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Dining Room Ideas

With tips for updating an aesthetic, planning a full renovation, or adding functional storage, these dining room ideas include a combination of professional advice and inspiration from real customer homes to help inspire your next project. Discover dining room decor ideas that cover the benefits of common colours, such as black, green, and grey, as well as those that explain the available styles of cupboard doors, from classic shakers to simple slabs. These kitchen dining room ideas cover convenient joinery ideas that keep dining areas defined in open plan layouts, as well as how to update dining room decor to craft a space suitable for both relaxing evening meals and hosting friends and family. For more style advice, check out our room ideas.

Dining Room Style Ideas

Scandi dining room idea with light grey slab doors, black handles, a custom oak bench, an oak table and pink chairs.

1. Style With Slab Simplicity

Cupboards and drawers provide a handy home for tableware and keep clutter neatly hidden away. To enhance a pared-back scheme, @bobbins.at.home opted for understated slab doors in a neutral tone. This creates a subtle backdrop while ensuring that essentials are stored close at hand.

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Farmhouse dining room idea with a light grey tower cupboard, a dark solid wood dining table, bench and stool chair.

2. Channel Shaker Charm

Framed door fronts are a timeless choice for traditional dining areas. @edwardiancorbett used shaker-style doors to match the vintage look of their dining space. Slotting neatly into an alcove, this unit has the appearance of hand-crafted furniture, while also providing plenty of space for essentials.

See Shaker Kitchens

Dining Room Colour Ideas

Black dining room idea with built-in tower cupboards, gold knob handles, a custom bookshelf, oak floors, and an oak ladder.

3. Be Bold With Black

Dark schemes create an intimate atmosphere that turns @jamesduhan’s dining area into one for entertaining and relaxing. From hosting parties to enjoying night-caps, black doors upgrade this layout. This set-up also keeps cookbooks in close reach and makes a great spot for storing records.

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Grey dining room idea with a white table, grey velvet chairs, white tile floors, and light grey shaker base cupboards.

4. Gravitate To Grey

A neutral, grey tone offers long-lasting appeal in any dining area, as demonstrated by @ldhomeinterior. This adaptable shade will remain stylish as trends and tastes change, and allows the design to be easily updated without the cost of replacing the door fronts themselves.

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A green sideboard complete with lighting and a television, in a room decorated with floral wallpaper

5. Look To Leafy Green

Extend an organic palette by choosing green for dining room cabinets. @fred_sirieix made a custom sideboard which complements the natural theme of his wallpaper. This bold look creates a calming and cosy dining area suitable for hosting and serving drinks to guests.

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Dining Room Decor Ideas

7. Switch To Dresser Doors

Our dresser cupboards make it easy to recreate the look of vintage furniture. The glazed fronts turn hand-picked plates and glassware into decorative, eye-grabbing items, adding a custom touch to any dining area. It is also straightforward to swap out accessories, providing a fast and affordable style refresh.

See Dresser Kitchen Cabinets

Farmhouse dining room idea with an oak table, blue velvet chairs, exposed brick wall, and navy shaker base cupboards.

8. Choose Solid Wood Worktops

Hardwearing solid wood worktops are a great option for busy dining areas. @victorian.house.renovation enhanced their space with authentic timber tones and patterns. Regular upkeep ensures that they withstand water and stains, making this a handy spot when serving up dinner or putting on a party spread.

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A light grey bar inside a dining room alcove, with open timber shelving and blue wall panerlling.

8. Bring A Bar To Life

Regular hosts are sure to be impressed by @charlotte-rose-designs, who crafted a home bar set-up that fits neatly into a dining room alcove. This dining room decor idea incorporates a bottle rack, open shelving, and cupboards to keep tipples organised and glassware close, for a unique design made for cosy nights.

See Wine Coolers

9. Personalise Panelling

Panelled or moulded walls bring character to a dining room, creating a relaxed ambience for eating and entertaining. Some of our joinery products come primed and ready for painting, which makes it easy to customise a dining area with a stand-out shade, which is good for defining an open-plan layout.

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10. Choose Flowing Floors

To further enhance a spacious feel in their dining area, consider herringbone or chevron-patterned floorboards that draw the eye through the layout. Made from low-maintenance vinyl or laminate, they are a great choice for busy homes as it can be easily wiped clean when spills occur.

See Chevron Laminate Flooring

Howdens Shaker 6'6 x 2'6 Oak 4 Panel Clear Glazed Door"

11. Go For Glazed Doors

Glazed internal doors are an excellent choice for compact dining rooms, as they provide an open plan look and can make layouts feel more joined up. They make dining spaces feel big and bright by allowing natural light to flow through the home from other rooms.

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