This built in leather banquette makes this breakfast nook the favorite place for the family to gather. Not just to share a meal but a comfortable place, so much more comfortable than a chair, more supportive than a sofa, to work on their laptop, do homework, write a shopping list, play a game, do an art project. My family starts their day there with coffee checking emails, remains their for breakfast and quick communications with clients. Returning later in the day for tea and snacks and homework.

275 East 7th Street

Jeffrey Cole Architects

Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury open plan dining in New York with beige walls, cork floors, a corner fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and beige floor.

Mid-Century Addition

Studio B Designs

Studio B Designs
Photo of a mid-sized midcentury open plan dining in Dallas with grey walls and cork floors.

LED Lighting Enhances Architecture at Night

Michael Norpell's Wall To Wall

Space is defined in the great room through the use of a colorful area rug, defining the living seating area from the contemporary dining room. Gray cork flooring, and the clean lines and simple bold colors of the furniture allow the architecture of the space to soar. A modern take on the sputnik light fixture picks up the angles of the double-gabled post-and-beam roof lines, creating a dramatic, yet cozy space.

Mid-Century Modern Kitchen

Sogno Design Group

Photo by Michele Lee Willson
Mid-sized midcentury kitchen/dining combo in San Francisco with cork floors.

Parquet Flooring cork tiles design

iCork Floor

Three toned "Birch" or "Bamboo" pattern. Forna's 6mm Silver Birch, Bleached Birch and Gray Bamboo team up to create this patterned cork tile floor. https://www.icorkfloor.com/store/product-category/cork-tiles-6mm/

My Houzz: A Northwest Home Honors Its Midcentury Roots

Ellie Lillstrom Photography

Photo: A Darling Felicity Photography © 2015 Houzz
Inspiration for a small midcentury separate dining room in Seattle with cork floors.

Nantucket Culinary Centre

Nantucket Looms

The adjacent dining room is designed with a touch of elegance. The walls are a Venetian plaster in a pale pink color. The custom paneling found along the walls is warm brown with a silver finish. The decorative painting in the dining room as well as in other parts of the building was also done by Riptide Finishes. The large dining table and Lee Industries upholstered chairs, will accommodate up to sixteen. The dining table is custom-built by Palu in a bourbon brown finish hard wood harvested from the Appalachian mountain region (made in the US). The cork floor, one of the many acoustic features of the building, help control the sound, since multiple events could be taking place. Other features in the dining room include a gas fireplace, a wet bar and a wine cooler. It is a lovely room to enjoy the labors of all that cooking.

Mid-century Preservation

Ashby Collective

Mid-sized midcentury dining room in Austin with cork floors, brown floor, brown walls and brick walls.

Arlington Addition for Music

aMortonDesign

Robert Umenhofer, Photographer
Design ideas for a small traditional kitchen/dining combo in Boston with orange walls, cork floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Craftsman Bungalow

Suzi Brock, CKD

After
Inspiration for a large arts and crafts dining room in Atlanta with cork floors.

For the Love of MCM

Sklar Studios

So much eye candy, and no fear of color here, we're not sure what to take in first...the art, the refurbished and reimagined Cees Braakman chairs, the vintage pendant, the classic Saarinen dining table, that purple rug, and THAT FIREPLACE! Holy smokes...I think I'm in love.

Mid-Century Great Room

Visual Jill Inc.

The dining space is divided from the living room by built-in storage. Photos by Peter Lyons
Photo of a mid-sized midcentury open plan dining in San Francisco with cork floors.

High-Rise Condo - Contemporary Look

Provanti Designs, Inc

This is an example of a small contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Seattle with beige walls, cork floors and no fireplace.

Mid-Century Modern Renovation

Honor Homes

The Dining Room has a fantastic original wood ceiling and a cool, long buffet. We had to move the slats in the ceiling to paint behind them and add a coat of poly to the wood. We also had to raise the floor to be even with the breakfast room and kitchen so we could add cork floors throughout. We repaired and adjusted the buffet and reinforced the support so it has many more years of storing china.

