38 Midcentury Modern Dining Rooms That Transcend Time

The midcentury modern dining rooms of the 20th century were defined by features such as clean lines, an embrace of wood, and functional, simple, and stylish furniture, lighting, and decor that still looks modern today. While the midcentury modern period eventually faded into 1980s decor and beyond, the style never really went away and has returned in full force in recent decades.

If you’re a fan of midcentury modern style who is looking to outfit a formal or open-plan dining room or an eat-in kitchen, check out these midcentury modern-inspired dining rooms in a range of sizes and settings that will show you how to style your own space. 

Highlight Natural Woods

The views of the lake and surrounding treetops inspired this Maine lakeside 1969 midcentury modern home from interior designer Tyler Karu. Wood furniture and flooring respects the original architecture and preserves a connection with the natural setting that was so important for midcentury modern architects.

Midcentury Dining Room Set

Authentic midcentury modern furniture was designed in the 20th century when many spaces were smaller than they are today. This makes midcentury furniture ideal for today's small spaces, like this round wooden and cane dining room set from Velinda Hellen for Emily Henderson Design.

Hang a Period Pendant Light

A midcentury modern pendant light anchors the oval Saarinen-style dining table in this formal dining room from Mary Patton Design, adding vintage vibes and warmth to the space.

Use Mismatched Chairs

Just a few midcentury modern classics can add texture to a contemporary space, like this open-plan kitchen and dining room from Tina Ramchandani Creative that includes mixed midcentury seating around a rustic wood table.

Hang Colorful Wall Decor

A colorful graphic wall hanging decorates the otherwise pristine white walls of this airy midcentury modern-inspired dining room from Studio Robert McKinley, while an area rug anchors the sculptural dining table and chairs.

Complement With a Buffet

Erin Williamson Design added a classic midcentury modern credenza that acts as a sideboard in this colorful dining room filled with vintage pieces. Source vintage credenzas online or in thrift shops to add stealth storage and display space in the dining room, or any room.

Combine Blues and Greens

Cathie Hong Interiors mixed midcentury modern and Caribbean styles to honor a client's cultural background and design preferences. The eat-in kitchen dining space includes oranges, blues, greens, and yellows inspired by the Trinidad and Tobago tourism poster framed on the wall that works perfectly with the midcentury modern palette. A brass pendant light with a midcentury-inspired feel anchors the round table and comfortably upholstered seating.

Accent With Wallpaper

This midcentury modern dining room from Dazey Den is updated with quirky personal touches and signature elements like graphic wall decor, chrome and cane-back chairs, and a patterned wallpaper accent wall.

Choose Vintage Accents

Studio Robert McKinley hung midcentury modern wall-mounted rattan and wood display and storage shelves on the wall of this New York State dining room that complements the simple wood table and chairs and oversized pendant lampshade that defines the semi-open-plan space.

Go With a Round Table

Jenn Pablo Studio mixed warm wood-paneled walls, sheepskin seat back covers, a vintage metal pendant light, and a round midcentury modern-style dining table in this sunny California dining room. The floor-to-ceiling windows provide natural light and a view of the outdoors.

Electrify With Orange

Dazey Den embraced the kitschy and colorful side of midcentury modern design with this bright throwback dining room. Upholstered armchairs are covered with bright orange fabric that sets the tone, and a wavy multicolored area rug, midcentury wall storage unit with yellow accent doors, and a Sputnik-style pendant light complete the picture.

Embrace Elegant Simplicity

Midcentury modern furniture like this dining room table and chairs and a large paper lantern pendant light hovering above give this dining room from Studio Robert McKinley a timeless feel that celebrates simplicity and artisanship. While the world is full of knock-offs, well-made, authentic pieces will add character and soul to your space, and endure the test of time.

Create a Corner Nook

Jessica Nelson Design added a corner dining nook in this midcentury modern eat-in kitchen that is backed with a floor-to-ceiling wood slat wall, a wooden bench, midcentury wood and cane chairs, a round table with a midcentury modern silhouette, and a classic globe pendant light.

Keep It Cozy

Emilie Fournet Interiors combined midcentury modern with bohemian touches to bridge a couple's disparate tastes in this London dining room. A simple drop-leaf wooden table and chairs, vintage lighting, a rattan wine rack on the floor, and a trio of colorful vintage prints create a happy and harmonious mix that's laid back and inviting.

Mix With Modern Farmhouse

Many of today's interiors combine midcentury modern with other styles, like this modern farmhouse dining room from Sissy + Marley Interiors. A classic white Saarinen table is paired with wishbone chairs, adding some midcentury modern flair to a modern farmhouse-style design for an easy and livable look that feels fresh and comfortable.

Keep It Minimal

Interior designer Tyler Karu gut-renovated this midcentury modern waterfront ranch house in Maine but preserved original details like terrazzo flooring, walnut casework, and a living room wet bar. A simple dining table positioned in front of a wall of glass doors is streamlined and convivial, with a brick fireplace on hand nearby for chilly nights. The brick is exposed and unpainted to add texture and a natural look.

Vary Materials

Arbor & Co. mixed a tapered-leg wooden dining table with green molded green plastic chairs to create an easy midcentury modern-inspired feel in this formal dining room.

Warm a Contemporary Room

In this Corona Del Mar, CA cottage from Laura Brophy Interiors, a dining nook is outfitted with midcentury modern-inspired furniture and a Danish modern pendant light that lends the new build some vintage-style vibes.

