Elegant Mid-century Living | Kimball Starr

Modern light-filled home is designed with a relaxed elegance that revolves around family comfort with a stylish flair. Unique sculptural and art elements inspired by nature echo the family's love for the outdoors, while the select vintage pieces and ethnic prints bring visual warmth and personality to the home

Built-in Dry Bar

VMAX LLC

Photography Anna Zagorodna
Photo of a small midcentury separate dining room in Richmond with blue walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

Cutting Edge Contemporary - Home Remodel

McCutcheon Construction Inc.

The new dining room while open, has an intimate feel and features a unique “ribbon” light fixture. Robert Vente Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury open plan dining in San Francisco with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, grey floor and a tile fireplace surround.

Mid Century Interior Renovation

KOSS design+build, pllc

View of great room from dining area. Rick Brazil Photography
This is an example of a midcentury kitchen/dining combo in Phoenix with concrete floors, a tile fireplace surround, grey floor, white walls and a two-sided fireplace.

Updated Mid-Century Post and Beam

Lauren Shadid Architecture + Interiors

Dining Room Remodel. Custom Dining Table and Buffet. Custom Designed Wall incorporates double sided fireplace/hearth and mantle and shelving wrapping to living room side of the wall. Privacy wall separates entry from dining room with custom glass panels for light and space for art display. New recessed lighting brightens the space with a Nelson Cigar Pendant pays homage to the home's mid-century roots. photo by Chuck Espinoza

Inwood Place

Cuppett Kilpatrick Architecture + Interior Design

Brick by Endicott; white oak flooring and millwork; custom wool/silk rug. White paint color is Benjamin Moore, Cloud Cover. Photo by Whit Preston.
This is an example of a midcentury dining room in Austin with white walls, light hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Mandeville

Lewis / Schoeplein architects

Marisa Vitale Photography
Design ideas for a midcentury open plan dining in Los Angeles with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

Long Beach Midcentury Modern

Soko Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury kitchen/dining combo in Los Angeles with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Mid-Century Modern Highland Park West Home

Mosier Luxury Homes

This is an example of a large midcentury open plan dining in Austin with light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and wood.

Long Dune Lane, Truro

Hammer Architects

Peter Vanderwarker
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury open plan dining in Boston with white walls, a two-sided fireplace, light hardwood floors, a concrete fireplace surround and brown floor.

Mid Century Modern Addition

Kipnis Architecture + Planning

This is the addition to a early 1960's split level. The addition encloses a family room and dining room. The dining room is defined by the higher ceiling. Daylighting is brought further into the interior by the use of a light shelf, which bounces the daylighting off of it and reflects it up onto the ceiling of the taller space. The overhang that the light shelf is made from blocks out the high summer sun, while still admitting the low winter sun for passive solar gain. The existing home's exterior was is located at the far left. http://www.kipnisarch.com Kipnis Architecture + Planning

Brentwood Midcentury Residence

Natalie Myers

Marisa Vitale
Inspiration for a midcentury dining room in Los Angeles with medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

PBH Keith Heights

PBH Design

Mid-sized midcentury open plan dining in Dallas with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Mandeville Canyon Mid-Century Treehouse

Emily Pertzborn Interiors

Inspiration for a large midcentury open plan dining in Los Angeles with yellow walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, timber and planked wall panelling.

Garden Fresh

Moderne Builders

Peak Photog
Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury dining room in Los Angeles with white walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Kitchen Diner Renovation

Danielle Lancaster Interiors

This is an example of a midcentury dining room in Manchester with pink walls and a standard fireplace.

Beacon Hill Mid-Century

Ore Studios

Lauren Colton
Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury open plan dining in Seattle with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Charming Bungalow

Adams + Beasley Associates

Eric Roth Photography
Design ideas for a small midcentury kitchen/dining combo in Boston with green walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

RAPSON REVISITED

Kate Roos Design LLC

View of the dining room.
Design ideas for a midcentury dining room in Minneapolis with white walls, porcelain floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and grey floor.

Shaw Flooring Gallery

Premier Flooring & Design Center

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury dining room in Other with carpet, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and beige floor.

All Fireplaces Midcentury Dining Room Design Ideas

A midcentury 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 midcentury 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 midcentury 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 midcentury 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!