lively feel.

Frank Frances

44

Choose a Mural Wallcovering

Tell a story or make a bold impact with a mural wallcovering like this one called Menagerie Chinoiserie in a custom colorway by Voutsa. Designer Courtney McLeod included a table with an acrylic topper and chairs in performance velvet that “shimmers and adds glam.”

Karyn Millet

45

Embrace the Coastal Grandmother Aesthetic

Keep it simple yet inviting with a dining room that coastal grandmother queen Nancy Meyers would surely approve of. Featuring a large wicker pendant, neutral chairs, and a textured rug, this dining room by designer Kari Arendsen is a prime example.

Helen Norman

46

Give It an Ancient Feel

To enhance the aged atmosphere of a barrel-vaulted ceiling made of Jerusalem stone in this Florida home’s dining room, designer Lauren Liess incorporated antiques, including the table, chairs, art, and limestone flooring.

Eric Piasecki

47

Go Red

Make a statement dining room idea with cherry red wall paint, red dining chairs, and a red rug. Elevate the look with gold accents, like the chandelier, mirrors, and console tables in this formal dining room by design firm Cullman & Kravis.

Ngoc Minh Ngo

48

Turn It Into a Tasting Room

If you’re a wine aficionado but don’t have the space for a separate cellar, let your dining room double as a place to store your collection. Built-in cubbies along one wall—like the ones in this room designed by homeowner Pam Schneider and architect Pospisil & Brown Architects—should do the trick.

Tessa Neustadt

49

Focus on Texture

With textured accents like woven wood shades and a natural fiber rug, you can easily amplify the warmth in your dining room. Keep the overall look simple with patterned curtains in neutral colors, like the ones in this dining room designed by Interior Archaeology.

Eric Piasecki

50

Think About Trim

Whether it’s on your dining chairs or along your walls, decorative trim can instantly upgrade any space. Just take it from this dining room designed by Cullman & Kravis, which features gold trim that wraps around the room’s walls and mimics the gold accent along the dining table’s bases.

Kelly Marshall

51

Add an Unexpected Detail

Designer Keita Turner livened up the dining room in this Brooklyn apartment by giving it unexpected details, like one mismatched chair out of four and a geometric mural that plays nicely with the burnt orange walls that surround it.

Paul Costello

52

Separate It With a Built-In Screen

Welcome light and airflow into your dining room with louvered oak panels, as seen in this North Carolina beach house by designer Barrie Benson. The built-in screen offers some separation while maintaining a spacious atmosphere.

Brie Williams

53

Balance Warmth With Formality

A matching table and chairs create cohesion in this eclectic dining nook designed by Ariene Bethea. Bolster pillows and custom throws make the corner nook extra cozy and multipurpose. Though it feels tailored, it’s still approachable and warm.

Brittany Ambridge

54

Separate Zones With Ceiling Wallpaper

A sunny shade of sisal wallpaper connects the open kitchen to the dining room and separates it from the seating area in this open-concept dining room idea designed by Halden Interiors.

BARBARA CORSICO PHOTOGRAPHY

55

Enable Indoor-Outdoor Flow

Kingston Lafferty Design created an indoor-outdoor dining room by extending a built-in table on both sides of a large window with accordion glass doors. The table allows for seamless flow when larger parties are dining. Visually, its glossy tile finish makes a stylish statement in a durable, weatherproof material. Plants also make the two spaces feel connected to each other.

Heidi Caillier Design

56

Stay Nimble

Whether you live in a small studio apartment or are designing a guest area in your home, this micro dining room idea, designed by Heidi Caillier, will steer you in the right direction. A slim antique table can seat four if needed (there’s an extra stool off to the side in the sitting area to the left, not pictured here), but it’s otherwise nestled against the wall to open up the floor plan. When it isn’t being used to work or eat, it can function as a makeshift island and prep area.