Repurpose a Secretary Desk

In this eclectic modern dining room from Emily Henderson Design, an oval Saarinen table, and Eiffel chairs are mixed with a modern rug and vintage lighting fixture and wall decor. On the back wall, a midcentury modern secretary desk is repurposed as a home bar storing glassware. Multipurpose authentic midcentury pieces also work well in smaller spaces, since they tend to have daintier proportions and clever built-in storage while looking stylish and sleek.

Decorate With Green

Incorporate shades of green to create a cohesive look. This London dining room from Emilie Fournet Interiors includes a classic Saarinen table, botanical leaf print upholstered chrome chairs, a multitude of plants, and a 1950s-style block of pastel green cabinetry in the guise of a buffet.

DIY It

Midcentury modern style is so ubiquitous and integrated into the fabric of today's design aesthetic that you can find it at any price point, or make it yourself, DIY skills permitting. This DIY oval table from A Beautiful Mess is inspired by the Saarinen classic. Paired with Eames Eiffel-style chairs, pink walls, green plants, and a Sputnik-style pendant light, the dining room is a bright and breezy Palm Springs-esque take on midcentury style.

Stay Neutral

Erin Williamson Design used soft neutral tones in this midcentury modern-inspired dining room with a rich walnut dining table surrounded by sensuous Cherner chairs.

Hang Midcentury Artwork

Emily Henderson Design hung a gallery wall of coastal-themed thrift store landscape paintings above a long sideboard that lends a midcentury feel to this modern dining room.

Hang a Shiny Brass Fixture

Erin Williamson Design anchored this eclectic dining room with a shiny brass midcentury modern pendant light that adds a gleaming focal point with a touch of vintage glam.

Use the Sunroom

This sunroom dining room in a renovated 1970s home from Leanne Ford Interiors features mustard-colored Panton chairs that bring on the midcentury vibes and whitewashed everything else to give it an updated look.

Keep It Open

This renovated midcentury modern home from Cathie Hong Interiors has an open-plan dining room with modern light wood furniture and a sculptural white fabric pendant light suspended from the tall ceilings. The round table preserves flow in the open-plan kitchen, dining, and living room space, while floor-to-ceiling glass walls let in natural light and erase the boundary between indoors and out.

Pair Brown and Green

Chocolate brown walls, olive green dining chairs, a marble-topped Saarinen table, and a large chrome pendant light lend this dining room from Alvin Wayne some bold midcentury modern vibes.

Keep It Minimalist

This open-plan dining room from Cathie Hong Interiors is minimalist and simple, with Danish modern-inspired light wood furniture and flooring and a streamlined contemporary light fixture with a graphic feel.

Use Warm Wood

In this modern dining room from Velinda Hellen for Emily Henderson Design, a dining table, chairs, and cane seat bench with simple lines and warm wood tones adds a timeless and inviting foundation for the room that will never go out of style.

Renovate the Ranch House

This renovated 1954 ranch home in Austin, TX from Ashby Collective and Furman + Keil Architects has a cozy banquette dining space that is decorated with warm tones of leather and wood, and a row of colorful wall art beneath a skylight.

Float the Table

Leanne Ford Interiors floated the dining table in this midcentury modern home renovation that mixes natural and painted wood and dramatic stone for an updated feel. A pair of globe pendant lights, wire chairs around the table, and a midcentury desk adds vintage touches to the remodeled space.

Lighten Up

Home Consultant styled this Southern California dining room with a light and bright palette of pale wood and white walls. Midcentury touches like the George Nelson pendant light that hangs like a cloud over the tulip-style dining table add warmth.

Add Vertical Wood Slats

Brophy Interiors brought a midcentury modern Southern California home into the 21st century with a central waterfall kitchen island but gave a nod to the original spirit of the home with touches like vertical wood slat wall details in the dining nook of the open-plan space.

Accent With Wood

In an all-white space like this dining room from Leanne Ford Interiors, classic Cherner chairs add warmth and focus the eye. When renovating a midcentury modern home, saving an original feature like the wall radio seen here is a nice touch that preserves some of the original character of the space and reminds you of its history.

Choose Signature Pieces

This modern Scandinavian apartment kitchen from Fantastic Frank has a timeless feel thanks to a black and white palette. A curated selection of midcentury and Danish modern classics adds design cred to the streamlined space, like the black Eiffel-style chairs, Danish modern pendant light, and George Nelson ball clock on the wall.

Be Bold

Dazey Den decorated this light-flooded Palm Springs dining room—and adjacent kitchen and entryway—with vibrant shades of orange and yellow that glow brightly thanks to the multitude of windows letting in tons of natural light. Sticking to midcentury modern furnishings and decor creates an unapologetically throwback look that feels like a time capsule and is bound to put a smile on your face.

Use a Light Touch

Adding a few midcentury touches to a modern interior will help to make it feel warm and inviting. This updated dining space from Emily Henderson Design has simple finishes and an all-white palette that is warmed up by a few choice pieces of furniture and decor with midcentury-inspired lines, from the table to the pendant light, to the Eames LCW style chair on the side that doubles as decor.

Fade into the 80s

This space from Lara Kimmerer has a combination of midcentury and 80s vibes, from the wood paneled accent wall and framed pop art to the polished concrete floors, chrome and glass table, and Marcel Breuer tubular steel and leather chairs that were first introduced almost 100 years ago but have never gone out of style.