Mid-Century Modern Highland Park West Home

Design ideas for a large midcentury open plan dining in Austin with light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and wood.

Mid Century Modern Remodel

Chuckanut Builders

The dining room and kitchen flow seamlessly in this mid-century home. The white walls and countertops create visual space while the beautiful white oak cabinets provide abundant storage. Both the exposed wood ceiling and oak floors were existing, we refinished them and color matched new trim as needed.

BH Residence

Lotta Coffey Design & Interiors

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury dining room in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

1960's Tri-Level Ranch

Lacy Keller Interiors

HomeStar Video Tours
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury open plan dining in Portland with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a corner fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Laurelhurst Mid Century Modern

Darren Patt Construction

Inspiration for a large midcentury open plan dining in Seattle with beige walls, ceramic floors, a corner fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and beige floor.

North Oaks Mid-Century Modern

Megan Dent, AKBD

Scott Amundson
Design ideas for a large midcentury kitchen/dining combo in Minneapolis with green walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, brown floor and medium hardwood floors.

Beacon Hill Mid-Century

Ore Studios

Lauren Colton
This is an example of 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.

Sycamore Canyon Interiors & Exteriors

Margie Grace - Grace Design Associates

Galley Kitchen and Dining room with a Corner Fire Place and a Nano Door to give that great Indoor/Outdoor living space that we absolutely love here in Santa Barbara

lake-house- Dining Room

Mary Anne Smiley Interiors

Danny Piassick
Inspiration for a large midcentury open plan dining in Dallas with beige walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and grey floor.

Mid-Century Modern, Whole House Renovation in Spring Mill Indianapolis

WrightWorks, LLC

The dining table was custom made from solid walnut, with live edges. The original brick veneer fireplace was kept, as well as the floating steel framed hearth. Photo by Christopher Wright, CR

San Diego Mid-century modern home staging

HomeScapes Home Staging San Diego

This mid-century modern home features tons of natural light, wonderful hardwood floors and an open concept with lots of outdoor living area and a large pool

Mid-Century Modern Remodel

Studio M Kitchen & Bath

Entertaining in this dining room is every mid-century modern lover's dream! The homeowner and designer came together to create a unique but classic space that perfectly complements the home's unique structure and style. Scott Amundson Photography, LLC

Hollywood Hills

Bohl Architects

Photo of a midcentury open plan dining in Los Angeles with medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

PBH Colip House

PBH Design

Design ideas for a large midcentury open plan dining in Dallas with white walls, bamboo floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Mid-Century Modern Home

Johnson Berman

This Mid-Century Modern residence was infused with rich paint colors and accent lighting to enhance the owner’s modern American furniture and art collections. Large expanses of glass were added to provide views to the new garden entry. All Photographs: Erik Kvalsvik

Mid Century Modern Meets 2020

Fox Interiors

Mid-sized midcentury separate dining room in Minneapolis with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Malabar

Studio Lema

Mid-sized midcentury separate dining room in Dallas with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Midcentury Dining Room

This is an example of a midcentury separate dining room in Los Angeles with a brick fireplace surround.

Woodland Hills Residence

Mahle Design LLC

Dining Room
Photo of a mid-sized midcentury kitchen/dining combo in Los Angeles with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, beige floor and exposed beam.

Thomson House

Lander Design

Dining and Living rooms totally restored back to 1957
Inspiration for a midcentury dining room in Los Angeles with a brick fireplace surround and medium hardwood floors.

Midcentury Dining Room Design Ideas with a Brick Fireplace Surround

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!