Traditional Dining Room with a Dado Rail Ideas and Designs

Mekenzie France Photography
Design ideas for a medium sized classic enclosed dining room in Charlotte with white walls, medium hardwood flooring and a dado rail.

Blairwood

Cari Berg Interior Design

Medium sized traditional enclosed dining room in Los Angeles with white walls, dark hardwood flooring, no fireplace and a dado rail.

Suburban Family Home Renovation

Kelly Nelson Designs

Albert Yee
Photo of a traditional enclosed dining room in Philadelphia with blue walls, dark hardwood flooring, no fireplace and a dado rail.

Modern meets traditional home in the suburbs

Olamar Interiors

Tinius Photography
Traditional enclosed dining room in DC Metro with blue walls, dark hardwood flooring and a dado rail.

Seeley Dining Room

Michael Abrams Interiors

This is an example of a traditional dining room in Chicago with beige walls, dark hardwood flooring, brown floors and a dado rail.

Brentwood Regency Estate

Elizabeth Dinkel

(Photo Credit: Karyn Millet)
Inspiration for a classic enclosed dining room in Los Angeles with green walls and a dado rail.

Transitional Dining Room

Inspiration for a classic dining room in Other with grey walls and a dado rail.

A. Rejeanne Interiors Portfolio

A. Rejeanne Interiors

Central Park West, Manhattan
Classic dining room in Boston with grey walls, dark hardwood flooring, beige floors and a dado rail.

Bethesda Calm + Cool Refresh

Julie Geyer Studio LLC

Our clients wanted to refresh a dated dining room. The before boasted rust colored grasscloth, plantation shutters and brown/rust/olive color scheme. We wanted to give this space new life by adding white walls, millwork and some bright, fresh furnishings.

Atherton

Studio LOC

Traditional dining room in San Francisco with blue walls, dark hardwood flooring, brown floors and a dado rail.

Traditional Home

Silvergate Homes Ltd.

Jason Hartog Photography
Photo of a traditional enclosed dining room in Toronto with white walls, dark hardwood flooring, no fireplace and a dado rail.

Interiors

Matthew Bolt Graphic Design

Photo: Matthew Bolt Builder: Amerisips Homes
Classic dining room in San Francisco with brown walls and a dado rail.

Some of Our Most Recent Work

Angelletta, Inc.

Small traditional enclosed dining room in Tampa with brown walls, ceramic flooring, no fireplace, beige floors and a dado rail.

Dining Room

W Design Interiors

Scott Hargis
Photo of a classic dining room in San Francisco with grey walls and a dado rail.

Christie Hines Designs

This is an example of a classic dining room in Chicago with a dado rail.

Navy Blue Dining Room

Diana Kennedy Interiors

Photos by Laurie Hunt Photography
Design ideas for a small traditional enclosed dining room in Boston with blue walls, light hardwood flooring, no fireplace and a dado rail.

Iowa Drive

Dennis Mayer - Photographer

Dennis Mayer Photography
Design ideas for a traditional enclosed dining room in San Francisco with orange walls, dark hardwood flooring and a dado rail.

1998 Showcase

Witt Construction

Photo of a traditional dining room in New York with beige walls, medium hardwood flooring and a dado rail.

Arthur Rutenberg Home

William Quarles Photography

Photography by William Quarles. Custom Built Home by Arthur Rutenberg Homes/Chuck Lattif, President Coastal Premier Homes LLC/clattif@arhomes.com
Design ideas for a classic enclosed dining room in Charleston with beige walls, dark hardwood flooring and a dado rail.

Dining Rm. w/ ocular skyliight and orb light fixture

Andre Rothblatt Architecture

This is an example of a traditional dining room in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood flooring and a dado rail.

Traditional Dining Room with a Dado Rail Ideas and Designs

For many of us, our dining rooms are combined with our kitchens or living rooms and so it’s hard to give them a defined style or design, whereas many people who do have a separate dining room often overlook redesigning the space because it is used fairly infrequently. However, if you can make your traditional dining room or dining room area an inviting but practical space to eat with friends and family, then you’ll have no excuse not to be the ever gracious dinner party host and make the most of your traditional dining space. Dining room ideas can range from the dramatic overhaul of layout, walls, doors, fireplaces or lighting features, to the refresh of furniture such as dining tables and chairs, or even smaller details such as dinnerware, cutlery, chair covers and small decorative features. So whether you are looking to completely redesign your dining room or you’re just looking for some traditional dining room decorating ideas, you’re bound to find some inspiration from other homeowners, designers and stylists who’ve uploaded images of their dining rooms on Houzz.

How should I choose my dining room table?

Dining tables can be large, imposing pieces of furniture and so it’s a good idea to choose your table first and plan your decor around them. Comfort and ease of movement in dining rooms is key – even though we spend most of our time sitting, it’s preferable not to dine in cramped quarters (and crucial as a host to be able to move around the table to serve your guests). When choosing your dining room table, consider the number of people you expect to regularly seat – the perfect size for a dining table allows an intimate meal without feeling crowded. A round table leaves plenty of room for serving food at its centre, but a rectangular table is more flexible for seating extra guests at either end. If you’re after true versatility, drop leaf or extendable dining room tables are the most convenient option. The material of your selected table will set the character of your room. Glass dining tables look sleek and modern, whilst a pine or oak dining table will lend dining rooms a rustic country vibe. For a more traditional dining table opt for a dark polished wood like mahogany. Check out all the dining room decorating ideas on Houzz to see how different materials of dining table are incorporated into different rooms.

What are the best dining chairs for my table?

If your table hasn’t been sold with matching chairs then you have some extra flexibility to select dining chairs that suit your desired dining room feel. For traditional dining rooms you will want to opt for a full set of high backed formal dining chairs, whether these are upholstered, leather or wood framed. If you are looking for a more informal dining room, then a selection of mismatched chairs in different materials such as moulded plastic and even metal can be a great way to achieve this. For a really relaxed dining experience, you could even opt for a full length bench, which has the additional advantage of saving space as it can be tucked away under the table when not in use.

How should I decorate my traditional dining room?

Elegant, neutral palettes are the safest dining room decorating ideas for smaller rooms, creating a calm dining environment for your guests. Pattern in a dining room can be a great choice to create drama but in order to not overwhelm your guests you might want to stick to a few stand-out elements – for example, wallpaper, curtains or chair covers. If you are lucky enough to have a large formal dining room then you could consider bold, opulent shades for your walls to create a grander feel. Your tableware and serveware should ideally be chosen to coordinate with your decor choices, but if all else fails keep it white, bright and simple. Lighting is also key to your dining room decor – aim for dimmable light that you can adjust to create the mood that will allow your guests to relax but still be able to see their food. Low pendant lights directly over the dining table are both practical and striking, or for large formal dining rooms you may want to opt for a traditional chandelier hung from the centre of the room. Additional wall sconces along the walls can be a great way to brighten up the room for late night dinner parties, and don’t forget how a couple of candles along your dining room table can add a delicate, finishing touch. Discover more of these popular design photo ideas.

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