Dining rooms tend to fall into two broad camps these days. You have those set in a space all of their own, quite separate from the kitchen and living space, often found in older houses, where they were used only sporadically, for special occasions. Then you have dining room ideas that are either completely, or partially, open to the kitchen which undeniably make more sense on a day-to-day basis. Perhaps the ideal is to have both.
Either way, these are spaces that have to multitask, being up to the job of seating the household for meals, dealing with inevitable spills, food odours and so on, all at the same time as feeling welcoming – somewhere everyone looks forward to coming together to dine.
Being a room that has to be both practical as well as warm and inviting means your flooring needs careful consideration. Our collection of ideas are here to show that dining room flooring can be easy-to-clean, durable and beautiful, all at the same time.
1. Enjoy the best of both worlds with engineered timber
Engineered wood flooring is such a practical option for all kinds of spaces within the home and, where both warmth and practicality are the order of the day, which they are when it comes to dining room design, it just makes sense.
"For dining room flooring, the ideal choice balances durability with visual warmth," picks up Paul Moody, global marketing and insights director at Havwoods. "Engineered wood flooring is particularly well suited, offering the natural character of real wood alongside enhanced stability – an advantage in spaces that see regular use and occasional spills."
"Engineered flooring is incredibly hardwearing and can handle everything a busy dining area throws at it," agrees Adam Robertson, MD at Urbane Living. "Spills wipe clean in seconds, and with a lacquer finish, you get added protection against scratches and stains without compromising on style."
Paul Moody is the Global Marketing & Insights Director at Havwoods, where he leads global marketing strategy, customer insights, digital growth and brand development for one of the world’s leading wood flooring brands. Alongside his role at Havwoods, Paul has also served as a judge for the British Institute of Interior Design Awards for the past three years, supporting and celebrating excellence across the interior design industry.
Adam Robertson is the co-founder and managing director of Urbane Living, a specialist flooring company recognised for its expertise in parquet, bespoke carpets and runners. With a background in design and a strong eye for detail, Adam is passionate about all things related to quality timber, from floorboards to wall panels.
2. Create a bright and breezy space with pale large format tiles
Large format floor tiles, in a fresh, pale shade, are perfect for creating a bright and breezy dining space and work particularly well in orangery kitchen extensions thanks to how easy they are to clean.
If you are worried that tiles might feel a little sterile, María D Arráez, director of Tile of Spain UK, has some advice. "To ensure tiles don’t feel cold or sterile, it’s important to focus on finish and styling. Warmer tones, textured surfaces and designs that replicate natural materials such as wood or stone can instantly soften the look.
"Pairing tiles with underfloor heating also enhances comfort, while adding a rug beneath the table helps to introduce softness and define the dining zone," adds María."
María D Arráez is the Head of Tile of Spain at the Spanish Embassy's Commercial Office in London. She is responsible for the promotion of the Spanish ceramic tile industry in the UK and supports the Tile of Spain members in their export strategies to the UK.
3. Soften the scheme with a large area rug
Rugs come in handy for so many things around the home – for helping to visually zone a room, to protect carpets, add a welcoming touch to your hallway flooring and, in the case of dining rooms, to soften the overall look and help add a cosy feel.
"A better solution than overall carpet is engineered wood flooring paired with a large area rug," advises Adam Robertson. "This approach gives you the best of both worlds: the warmth and comfort of a soft surface underfoot, combined with the durability and easy maintenance of timber."
"An area rug is a smart alternative to a fitted carpet beneath the dining table," adds Kirsty Barton, brand storytelling manager at Alternative Flooring. "It’s a perfect way to define the space, either layered over carpet or placed on top of wooden floors to protect the flooring below. Adding a protective rug pad underneath allows you to avoid the hassle of buckling, wrinkling and sliding. Not only does it secure your rug in place, but it also extends its lifespan and protects your floors."
Shop area rugs
Given that this rug is machine washable, it would be ideal for placing under your dining table. It comes in a wide range of colours and sizes and has a non-slip backing too.
This 100% jute rug, with its smart herringbone border, comes in sizes right up to 300cm x 400cm. It has a non-slip backing and is ultra-flat, meaning it sits well under furniture.
Inject some vintage appeal into your dining room with this rich red rug, which also happens to be machine washable and non-slip. It also comes in lots of other designs.
Kirsty is brand storytelling manager at Alternative Flooring. She has almost 20 years working in the carpet industry and roles within alternative flooring ranging from sales, customer services to purchasing.
