78 Dining Room Decor Ideas For a Stylish Entertaining Space

Formal dining rooms have gone by the wayside in many modern homes, deemed too stuffy for contemporary living. But having a dedicated room with a large table set up for the purpose of sharing a meal is a luxury.

If your home includes a formal dining room, it shouldn't be treated an afterthought or decorated like a stage set that gets used for special occasions just a few times a year.

From wall paint to wallpaper, furniture to lighting, and decor and accessories like rugs and art, there are endless ways to style your dining room to suit modern lifestyles and design styles.

For inspiration, check out these dining room ideas that are designed for sharing memorable meals with family, hosting dinner guests, or serving as an bonus space for reading, studying, or working from home during off hours.

Accent With Metallics

This bright and breezy Melbourne dining room from Australian interior designer Nicole Rosenberg of Liberty Interiors has simple, clean lined furnishings in a mix of white and wood tones.

A single boldly colorful piece of art and a pair of shiny copper Tom Dixon pendant lights that gleam even in daytime tie the entire room together.

Modernize the Farmhouse

This 19th century farmhouse from AHG Interiors mixes authentic charms like rustic ceiling beams and hardwood floors with 20th century wishbone chairs and modern lighting to create a homey place to gather and share a meal.

Add Sculptural Elements

Interior designer Jessica Davis of Atelier Davis added a set of dining chairs upholstered in matching blue ultrasuede that creates a formal look for this dining room space.

But she styled it for off-duty days with a voluptuous glass vase filled with branches and a collection of small sculptural objects on the table that carry over to the sideboard styled with books and art on the walls.

Try a Round Table

If your dining room is a pass-through space, consider a round table that will keep circulation flowing and eliminate unwelcome encounters with sharp corners.

In this design from Sissy + Marley Interiors, a classic Saarinen table is paired with wishbone chairs, adding some midcentury modern flair to a modern farmhouse-style renovation.

Hang a Gallery Wall

This dining room designed by Velinda Hellen for Emily Henderson Design has a fresh modern feel with its white walls and natural materials like wood and rattan, while a gallery wall with a mix of modern and vintage prints and a set of French bistro chairs makes it feel like it wasn't designed yesterday.

Reinvent a Classic

This sleek dining room from Leanne Ford Interiors mixes a clean palette of black, white, and wood accents, while a modern update on the classic china cabinet featuring black metal and glass grid doors occupies the far wall.

Embrace the Rainbow

While many people add color to their dining rooms with a rug, this Florida dining room from Lisa Gilmore Design skips the rug altogether and adds in a free-spirited use of color.

From the patterned drapes to the artwork to the wallpaper and seating area, this space makes the formal retro style feel current and unique.

Swap White Walls for Cream and Beige

In this NYC dining room from Chango & Co., warm shades of cream and beige on the walls provide a softer feel than stark white while still providing an excellent counterpoint for graphic black accents and pale tones of wood.

Add a Library

Many people use their off-duty dining rooms for studying or working from home.

This dining room by Marie Flanigan Interiors features a wall of floor-to-ceiling shelves that follow the pitched curve of the roof and provide endless reading material while adding color and life to the room, making it the perfect setting for Zoom calls, homework sessions, dinner parties, or hosting the book club.

Choose a Wall-to-Wall Rug

While you might be tempted to choose a dining room rug that just fits the table and chairs, this nearly wall-to-wall striped rug from Becca Interiors makes the case for going bigger, anchoring the space and setting the relaxed but stylish tone in this farmhouse-inspired Southhampton surf retreat.

Install Wallpaper Panels

Adding wallpaper to the dining room is an easy way to make an impact.

In this dining room from Candace Mary Interiors, the wallpaper is applied in panels that are framed out by wood detailing for a slightly formal effect.

Mismatch Your Chairs

A vibrant gallery wall full of art and objects that doesn't take itself too seriously, a vintage chandelier, and a jumble of colorful mismatched chairs make this dining room from Fantastic Frank playful, cheerful, and inviting.

Choosing a variety of seating makes your dining room feel spontaneous and collected over time.

You can mix styles and colors as seen here, or choose different styles in a single color palette such as white or black.

Or you can compromise by combining three different pairs of chairs around a table that you can shuffle around at will.

Build in a Bar

This handsome black, white, and blond wood dining room from Raili CA Design features a seamlessly built-in floor-to-ceiling bar that is functional and decorative at the same time, displaying bottles and glassware on open shelving.