Nicole Franzen

57

Build a Library Wall

Animate the walls while also maximizing storage space with a custom wall-to-wall bookshelf in the dining room. Not only will this guarantee plenty of meal-time talking points, but it also eliminates the need for expensive wall art. Books add tons of color and style.

Stephen Kent Johnson

58

Customize a Banquette

Custom back cushions that match the seats create both cohesion and comfort in this dining nook designed by Studio Shamshiri. The wooden wall paneling warms up the darker elements and also reflects the more casual chairs across the table.

59

Build Extra Outlets

Does your dining table also double as a homework zone, cooking prep space, or home office? Optimize it with outlets as designer Heidi Caillier did here. (Bonus points if they’re pretty brass!)

Thomas Loof

60

Use Durable Fabric

Designer Welsey Moon clustered Lucite tulip chairs with padded seats around a casual Corian-topped table base. These pieces lighten the more formal mood of the deep blue velvet banquette, parquet floors, and antique mirror. And while that velvet may look fancy-schmancy, it’s actually outdoor-friendly and super durable.

Studio DB

61

Spotlight a Fireplace

Designed by Studio DB, this dining room idea is such a nice blend of warm and cool tones. The crisp white walls with pale blue-gray trim, sculptural chandelier, and color-block marble table are energizing, while the artwork, chairs, and sconces bring in warmth. The fireplace itself also delivers, creating a cozier environment.

Kendall McCaugherty

62

Allow for Circulation

The open floor plan in this Chicago family apartment, designed by Bruce Fox, called for cohesion between the dining and living room areas. So he opted for a color scheme with personal significance—it was inspired by a photograph taken of the family in London during spring. That soft peachy paint and deep pink sofa are reflected in the printed armchair at the head of the dining table; they also mimic the glow of the pendant light.

Heidi Caillier Design

63

Rework Vintage Items

Though contemporary in look and feel, this dining room idea, designed by Heidi Caillier, has a lived-in character. That’s thanks to vintage pieces like the carpet and light fixture, as well as nods to farmhouse style, from the decorative plate wall to the wooden table.

Roland Bello

64

Put Your Best Work on Display

If you throw a lot of dinner parties, your dining room is the perfect place to put your best artwork on display. The striking Kehinde Wiley painting defines the color scheme in this dining room designed by Miles Redd, from the reupholstered lime green chairs to the wallpaper and molding.

Annie Schlechter

65

Don’t Be Too Precious

New York City architect and designer Anik Pearson gave this remote Utah dining room a perfectly balanced personality. The polished details and fine craftsmanship, along with bold pops of color and beautiful artwor,k elevate the more rustic qualities without looking out of place or too delicate. The result is a refined ranch style.

Shade Degges

66

Rehab Your Basement

Designer Jae Joo gave this cellar in a Boston rowhouse a sleek upgrade with polished dark gray-and-black dining chairs and a simple dining table. She also painted the exposed brick and concrete floors a light gray and added a laid-back, neutral-striped rug. Rather than fighting with the bones, like the exposed stone, the new pieces complement this dining room idea.

Manu Rodríguez

67

Sneak In Storage

The playful pendant light and colorful wallpaper set the tone for this fun-filled family dining room designed by Rayman Boozer. A built-in drawer under the banquette provides hidden storage.

Romanek Design Studio

68

Reflect the Location

This Malibu dining room by Romanek Design Studio is a lesson in stylish restraint. The firm honored the SoCal backdrop with modern staples, industrial elements, a neutral color palette, and nature-inspired materials.

Simon Watson

69

Use an Unexpected Paint Color

Consider painting your walls a unique shade in a high-gloss sheen for a more formal and intimate atmosphere that’s also exciting and cheerful. “What makes this color happy is how saturated it is,” says decorator Suzanne Kasler of these walls painted in Seven Lakes by Glidden. Filled with eclectic yet traditional decor, the room also has a dignified European air to it.

