DESIGN

Formal Dining Rooms are Back in Style: 7 Grand Spaces to Inspire You

DESIGNED FOR HOSTING FAMILY AND FRIENDS, PERFECT FOR DINNER PARTIES AND SPECIAL OCCASIONS

Black wall dining room wine room quartz chandelier Interior Designer Tampa

Black & Gold Dining Room with Wine Wall - Lisa Gilmore Design

Formal Dining Room Sets Have Returned

Open floor plans have been the go-to home layout for decades. However, not all homebuyers like an open concept; an increasing number of people prefer a traditional layout with separate rooms. 

And as traditional layouts have regained popularity in recent years, so have formal dining rooms.

Where open floor plans often combine the kitchen, dining room, and living room into one large space, traditional floor plans have separate rooms for each. 

Formal dining rooms give homeowners a separate space for dinner parties and special occasions– a space specifically designed for hosting family and friends.

We are sharing a few of the formal dining spaces that the Lisa Gilmore Design team has created that illustrate how these rooms can add richness and character to your home.

7 Luxury Formal Dining Rooms

These seven dining rooms display a range of vibes from modern to traditional, colorful to neutral, and maximalist to minimalist.

Transitional Meets Modern Dining Room

Mid-Century Dining Room - Lisa Gilmore Design

This mid-century formal dining room in St. Petersburg is a great example of mixing traditional and modern elements. Traditional pieces include an heirloom cocktail cart and vintage-inspired chandelier. For a modern twist, the Lisa Gilmore Design team included a banana leaf art print for a pop of color, and we collaborated with local artist Meaghan Scalise to create this hand-painted marbled mural.

Traditional Formal Dining Room with Sparkle

Farmhouse Dining Room - Lisa Gilmore Design

At first glance, this space may look like your traditional formal dining room but don’t miss the wow elements throughout. 

Our client didn't want this room to feel too stuffy and over-decorated, but also not super relaxed. The classic farmhouse chairs symbolize togetherness and evenings filled with conversations and memories around the table, paired with the leopard host and hostess chairs for a bit of approachable glam! 

And the crystal chandelier adds elegance to this beautiful Terra Ceia Island dining room in Manatee County.

Formal Dining Room with Bold, Hand-Painted Drapery

The first thing you may notice about this Tierra Verde formal dining room is the hand-painted drapery fabric from Porter Teleo. When Lisa chose this orangey-pink fabric, she knew it would frame the windows beautifully during a warm sunset. She paired the drapery with high-contrast, black-and-white patterns for a bold look.

The other focal point of this room is the brass banana leaf chandelier that Lisa designed and fabricated locally. 

Lisa Gilmore Design photo


Neutral French Modern Dining Room Interior Designer Tampa

Neutral, Earthy Dining Room with a Modern Twist

Our team chose a neutral and earthy color palette for this dining room to balance the colorful adjacent living room. We paired a distressed wood table with acrylic chairs and bench seating covered in woven fabric. We added handmade textile art for texture and an antique, French-style chandelier for a touch of old-world glam. 

Lisa Gilmore Design photo.

Black and Gold Dining Room with Wine Wall

This Snell Isle formal dining room’s details make it simply unforgettable. Your eye may be initially drawn to the room’s wine wall with lighted glass discovery boxes. 

But don’t miss the custom walls and wainscoting by T2TheS, a local millwork company, and the Currey & Company chandelier. 

Our team upholstered the dining chairs in Kelly Wearstler Graffito for Lee Jofa fabric and commissioned this large round dining table from Stine Custom Woodworks. The finishing touch was a gold corkboard-wallpapered ceiling. 

Colorful Formal Dining Room with Vintage Elements

Colorful Dining Room - Lisa Gilmore Design

This dining room has so many small touches that add character and glamour. The chairs and striking royal blue sideboard were vintage pieces our team had restyled locally. 

Another dazzling piece is the table, which is a beautiful black cheruse. The eye-catching chandelier is from Arteriors, and the majestic side lamps are vintage from the 1940s. The drapery, which is a beautiful chartreuse green silk with a hot pink grosgrain, pops against the room's black walls and white wainscoting.

Maximalist Formal Dining Room

This ranch-style home’s dining room is a visual feast for the eyes. The Lisa Gilmore Design team mixed old and new elements to create a space filled with conversation starters. 