4. Combine practicality with on-trend visual appeal
Some interior trends seem to burst onto the scene and then just stick – and terrazzo flooring and finishes is one of them.
Terrazzo is a type of stone flooring made using marble chippings which, while traditionally set into cement are now more often embedded into epoxy resin or polyacrylate.
As a dining room flooring, terrazzo works perfectly – it has a naturally busy look which is a life saver when it comes to hiding crumbs and spills – plus it is super hardwearing and easy-to-clean too.
5. Soften the whole look with natural flooring
While there is no denying the fact that carpets are a little more high maintenance than most hard floorings, you shouldn't rule them out altogether if you have your heart set on this route.
Natural flooring is a great option here, although not all are created equal. You need to do your research. Materials such as jute, made from plant fibres, are beautifully soft underfoot, but tend to be pretty absorbent, making them better for low-traffic.
Kirsty Barton has some advice on the best options. "Sisal is great at bringing organic depth into dining spaces. Its tactile, woven appearance helps to soften the look of everyday wear. It benefits from quick attention to potential stains, but choosing flecked tones or patterned weaves may make marks seem less noticeable, helping maintain its natural charm."
6. Vary floor laying patterns to zone an open-plan room
Where your dining room is either fully, or partially, open to another space, such as is often the case with open plan kitchens, you can use your flooring to zone the areas.
With tile, engineered timber and even LVT, changing the laying patterns or directions is a subtle, yet really effective, way of doing this. Alternatively, consider using a different tile or laying pattern beneath the dining table to turn the whole area into a feature.
Herringbone is a particularly popular pattern in dining rooms and Ian Tomlinson, MD at Chaunceys Timber Flooring, reveals why. "Parquet flooring options such as herringbone can work well because there is more colour variation across the floor and any scratches are more difficult to spot."
Chaunceys Timber Flooring is a family-run company based in Bristol with Ian becoming the Managing Director in 2012. They have been supplying sustainable, high-quality timber flooring to homeowners, award-winning architects, design and build companies, and renowned interior designers since 1988.
7. Achieve a minimalist look with 'seamless' tiles
Large format, stone, porcelain or ceramic floor tiles are perfect for achieving the sleek, minimalist polished concrete look without spending a fortune – plus they are far easier to lay on a DIY basis, particularly in the case of porcelain, which is more lightweight than natural stone.
Both rectangular and square tiles work well here and by matching the colour of the grout to the tiles, you can achieve a seamless look which is perfect if you are after a modern finish overall.
Tiles are also a highly practical choice, as María D Arráez explains. "Dining room flooring needs to strike a balance between practicality and atmosphere. Porcelain and ceramic tiles are a strong choice, thanks to their durability and resistance to spills, stains and everyday wear – ideal for a space centred around dining and entertaining."
8. Open up the design options with LVT
LVT flooring, also known as luxury vinyl tile, is such a practical choice in dining rooms – plus it also happens to be very affordable.
Lauren Levy, design manager at Amtico Flooring, explains why this is an option to consider. "In a multifunctional space used for everything from relaxing to playing games to socialising, LVT flooring is a great option. Built to withstand it all, without compromising on style, it’s a practical and affordable choice for busy households where design and durability go hand in hand."
LVT also comes in all kinds of colours, patterns and finishes, including wood effect, making it perfect for kitchen flooring too.
Lauren Levy is a Design Manager with over 20 years’ experience in the interior design industry and 14 years specialising in flooring design for global Residential and Commercial markets. With a background in textile design and production, she brings a refined eye for colour, texture and materiality, creating flooring that balances beauty, performance and everyday living.
9. Take steps to protect your new flooring
While certain types of flooring are undoubtedly more prone to damage than others, it makes sense, particularly in the dining room where chairs get pulled in and out, furniture tends to be on the heavier side and all manner of spills and stains occur, to take precautions.
Paul Moody has some tips on protecting an engineered wood floor. "Practical steps, such as using pads on chair legs and quickly wiping up spills will help preserve the floor's appearance."
Ian Tomlinson also points out that some types of wood flooring are a better choice than others in a dining room. "Be careful when selecting the finish. Lighter floors for example show wear more quickly, and therefore require more care to maintain the look. In general, darker wood flooring will be more forgiving in the long run. Shiny finishes, such as gloss or satin, can highlight scratches, especially on darker floors. For a more discreet look, we recommend an ultra matt finish.