Nicole Hollis Studio

70

Go Monochrome

Alternate seating between benches and chairs, but use the same finishes and upholstery for a consistent look, as Nicole Hollis Studio did here. To create a similarly modern and monochromatic dining room, paint the walls and trim white, choose simple black furnishings, and arrange black-and-white art asymmetrically to give the eye an interesting place to rest.

Thomas Loof

71

Hand-Paint the Floors

In the breakfast room of this 1930s home, designer Christopher Maya turned to bold hand-painted floors to make a modern statement in an otherwise traditional space. Matching floral curtains and walls add to the lighthearted feel.

72

Enhance Your Space

Unlike most dining room ideas, this one, designed by Leanne Ford Interiors, doesn’t use a large pendant light as its focal point. Instead, the focus is on the space itself. To enhance the beauty of a room like this one, work with raw materials like concrete, jute, and wood, and keep those beams exposed. An abstract painting in light clay tones elevates the dining nook even more.

Angie Seckinger

73

Try Lacquer

This dining room in a family home designed by Cameron Ruppert Interiors gets a dose of glam from blue lacquer. The upholstered chairs and beige-and-cream carpet lighten the mood.

Arent & Pyke

74

Perch by a Window

This dining room, designed by Arent&Pyke, is absolute design goals. From the mix of dining chair styles to the colored glass vases, architectural framework, and that expansive view, it’s a special backdrop for casual family meals and formal dinner parties alike.

JESSIE PREZA

75

Make It Multipurpose

Designer and homeowner Fitz Pullins opted for a bold blue that’s perfect for both daytime fun and dressier evenings, the ideal balance for a bonus dining space. A stool is great for extending mealtime into game night.

Anne Pyne

76

Get Moody

This moody dining room, designed by McMillen Inc.’s Anne Pyne, proves that formal doesn’t necessarily mean fussy. Rich jewel tone fabrics and lush layers of patterns bring the room to life, but they’re used with restraint so the modern-art-esque table and light fixture can also assert a more edgy and serious tone.

Leanne Ford Interiors

77

Mirror the Walls

Leanne Ford Interiors amplified this room with mirrored walls and then added texture with vintage chairs, a rustic dining table, an oversized paper pendant, and a shag rug. For a similarly laid-back look, lean eclectic artwork against the walls instead of hanging it.

David A. Land

78

Don’t Be Afraid of Color

A statement wall or ceiling in a fun, on-trend color is a great way to keep things fresh and interesting. We’re loving the way the lavender hue contrasts with the rustic turquoise pieces and traditional red barrel chairs in this cozy dining room.

Stephen Karlisch

79

Match the Kitchen

If you have an open floor plan in which the dining room and kitchen share a space, take note of this dining room idea designed by Jean Liu. The cabinets are super sleek and understated, and the hardware complements the pendants over the dining table perfectly.

Corey Damen Jenkins

80

Show Off a View

Corey Damen Jenkins created a versatile family dining room with all the right pieces. The rounded edges of the dining chairs, table, pendant light, and planter work together to soften the angular shape of the windows and room itself, yet the bare windows and view still set the overall tone.

David A. Land

81

Add Versatility

To truly get the most out of a dining room, invest in multifunctional pieces that enhance its versatility. For this family room in our 2019 Whole Home, Kentucky-based interior designer Chenault James created a table that converts from a coffee table to a dining table to a Ping-Pong table.

82

Get Creative

A large wooden table is a classic dining room piece, but if you want to inspire creativity, opt for a painted one like in this brownstone by Elizabeth Roberts Architects. Splatter paint sets the free-spirited scene, while the storage wall ensures order and organization.

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Robert McKinley Studio

83

Keep It Cozy

When you don’t have a ton of space for a long dining table, opt for something round. It’s easier to slide an extra chair up when guests are over, and it inspires good conversation. Robert McKinley Studio furthered the circle motif with a spherical paper pendant light but added contrast by sharpening the window trims with black paint, laying a square rug on the concrete floors, and hanging a small classic gilt frame.