Add Airy Light Fixtures

Chango & Co. suspended a pair of Danish wood pendant lights over the dining table of a light-flooded, window-filled dining room that add a semi-transparent natural sculptural element while preserving the room's voluminous and airy feel.

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Add a Floor Mirror

The dining room is a great place to decorate with mirrors.

Blogger Ursula Carmona from Home Made By Carmona leaned a tall, gold-trimmed floor mirror against her dining room wall, which reflects both natural light and the light cast from the large central chandelier, while doubling the perception of space by increasing sightlines.

Try a Linen Tablecloth

A linen tablecloth can make your dining room feel cozier, like this Scandi dining room from Fantastic Frank that adds a homey touch without feeling too formal thanks to its naturally rumpled appearance.

The same fabric was used on the window treatments to tie it all together.

Add Classic Wainscoting

This Swedish country dining room from Fantastic Frank has a wainscoting detail around the perimeter of the room with a classic picture ledge that is sparsely decorated with art and objects as a nod to history without feeling too stuffy or old-fashioned.

The wood detailing is painted in a dark, warm gray that grounds the room and creates a relaxing and homey atmosphere.

A cherry red armchair in the corner provides an off-duty place to rest as well as a bright color accent.

Hang Oversized Lighting

Three large modern pendant lights are suspended from the beam in this airy and spacious dining room from Chango & Co., anchoring the 12-seat table and helping to create a sense of intimacy in the high-ceilinged room that makes guests feel more comfortable when sharing a meal.

Choose Colorful Chairs

This updated 70s Pittsburgh home from Leanne Ford Interiors has a sunroom dining room with wraparound windows and whitewashed finishes that has sweeping views of the outdoors.

A set of buttercup yellow Panton chairs with groovy vintage curves lets the sunshine in even on cloudy days, and provides a color accent that wakes up the design.

Make It Cozy

This small dining room designed by Ryann Miller For Emily Henderson Design is located just off of the kitchen, making it a pass-through space.

While it can be a mistake in a small space to push the furniture against the wall, in this case it makes sense since the table is set for two most days.

And on those occasions when there are more people at the table, it can be pulled away from the wall and floated in the center of the room to provide space for extra seating.

Deck Out the Ceiling

This dining room from Christina Kim Interior Design has a reclaimed wood ceiling detail that contrasts with the white shiplap walls, adding warmth, texture, and a surprise element.

Shiny gold pendant lights add contrast with the dark wood tones, and fluffy seat covers draped on the backs of chairs create a cozy and inviting feel.

Pair Navy With Gold

Deep saturated navy paint on the walls makes a strong foil for gold accents in this dining room from Tyler Karu, while a mid-toned wood table and natural leather chairs adds contrast and a modern touch.

Warm gold-toned accents also work well against other dark, saturated colors such as charcoal, green, brown, or off black.

Style With Candlesticks

A chunky blond wood dining table and striking black chairs and decorative accents make this dining room from Forbes + Masters look modern, sleek, and ready for action.

Tall black tapered candlesticks of varying heights add interest and keep the table from feeling too stark and bare when not in use.

Incorporate a Buffet

This built-in buffet with an arched opening from A Beautiful Mess is painted in a feel-good shade of pink.

Thick wood floating shelves that match the warm tones of the dining room chairs and table are lined with a collection of tableware, and the sideboard is a nice spot for flowers and setting out dishes for family-style eating or as a dessert bar.

Add a Dramatic Accent Wall

This dining room from Michelle Berwick Design is defined by a multicolored flower bomb accent wallpaper wall that is a conversation starter and a mood booster that's easy to achieve, and simple to change out when it's time for something new.

The designer used the same wallpaper in the breakfast nook in the adjacent kitchen to tie the spaces together.

Keep It Traditional

This dining room from Nile Johnson Interior Design is a lively take on traditional style that mixes soft pistachio green wall paint with a crystal chandelier, a red and blue toned vintage rug, antique carved wood sideboards, and a mix of comfortable upholstered chairs in shades of blue and white to create a well-appointed and memorable spot for gathering with friends and family.

Hang Tall Drapes

This dining room from interior designer Tyler Karu is warm and inviting, with its honey-colored wood tones, leather seat covers, dramatic woven pendant light, and homey table lamp with a warm fabric shade set on the sideboard.

