The bright dining room features a mix of mid-century vintage furniture with contemporary lighting and accessories.
Inspiration for a midcentury dining room in New York with cork floors.

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.

Horseshoe Trail

STUDIOrobert jamieson

Studio Robert Jamieson
Mid-sized midcentury dining room in Philadelphia with white walls, cork floors and brown floor.

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.

Mid-century Preservation

Ashby Collective

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

For the Love of MCM!!!

Sklar Studios

Where to start...so many things to look at in this composition of a space. The flow from a more formal living/ music room into this kitchen/ dining/ family room is just one of many statement spaces. Walls were opened up, ceilings raised, technology concealed, details restored, vintage finds reimagined (pendant light and dining chairs)...the balance of old to new is seamless.

Mid Centrury Modern Kitchen + Master Bath

Michaelson Homes LLC

Riverside Custom Cabinetry created this custom walnut table with bowtie joints and custom cut table base.
Photo of a midcentury kitchen/dining combo in Cincinnati with cork floors.

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.

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.

Highgate

OGArch

Connection between living & dining spaces.
This is an example of a midcentury dining room in Berlin with white walls, orange floor and cork floors.

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.

Dining Room

Gerald Lee Morosco Architects, PC

This is an example of a small midcentury open plan dining in Other with yellow walls, a wood stove, cork floors, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Mid Century Hilltop Retreat

Phillip Spencer Design

https://www.linkedin.com/pub/stephen-blaha/15/165/78

Dining Room Chandelier

Thayer Design Build

Photo of a midcentury dining room in Other with multi-coloured walls, cork floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, beige floor and wood.

Mid-Century Modern Home brought into the 21st Century.

Patricia B. Warren, AIA Warren Architecture, LLC

The kitchen was opened up to the Dining area, allowing the slump block walls to be expressed in both spaces. The cork flooring sets the color palette for the spaces as seen in the cabinetry and countertops. Accents of turquoise bring a pop of color, typical of MCM design.

Crestmoor Mid Century

Compliment Design

Inspiration for a midcentury dining room in Denver with cork floors.

Midcentury Dining Room Design Ideas with Cork Floors

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!