Dining In: Style Ideas for A Mid Century Modern Dining Room

As we enjoy our meals at home these days our gazes are naturally turning to our eating environs. Is your mid century modern dining room up to par? Or is it simply time for a fun refresh? Peruse this menu of silver platter dining spaces and you might find an idea or two to incorporate into your decor.
The Bold & The Beautiful

mid century modern dining room of and Eichler house with walnut wall paneling and a Saarinen tulip table and chairs dining set — A bespoke pendant by Brad Dunning hangs over the vintage Saarinen Tulip table and chairs. A George Nelson ‘Thin Edge’ credenza holds ‘Intro’ by Frederick Hammersley and other pieces that date from around the 1964 built date of the house. Photo by Jim Brown.

The original Philippine mahogany in this Orange, California Eichler is so beautiful that homowner Bret Harris knew that the dining room’s decor shouldn’t overpower it. Instead he chose this white Saarinen set which gleams boldly against the rich wood tones and left everything else minimal. The artwork and tulip chair seats are just enough color to accent the space.
Go With The Flow

A modern dining room with a wood slat accent wall and vintage dining set with green chair seats — The rich wood tones plus the green upholstery and brick red cement floors unify this open plan home. Photo by Bret Gum.

Scott and Summer Gieser’s 1959 by Al O’Rourke in Riverside, California, had something rare for it’s time: a great room which flows right into the dining room. To maximize this open floor plan the Geiser’s avoided using an area rug to delineate the dining area and instead played up the way the floorplan connected all the rooms with the brick red cement floors.

A gorgeous vintage dining set reupholstered in the same green as the adjacent sofa is all that is needed to tie the two spaces together. After all it’s the intricate wood paneling that steals the show while drawing the eye up to the high ceiling and original beams.
Reviving Retro

retro mid century modern dining room with light blue wallpaper and — Photo by Jim Brown

One way to easy way to embrace the retro vibe? Color! Go all in with your accents, accessories and wall colors to bring in the fun atomic optimism of a retro space. Fun is the key word here in this kind of modern dining room. An illustrated diner motif pattern wallpaper offers a few splashes of color that allow the colorful vintage Russel Wright set to feel right at home.
Shine Bright

a midcentury modern dining room in a Wexler home in Palm Springs. White terrazo floors gleam and mirro the white Saarinen tupil table and chairs dining set. A chrome sputnik light hangs above. — Photo by Jim Brown.

There’s perhaps nothing more quintessentially Palm Springs than a white on white space that sparkles in the desert sun. White terrazzo tile floors glow against a white Saarinen set. Chrome lighting paired with silvery wall art drive the open and airy look home. Of course a few cohesive pops of color bring in the fun. The key here to all this white? Vary your texture to keep in interesting.

Looking for more modern dining room inspiration? Check out this gallery of inspiring style.

And of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for more Atomic Ranch articles and ideas!