The pale butterscotch-colored floor-to-ceiling drapes add coziness and provide light control as well as privacy, particularly for evening dinner parties or if your dining room is visible from the street.

Mix Old and New

In this dining room from Michelle Berwick Design, an antique dining table is mixed with a modern sideboard and chairs, showing how easy it can be to combine old and new elements if you stick to a neutral color palette and focus on choosing interesting shapes and balancing proportions to fit your space.

While some may object to the use of animal skin rugs for ethical reasons, a cowhide rug beneath a dining table is easy to vacuum and the surface can be wiped clean with a damp cloth for most spills (but good luck if you spill a beverage of any sort).

Add Built-In Storage

This dining room from Leclair Decor has a contemporary version of an old school built-in sideboard wall with surrounding storage cabinets for dishes, tableware, and seasonal decorations to maximize storage space.

A large bronze-framed mirror bounces around light and creates a sense of depth on an otherwise flat wall.

Plant a Tree

This dining room from Jenn Pablo Studio mixes upholstered bench seating with wooden dining chairs to create a serene and minimalist look.

A potted indoor tree perched in the corner brings the room to life and a bit of the outdoors inside.

Try a Transparent Table

If your dining room is located in a pass through or a small space, using a transparent glass or lucite table will lighten up the room, reflect light, and allow your choice of dining room chairs to stand out, like this dining room designed by Velinda Hellen for Emily Henderson Design.

Match Walls to Drapes

This sepia-toned dining room from Forbes + Masters has hand-painted wall and window treatments that create a unique three-dimensional look that is a step beyond the usual dining room wallpaper.

Keeping the palette limited to shades of white, beige, and brown keeps the bold design from overwhelming.

Incorporate a Banquette

Interior designer Alvin Wayne added an olive green corner banquette to this NYC dining room to create a cozy and intimate feel, finishing off the space with a round table, a couple of chairs to provide extra seating, and large-scale tropical leaf wallpaper in earthy shades of brown and green.

Celebrate Midcentury Style

This sunny California dining room from Jenn Pablo Studio mixes warm wood, natural sheepskin, a vintage metal pendant light, and a round midcentury modern style dining table, plus plenty of greenery and flowers both inside and outside the floor-to-ceiling windows to create a chic and laid back place for meals, drinks, card games, and conversations with timeless midcentury modern appeal.

Use Paint to Define Spaces

Soft blue-gray paint on the wall paneling helps define this coastal Sea Girt, New Jersey dining room from Christina Kim Interior Design, framing the open view of the entry, stairs, and home office, which is painted in a darker shade of blue.

Using variations on blue and white throughout the home reinforces the coastal theme while creating enough variation to keep it interesting.

Add a Quirky Chandelier

Dining room pendant lighting can be used to anchor the table, define the space in an open area, add ambient light, or start a conversation.

This Scandi dining room from Fantastic Frank has classic black wood spindle back chairs, a simple white table, and a playful pair of wineglass chandeliers that is quirky and fun.

Use Bench Seating

If you're working with a narrow or limited space, adding a bench on one or both sides of the dining table reduces visual clutter and will save you having to push chairs in and out as you pass by, like this historic farmhouse renovation from interior designer Kara Mann in Westchester County, NY.

Make It a Piano Bar

This dining room from Fantastic Frank features an upright piano, turning it into a music room by day and the perfect place for impromptu after-dinner entertainment.

While adding an upright piano to your dining room is a sure way to add ambiance, it can also be a practical decision if you don't have enough space in the living room.

Add Rustic Elements

A simple farm table, vintage wooden folding chairs with an aged and weathered patina, and an old watering can in the guise of a vase creates a sense of history in this simple and humbly decorated cottage dining room from Leanne Ford Interiors.

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Hang Graphic Wallpaper

This coastal San Francisco dining room from Leclair Decor has white shiplap-clad vaulted ceilings, a neutral color palette, and black-and-white wallpaper that adds a soft modern graphic element while preserving the light and airy indoor/outdoor feel.

Add a Coffee Bar

Blogger Annie Diamond from Most Lovely Things added a self-serve coffee bar station adjacent to her dining room that's set up for convenient morning coffee and after-dinner espressos, and helps free up space in the adjacent kitchen.

Open storage and floating shelves house mugs, table linens, and other essentials.

Repurpose the Fireplace

Even an unused fireplace adds atmosphere to a room. In this cozy dining room from Brexton Cole Interiors, an antique fireplace is painted glossy black and its empty firebox is stuffed with books, an eye-catching decorating move that might otherwise strike fear in a book lover's heart.

