Whether it’s a party of 10 or dinner for two, the best dining rooms make guests want to linger a little longer. With standout features like soaring ceilings and bold artwork, to quirky details like fun floral wallpaper or chevron-patterned floors, each of these dining rooms is warm and inviting in its own way.
In this streamlined dining room, vases and bowls in simple shapes add sculpture without overwhelming the space — making them perfect for those who love minimalist design.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home April 2012
Designer: Katherine Yaphe
Designer James McIntyre was sure to incorporate the homeowner’s love of fashion into this space. James used gold accents to complement the room’s classic black and white palette, and upholstered chairs with a graphic circle print.
Photographer: Colin Way
Source: House & Home October 2016
Designer: James McIntyre
Full-height windows give this cottage’s relaxed dining room the feeling of eating al fresco. Though the space stays bright well into the evening in the summer months, a Gothic-inspired chandelier casts a soft, intimate glow after sunset.
Photographer: Stacey Brandford
Source: House & Home August 2016
Designer: Natalie Hodgins and Shannon Morrison, Sarah Richardson Design
A blue floral-patterned wallpaper brings color and personality to this otherwise formal space. Bay leaf stems on the table are a fresh alternative to flowers.
Source: Courtesy of
Studio McGee
Designer: Studio McGee
A mirrored vintage-modern console is a standout feature in this dining room. Designers Michelle Lloyd Bermann and Christine Ralphs chose to furnish the space with low profile pieces to give it a luxe, lounge-like feel.
Photographer: Stacey Brandford
Source: House & Home March 2014
Designer: Michelle Lloyd Bermann and Christine Ralphs, Lloyd Ralphs Design
In this dining room by designer Nam Dang-Mitchell, an Ellsworth Kelly poster and textural woven tray make a sophisticated, tailored vignette.
Photographer: Colin Way
Source: House & Home March 2016
Designer: Nam Dang-Mitchell
Actress Kim Catrall’s dining room has a rustic, understated elegance thanks to furniture in simple shapes and plenty of natural woods.
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Photographer: Janis Nicolay
Source: House & Home November 2016
Designer: Kim Cattrall
In this chic Manhattan apartment, a three-tiered Fortuny ceiling fixture floats above the table and adds an element of whimsy to the dining room. When coupled with a sleek glass-topped table and gold-rimmed Regency chairs, the space has a polished, couture-like feel.
Photographer: John Gruen and Maxime Desbiens
Source: House & Home October 2016
Designer: Narrow Kedigian
Artist Bobbie Burgers painted a large-scale floral piece to introduce color and texture in her own dining room. On the table, a vase filled with forsythia nods to the standout art.
Photographer: Kim Christie
Source: House & Home May 2015
Designer: Bobbie Burgers
This Caribbean dining room truly brings the outdoors in with pale coral stone walls and light porcelain slab floors. Vibrant blue chairs add a punch of tropical color.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home May 2012
Designer: Rafael Selman
The owners of this home chose upholstered stick chairs for their warmth and softness — and ability to keep dinner guests comfortable well after the last course. A deep blue sisal rug grounds the space and complements the design’s earthy tones.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home July 2016
Designer: Margot Bell, Peaks & Rafters
Designers Michelle Lloyd and Christine Ralphs didn’t want this dining room to feel too decorated, given its laid-back location in Muskoka. To create a space that felt breezy and inviting, they opted for relaxed furniture pieces, including a trio of wicker pendant lights and a black settee.
Photographer: Donna Griffith
Source: House & Home May 2013
Designer: Michelle Lloyd and Christine Ralphs, Lloyd Ralphs Design
The chevron-patterned floor and lavish gold light fixture steal the show in this glamorous dining room by designer Steven Shadowitz.
Photographer: André Rider
Source: House & Home November 2015
Designer: Steven Shadowitz
A black wicker pendant and bamboo peacock chair create a striking focal point and add drama to this small-space dining room.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home September 2016
Designer: Sabrina Albanese
No dining room would be complete without delicious food and wonderful company. In architect Jenny Francis’s space, two pendant lights hover over a long harvest table, shining a spotlight on the meal below.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home February 2016
Designer: Stacey Smithers and Lauren Petroff