Lift your eyes to the leopard-inspired wallpaper on the ceiling, then the blush-hued grasscloth wall coverings and chinoiserie drapery. For wall hangings, we added the client’s vintage plates gifted from her daughter and whimsical watercolor art for a bit more color boldness. The vintage Italian Murano glass chandelier illuminates the chartreuse performance fabric-covered host and hostess chairs and the client’s reupholstered and repainted dining chairs. 

Lisa Gilmore Design Tricks of the Trade

When our team of experts designs a formal dining room, there are a few things we like to keep in mind:

1. Consider the seating.

Different seating styles offer different energy and add personality to a dining room. Mix-and-match seating, matching chairs, and bench seats each add a distinct vibe to the space.

2. Dress the walls.

Interior designers are artists and each space is a canvas for us to create. That includes a room’s walls. We intentionally select a particular wallpaper, hand-painted details, and art to enhance a space’s aesthetic. If you really want to take it to the next level, don’t forget the ceiling!

3. Drapery is art.

Drapery is another way we had an artistic element to a formal dining room. Some homeowners want to save money by avoiding custom drapery, but this is one of those areas that make a significant impact on a space. It is an easy way to add color and visual height to a room.

4. Lighting can take a dining room to the next level.

Formal dining rooms often feel incomplete without a statement light fixture. Beyond its functional uses, the right light can add a unique element to the room, whether through its history, modern or traditional feel, funky shape, or custom design.

FAQs

1. What’s considered a formal dining room?

A formal dining room is often a separate room that is used for special occasions, dinner parties, and other entertaining. It may have doors, like pocket or French doors, that close it off from other rooms in the house. Formal dining rooms usually have a more elevated design than casual dining spaces and include a formal dining room set and high-end linens and dinnerware.

2. Are formal dining rooms still a thing?

Formal dining rooms became less popular when the demand for open floor plans increased, but in 2023, traditional floor plans and formal dining spaces are becoming more popular. In fact, a Rocket Homes survey found that nearly 50% of homebuyers prefer a traditional layout. And as a luxury interior design firm, we have designed many formal dining rooms for clients.

3. What is a good size formal dining room?

According to Spruce, the average size dining room in the U.S. is 14 by 16 feet. It’s important to keep your dining room’s size in mind when selecting a formal dining room table. We recommend a pathway of at least 36 inches from table to wall, although 42 inches is best and most comfortable for walking around when guests are seated.

We are glad to see that formal dining rooms are back in style, but when we work with a client, we place much more emphasis on what layouts and designs work best for their lifestyle and personality rather than what is trendy. Trends come and go, so your spaces should be a reflection of your life and preferences. 

To get more tips, see our projects, and find ideas for adding liveable glamour to your home, follow us on Instagram or sign up for our newsletter.

Lisa Gilmore Design is an interior design firm based in Tampa Bay, Florida that provides luxury design services to busy professionals. We are a full-service design firm that creates one-of-a-kind spaces through the use of artisan-crafted pieces, antique elements, and custom designs. Lisa Gilmore Design serves homeowners in Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Hyde Park, South Tampa, and worldwide. 

Four Condos. Four Different Styles.

Condo construction is on the rise in metropolitan areas, especially cities in the southern and western U.S. And with good reason. 

Living in a condo has its advantages. They are ideal for individuals and families who want to avoid the maintenance of a larger home, travel frequently, want community amenities, or enjoy being close to entertainment and businesses. 

But, there are a few disadvantages that make potential buyers hesitant to select a condo, including a lack of privacy and limited parking. 

Another potential drawback is the myth that condos limit a homeowner’s style and decor, because it is essentially a concrete box. That’s where we beg to differ.

Lisa Gilmore Design wants to inspire you to think outside the box when it comes to condos.

We want to spotlight four condo projects we have designed with four completely different styles.


  1. High Rise, High Style

This 2,000-square-foot condo has three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a den. The Lisa Gilmore Design team fully furnished the entire condo and renovated the kitchen and powder room.