Cover the Walls With Art

Interior designer Tyler Karu used a maximalist take on the gallery wall to turn every wall in this 1700s farmhouse dining room into an excuse to hang an assortment of framed art.

Antique French chairs, a modern table, and sculptural knotted rope pendant lighting completes the eclectic look.

Choose Retro Furniture

This vintage wood, glass front china cabinet from A Beautiful Mess adds some nostalgic vibes to a modern dining room and houses a collection of colored glassware.

A sculptural round table, a simple globe pendant light, and rattan chairs complete the neo retro look.

Show Off a Wine Collection

This spacious suburban dining room from Kate Marker Interiors is all about the bling, from the oversized modern crystal chandelier hanging over the table to the showy adjacent metal and glass-front wine cellar that gives diners a view of the owner's impressive collection of bottles.

Try an Oval Table

The dining table is the anchor piece to your dining room design. While it's hard to go wrong with a classic rectangle, depending on the shape of your room and your preferences, you can also choose a round, square, or oval table.

This DIY oval table inspired by the Saarinen classic from A Beautiful Mess is paired with Eames Eiffel-style chairs, pink walls, green plants, and a midcentury modern-style sputnik pendant light, preserving flow in a relatively small space.

Use Muted Colors

Rustic ceiling beams, muted taupes and soft black accents, copper and earthenware accessories, and a mix of wood finishes from the farm table to the flooring makes this farmhouse dining room from Ashley Montgomery Design a timeless and calming spot for gathering.

Add a Living Wall

This Florida dining room from interior designer Maite Granda has a floor-to-ceiling living wall that brings some scene-stealing, feel-good outdoor vibes into the contemporary space.

If you don't have the budget for a floor-to-ceiling green wall, adding plants or a preserved moss wall hanging will create a similar if less dramatic effect.

Hang Pendant Lights Low

Hang the pendant light or chandelier low over the dining table to create a cozy feel in even the most formal of dining rooms.

Marie Flanigan Interiors chose a modern fixture to complement the vintage midcentury round table and chairs in this dining room decorated with a wallpaper mural.

Hang Large-Scale Art

A trio of large abstract large-scale paintings will add a hint of color and create a focal point in a modern dining room, like this otherwise all-white space from Louis Duncan-He Designs.

Slipcover the Seating

Add slipcovers to give your dining room chairs a cozy feel. Leanne Ford Interiors paired tall chairs slipcovered in neutral fabric with large-scale floral wallpaper in this Pittsburgh home.

Try Tile Flooring

If your dining room is open to the kitchen, consider running the same tile throughout the space for a cohesive look.

Studio Peake chose a bold and colorful geometric pattern that adds contrast with light wood furniture and decorative ceiling beams.

Try Copper Lighting

Choose a shiny copper light fixture to brighten a moody farmhouse dining room, like this space from Marie Flanigan Interiors.

Include a Writing Table

Many people use their off-duty dining rooms as de facto home offices. But if you have the space, add a stylish writing table with a reading lamp and a chair that can be used instead, keeping your table free for meals, like this space from Desiree Burns Interiors.

Mix Styles

Create an eclectic atmosphere in your dining room by mixing styles, periods, and moods.

Marie Flanigan Interiors paired a large modern pendant light with dark antique furniture, a vintage mirror, and comfortable modern seating in this New York City dining room.

Keep Floors Bare

Keep dining room floors bare for an airy look that will allow natural light to fill the space and create intriguing shadows during the daytime as the light changes.

Tyler Karu Design + Interiors positioned a long dining table in front of a wall of glass doors in this waterside midcentury modern home for a tranquil feel.

Modernize With Furniture

Modernize a formal dining room in an older home with bold furniture.

Desiree Burns Interiors chose a dining table with rounded edges and visible wood grain, a carved sideboard, a modern floor lamp, and mixed wood and bouclé chairs for a comfortable organic modern feel.

Style the Sideboard

Style your sideboard with flowers and a striking table lamp to animate an off-duty dining room or add a special layer of decor when entertaining, like this space from Marie Flanigan Interiors.

Anchor the Table With a Rug

Anchor the dining table with a rug to define space or protect hardwood floors from scratches, like this light and airy space from Desiree Burns Interiors.