Midcentury Modern Home Remodel

User

This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury kitchen/dining combo in Other with blue walls, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and cork floors.

Ballard Home Remodel

Potter Construction Inc

NW Architectural Photography
Small arts and crafts kitchen/dining combo in Seattle with cork floors, beige walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Entertainment Haven

Severine Secret Interiors - Go2 Design Studio

Christy Wood Wright
This is an example of a small midcentury dining room in San Francisco with beige walls and cork floors.

Hill Farm

Interior Trends Remodel & Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Phoenix with white walls, cork floors and multi-coloured floor.

Private Residence

AND Interior Design Studio

AND Interior Design Studio Anne Norton-Dingwall, Designer
Photo of a large contemporary separate dining room in San Francisco with yellow walls and cork floors.

Brown Dining Room Design Ideas with Cork Floors

A dining room can be used for casual dining, integrated into an open plan and connected to the living and kitchen areas; or as a formal space reserved solely for entertaining. While it may not be used frequently, it is a great focal point in the home, and requires little furnishings. Here's what you need to consider before you start planning a new dining room...

How will you use your dining room?

First, consider how frequently you will use the space. If you plan on using your dining room on a daily basis, a casual dining set-up with sturdy, long-lasting furniture is best. As for where you position it – well, any unused space in the home can be converted into a casual dining space, whether it be at the end of a kitchen island, or at the bottom of the stairs. A formal dining room, on the other hand, is more suited to a dedicated space, which is more common in heritage homes where space originally wasn’t at a premium. Perhaps you want your dining room to multi-task and accommodate everyday meals, homework sessions and grown-up dinner parties… If that’s the case, furniture is key. Look for versatile dining tables in either Australian or New Zealand hardwood or weathered timber for a more rustic look. These won’t show up sticky fingerprints as much and can be dressed up for guests.

What size and shape should your dining table be?

Your dining table should be able to seat all family members with some room for additional guests – each person should have at least 60 centimetres of space at the table. The right size, however, also depends on how much room you have. A general rule of thumb is to leave no less than 1 metre from the dining table to the wall or any additional furniture, so people have enough room to comfortably move around the space. Rectangular dining tables are versatile and can work in a variety of settings, while oval dining tables are more traditional and can turn any meal into an occasion. If you have a tight space to work in, a round dining table is best, and also a great option if you want to encourage conversation. A square dining table can be a dramatic addition to a dining room, but only if you have the space. It allows everyone at the table to see each other, but the bigger the table, the harder it will be able to hold a conversation with someone at the other end.

What type of dining chairs should you choose?

Once you’ve decided on a dining table, look for dining chairs that share a common design element. If your dining table legs are curved, for example, try to match them with dining chairs that have a similar curve, either in the legs or back. Next, consider the dimensions of the chair. The height of your dining chairs should allow at least 30 centimetres between the top of the seat and the top of the table. And to keep your tush happy, avoid dining chairs narrower than 45 centimetres.

How can you decorate your dining room?

Dining rooms are relatively minimal spaces, but that makes them a great place to splash a little colour through artwork, especially if yours is a formal dining room. If your dining room is lacking warmth, consider painting the walls a deep shade of red or blue, or go contemporary with black or grey. A cosy rug will make the space feel more intimate, while a sideboard or cabinet of curiosities will further personalise the space. Often overlooked, dining room lighting can also drastically alter the mood of a room, creating drama, spurring romance or encouraging conversation. Opt for soft lighting in the dining area with dimmer switches, and choose oversized pendants in large, open spaces or to make the dining area more of a focal point. Finally, add some table settings, such as a lace tablecloth for a whimsy feel, or a more basic table runner for a chic look. If you need some help designing your dining room, consider checking the Houzz directory of interior designers, home stylists, cabinet makers and more!