Family dining room design ideas

Traditional dining room ideas

Kemble 4ft 7" dining table with six chairs / Bench / Kemble large dresser

For a traditional take on your family dining room, consider opting for painted furniture. Our Kemble range spruces up the bland and boring thanks to its mix of subtle lavender undertones and rustic solid oak surfaces to give a classy New England feel to your dining room.

The table already comfortably seats six, making it ideal for any growing family. Plus, it’s extendable meaning your dining room becomes the port-of-call for family celebrations and special occasions as your whole clan can gather at yours. To shake up the seating arrangements, try swapping out chairs for a bench - your kids will fight over a chance to sit there meal after meal.

Selecting a dining set is almost always the right way to go. Not only do a matching table and chairs create a clean and cohesive look in the heart of your home, but our sets make it simpler and more affordable to achieve your dream family dining room.

Dining room lighting

Crossley dining table / Upholstered Curve Back dining chair

Dining rooms are always the most homely when filled with plenty of natural light, making breakfasts and weekend lunchtimes a cheery family affair. Bring your table close to this source of natural light to achieve this effect - and let there be light.

Yet accent lighting plays just as much of a role. Whether you have an open plan kitchen-diner, a large window or neither, it’s always important to illuminate your table with a pendant or spotlight to draw attention to the room’s focal point. Consider warmer bulbs or candles to achieve a cosier mood.

Contemporary dining room ideas

Bridle 4ft 9" dining table with six chairs / Brindle small dresser / Brindle small sideboard

A modern yet elegant family home also cries out for painted furniture. For a welcome blend of old and new, our Brindle range offers a contemporary twist to traditional farmhouse dining. The rounded cornices of the collection make for a dining table that will be at the centre of your home for years to come as it makes everyday dining feel like an occasion. Plus, the Brindle dining table is extendable.

Why not also harmonise the rest of your dining room to its centerpiece? The smooth, sleek sage finish of all the Brindle dining room furniture keeps your palette neutral, emitting a cool, calm feel that allows the colour to come from your cooking. Dressers and sideboards are also optimised for style and function, giving you space to display ornaments and for storing all the bits and bobs of a busy dining room, like crockery and cutlery.

Casual dining room ideas

Brooklyn dining set / Brooklyn bench / Brooklyn large sideboard

Not all dining experiences have to feel like an occasion: often, you want to create a family dining room that anyone feels welcome to sit at. Those with ultra-modern taste will be attracted to the industrial style of our Brooklyn range, giving you a taste of New York loft living no matter where your home is.

The strength in this urban look lies in the table’s impactful design and its marriage of natural oak and high-quality metal. Inviting you to live life on the edge, our Brooklyn dining sets come either with six chic bistro chairs or with two chairs and two benches, giving you the opportunity to surprise and delight guests when they arrive for Sunday dinner.

Dining room colours

Rhodes 3ft breakfast table with two bar stools

Breakfast bars also have an air of casual communal dining to them thanks to their inherent fun factor - long, clean lines, experimental levels and the fact that they’re so different from your standard dining room table.

Ramp up the excitement the Rhodes 3ft breakfast table brings by playing with colour. Adding feature walls that pick from a vibrant yet limited colour scheme gives you a chance to showcase your family personality. Consider subscribing to the geometrics trend or going for Mediterranean-inspired tiling.

Dining room table centerpieces

Shay 4ft dining table / Loop dining chair

If you want your dining experience to feel complete, you may want to arrange a beautiful table centerpiece. These are most effective when they compliment your dining room’s overall design scheme and even the most simple of ornaments can add a bit of joie de vivre to your table.

This is especially effective if you have a round dining table as it can bring the table setting together. Not only do they offer an intimate dining experience for your family, but they also are space savers in dining rooms that sit on the small side.

Create your perfect dining set for your home using our dining set builder online today.