"A textured floor can also help conceal scratches," he adds. "Consider options like brushed, sawn and brushed, or distressed wood for added durability and a rustic appeal."
10. Play around with parquet designs for added interest
The popularity of parquet flooring and herringbone patterns seems to be enduring, and in a dining room, these kinds of designs work so well.
Firstly, they are great at masking dents and dirt, and secondly, they open up the possibility of playing around with pattern, mirroring their chevron design elsewhere in the space for a fully cohesive end result. If you like this idea, be sure to look into how to lay parquet flooring first – it can be a tricky task.
If you are worried about the durability of this type of floor, it is worth noting that engineered timber is usually well-placed to withstand daily dining room life, as Ian Tomlinson explains. "One of the key advantages is its superior structural stability. The multi-layer construction, featuring a hardwood top layer bonded to a birch plywood base, resists natural expansion and contraction caused by heat and moisture, making it suitable for most environments including kitchens, and dining rooms."
11. Add a little grandeur with traditional tiles
If you have the luxury of a separate, 'special occasion' dining room, you might like to consider decking it out in a more traditional, grand style, complete with floor-length curtains, richly-coloured walls and, of course, a stone, or stone-effect, floor.
If you love the idea of furnishing your dining room so that it looks fit for a banquet, flagstone or chunky square tiles, interlaid with smaller coloured tiles work brilliantly.
Worried stone flooring will feel cold underfoot? Sophie Chapman, associate and interior designer at The Vawdrey House has some advice. "Stone or tiled floors can work beautifully, but it’s important to soften them with rugs or underfloor heating so the space feels comfortable rather than cold."
A founding member of The Vawdrey House, Sophie oversees the design team bringing her trademark energy & creativity to projects. With a BA in Interior Design & Environmental Architecture, Sophie develops unique furniture packages, styles projects & loves sourcing trips to antique fairs and French brocantes.
12. Think about how your furniture will tie in
Your flooring ideas and the colour and finish of your walls will form the backdrop of your dining room, but do consider how your furniture choices are going to sit alongside them, just as you would when designing a living room.
Dining room furniture is usually pretty sizeable, with the dining tables and chairs and perhaps a sideboard or dresser, being the most prominent items in the room. It pays, therefore, to consider how they'll sit against your flooring from a visual perspective.
One approach is to match materials and colours, while the other is to choose something in complete contrast in order to allow each element to fully stand out. The choice is yours, but make sure your decision results in a space that looks considered.
13. Choose a carpet with extreme care
As we've already said, fitting carpet in a dining room is probably the least practical option, but that doesn't mean you have to give up on the idea altogether. The key thing here is to understand a little about the different types of carpet out there.
When choosing a carpet, Kirsty Baton recommends a 'faux carpet', meaning one that is made from synthetic, as opposed to natural materials. "A faux carpet is a great choice as its easy maintenance offers peace of mind against spills and stains. With so many great options to choose from, whether it’s plush velvety finishes or sisal look-a-likes that bring texture and a natural aesthetic to the room. These smart materials deliver impressive stain resistance, are easy to clean, and remain soft and stylish underfoot.
"Keeping to a regular cleaning routine tailored to your carpet type is the best way to stay ahead of everyday crumbs, chair movement and the occasional spill," adds Kirsty. "This helps maintain its appearance and prolongs the life of your flooring, even in high-traffic dining spaces. Choose products that are designed specifically for the fibre – whether that’s a WoolSafe or a CleanSeal approved kit."
What is the best type of flooring for a dining room?
This very much depends on your individual needs, the look you are aiming for and the type of space you are working with. For example, in a more formal, rarely used, space, you could get away with something less durable, purely chosen for its aesthetic appeal. If this is a dining space that will form past of your family kitchen ideas, however, something hardwearing will be the best option.
Sophie Chapman sums up the options. "Timber is often a strong choice as it brings warmth and character while standing up well to daily wear, particularly when properly finished. Stone or tiled floors can also work beautifully, but it’s important to soften them with rugs or underfloor heating so the space feels comfortable rather than cold.
"Finally, carpets can be used, particularly in more formal settings, but it’s worth choosing a texture or pattern that will age well over time. Ultimately, the flooring should feel cohesive with the wider scheme while supporting how the room is really used."
Whether you are dealing with a hardworking space, such as a hallway or kitchen, or one designed to sink back and relax in, make sure you know the most common flooring mistakes homeowners make – that way you can avoid doing the same. And, if you're still not convinced you need a separate space, find out just why dining rooms are back in fashion.