Chic and glamorous interior design, luxury condo real estate, St. Petersburg , Tampa Bay, Florida

Lisa Gilmore Design | Seamus Payne Photography

One of our favorite parts of this project was the custom marble backsplash that we designed to go perfectly with the space - it's a true piece of art.

black and white kitchen, marble kitchen backsplash, luxury high rise, st. petersburg, florida

Lisa Gilmore Design | Seamus Payne Photography

The lighting selections, the millwork details in the raspberry-colored den, and the tile in the powder room were highlights as well.


2. Color-Blocked Painters Palette

Our team designed everything in this 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath, and den condo as featured in Florida Design. The project entailed everything from flooring and tile, to lighting, to paint and wallpaper, to all the furnishings.

Colorful, modern and artsy luxury condo in St. Petersburg, Florida

Lisa Gilmore Design | Native House Photography

One of the highlights of this project were the ottomans and area rug (pictured below) that we designed and fabricated exclusively for this home.

colorful and modern luxury interior design, high rise interior design, tampa bay florida

A moody den, complete with custom ottomans by Lisa Gilmore Design | Native House Photography

modern and funky area rug, luxury interior design_ lisa gilmore design

A custom designed area rug by Lisa Gilmore. Lisa Gilmore Design | Native House Photography

Another favorite was the red desk, which was custom designed and made by OTTRA, which is based out of Brooklyn, NY. Lisa met the owners of OTTRA several years ago during the Brooklyn Design Festival, and they were finally able to collaborate on this beautiful desk in the home office/guest room.

colorful home office interior design, bold art, modern living, lisa gilmore design, St. Petersburg, Florida

Lisa Gilmore Design | Native House Photography


3. Artful Art Deco

This 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo was featured in RUE magazine. The LGD team’s design included all the furnishings, converting the dining area into a music lounge, and the guest room into a home office.

art deco eclectic interior design, luxury high rise interior design, st petersburg, florida, lisa gilmore design

Lisa Gilmore Design | Seamus Payne Photography

The client had a wonderful collection of antique area rugs that were a treat to work with.

art deco interior design_eclectic living_antiques and modern living_ luxury high rise, st petersburg, florida, lisa gilmore design

Lisa Gilmore Design | Seamus Payne Photography

She also had several arts and crafts and art deco pieces, which allowed us to capture her spirit, while pairing the pieces with modern items for an updated look.

art deco interior design, eclectic modern interiors, luxury high rise interior design, antiques, st. petersburg, florida, lisa gilmore design

Lisa Gilmore Design | Seamus Payne Photography

art deco interior design, art collection, luxury high rise interior design, moody interior design, st. petersburg, florida, lisa gilmore design

Lisa Gilmore Design | Seamus Payne Photography


4. Fresh Hues Waterfront Retreat

This 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath condo project involved furnishing the entire space and assisting with hard surface selections. Lisa Gilmore Design created a bar lounge area that flows wonderfully with the living room, dining room, and kitchen - the ultimate entertaining set up!

vacation home interior design, coastal interior design, modern interior design, whimsical vacation home, florida waterfront living, lisa gilmore design, florida design

Lisa Gilmore Design | Native House Photography

One of the unique aspects of this project was the amazing use of the space with 80% of the selections being indoor/outdoor items. Because this is a beach condo, this helps increase the longevity of the space, and extend the living areas outdoors. We truly loved all our use of textiles, pattern and color here. It feels so fresh, exciting, and not at all overwhelming.

colorful vacation home interior design, coastal modern interior design, unique beach interiors, lisa gilmore design, waterfront living, florida home

Lisa Gilmore Design | Native House Photography

And, this was also a special project because we designed the banana-leaf chandelier in the living room with a local metalworker and electrician.

coastal interior design, colorful interiors, artsy interior design, luxury waterfront living, florida, lisa gilmore design, porter teleo fabric

Lisa Gilmore Design | Native House Photography

brass banana leaf lighting, chandelier, luxury interior design, unique lighting, lisa gilmore design

Lisa Gilmore Design | Native House Photography

Despite their box-like layout, condos actually make a fantastic blank canvas for a designer to infuse your personality and style into your home. By combining unique colors, custom furnishings and lighting, and luxurious flooring, we can highlight the best features of your space and show off one of the best aspects of condo living– an abundance of natural light and incredible views.

To get more tips, see our projects, and find ideas for adding liveable glamour to your home, follow me on Instagram or sign up for our newsletter.