Play With Scale

Add drama to your dining room by playing with scale. Forbes + Masters used matching honey-toned chairs on the long sides of this modern dining room table, then added a pair of large black thrones on either end to create contrast and set a place for the co-heads of the table.

Pair a Round Table and Rug

Pair a round table with a round rug for a harmonious feel, like this small dining room from Desiree Burns Interiors.

Try a Vintage Dining Set

While many modern dining rooms mix styles and periods when choosing dining tables and seating, a vintage midcentury modern dining set will add character to a modern space.

Pair it with a bold rug in a wavy retro pattern like this space from Michelle Berwick Design.

Hang Grasscloth on the Wall

Mix wainscoting with grasscloth on the wall above to create a textured feel in a formal dining room.

Tyler Karu Design + Interiors mixed shades of smoky blue for a moody feel that is contrasted with light wood flooring and seating.

Hang a Collection of Photos

Create a mini gallery wall in your dining room with a collection of photographs. Desiree Burns Interiors hung a set of color photographs in neat rows and matching white frames that add interest to a tranquil space with light blue-gray walls and natural and wood accents.

Paint a Black Accent Wall

Paint a black accent wall in your dining room that will ground the space. Leclair Decor paired matte black wall paint with black furniture and flooring, accenting with plenty of white and warm woven tones to create a pleasing balance.

Hang a Crystal Chandelier

Hang a crystal chandelier above your dining table for a classic look.

Kate Marker Interiors chose a delicate fixture that adds contrast with rustic exposed wood ceilings and complements traditional furniture for a light and airy feel.

Accent With Black

Accent a light and airy white-walled dining room with black accents to add definition and graphic details, like this streamlined space from interior designer Alvin Wayne.

Set Up a Bar Cart

Create a mini bar in your dining room by setting up a bar cart. Erin Williamson Design displayed turquoise stemware and a collection of bottles on a vintage-style stepped glass and metal dining room bar cart that pops against dark gray walls.

Add a Mediterranean Feel

Add a modern Mediterranean-inspired feel to your dining room with sculptural furniture, light wood flooring, a neutral palette, and a potted olive tree in the corner, like this space from Leclair Decor.

Go Big in a Small Space

There's no reason that a small dining room has to sacrifice style. Interior designer Alvin Wayne gave this compact New York City apartment dining the royal treatment with sculptural modern furniture, a vintage wood sideboard, a striking pendant light, and a landscape mural on the wall that adds contract with the skyline views.

Try Board and Batten Walls

Use board and batten to add texture to a neutral dining room, like this space from Louis Duncan-He Designs.

Style the Fireplace Mantel

If you live in an older home with a dining room fireplace, style the mantel as seasons change.

Leanne Ford Interiors decorated the classical mantel in this formal dining room with a mix of art, objects, and dried flowers that make the space feel a bit more casual and inviting.

Prioritize Pale Woods

Give a modern dining room a light and minimalist feel with pale wood flooring and furniture, white walls, and modern lighting, like this space from Sissy + Marley Interior Design.

Use Earth Tones

Use warm earth tones to create an inviting feel. Twelve 15 Design Studio mixed mustard wall paint, dark gold-colored drapes, and olive green upholstered chairs in this formal dining room, finishing it off with a brass chain and globe light pendant.

Create a Gallery Effect

Turn your off-duty dining room into a showcase for a collection of sculptural tableware.

Marie Flanigan Interiors displayed neutral bowls, vases, and other vessels on the large dining table and a pair of plinths to create a modern art gallery effect.

Pastel wallpaper and a dramatic modern pendant light complete the upscale look.

Decorate With Antiques

Add authenticity to an older home by decorating it with period furniture and decor. Tyler Karu Design + Interiors took care to honor the Federal-style architecture of this 1700s family home in Newburyport, MA with a mix of vintage and antique furnishings and custom pieces that create a timeless and elegant feel.

Embrace Minimalism

Cathie Hong Interiors created a soft minimalist San Francisco dining room with clean lines and warm wood tones, from the herringbone floors to the dining table and chairs, that reflected her clients' Asian heritage and love of Danish design inspired by a trip to Copenhagen.

Choose Transparent Lighting

In this this light and airy dining room from Cathie Hong Interiors, a glass bubble chandelier with a variety of blown glass globes of varying sizes and heights adds light over the dining table while keeping the focus on the room's clean lines, warm wood tones, and expansive views of the outdoors.

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Read the original article on The Spruce.