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Seven Ways To Master The Mid-Century Modern Style In Your Dining Area

brown wooden table with chairs

When you start getting bored with your home, it's time to channel your inner interior designer. It's very tempting to open up Pinterest and implement all the design ideas you see out there. While there are countless styles to use as inspiration for your interior design, one style that's regaining popularity is mid-century modern decor. This aesthetic is minimal and is characterized by clean lines and angular structures.

The mid-century modern aesthetic is a simplistic style that appeals to everyone, and what better place to start implementing it than in the heart of your home - the dining room. As the place where everyone gets together to share a delicious meal after a busy day, your dining room's style demands attention and love. Using the mid-century modern aesthetic principles is an excellent idea for when you want to rejuvenate your dining room. 

So, how exactly can you do that? Here are seven ways to master the mid-century modern style in your dining area. 

Balance Iconic Designs 

The mid-century modern aesthetic certainly has its fair share of renowned designers, pieces, and silhouettes. Sometimes, you can't help yourself by wanting to incorporate all these iconic designs in one space. 

However, what's important is to let these iconic pieces stand out on their own. One way you can do this is by incorporating a Saarinen chair, an “executive” designed chair which is found in dining rooms as much as it is found in offices. You can complement it with other pieces, such as a dining table, from different periods to add your personal touch. 

Experiment With The Color Palette

Like fashion works, we tend to decorate our homes by drawing inspiration from a particular era's energy. Just like that, the mid-century modern aesthetic channels the vibrancy and optimism of the ‘50s and the sophistication of the ‘60s. 

Bold shades, such as mustard, bright orange, rust, and turquoise accompanied by neutrals are the way to go. When you're thinking of color palettes, opt for combinations such as orange and brown, teal, white and brown, and pink and brown. 

Apart from these combinations, you can pair white or black tones with woods, allowing for excellent contrast in your dining room. The bright colors mentioned above could work great as accents in vintage pottery or an iconic lamp. 

white flower in vase on table

Don’t Go Overboard With Wood Paneling 

One of the most prominent characteristics of the mid-century modern aesthetic is wood, which usually translates to ceiling and wall wood paneling. While some people prefer going all out with the wood, it could overwhelm your dining room space and take the attention off of the other pieces in the room. 

Apart from this, wooden wall coverings can be particularly tricky if the room doesn't get any natural light. One way to introduce wooden accents to your dining room without the hassle is to include wooden decorative screens or furniture. 

Manage Angular Shapes 

One aspect that's a critical part of the mid-century modern aesthetic is angular structures. These shapes can give your dining room a polished and clean look, which is precisely why they're so popular. However, overdoing angular structures through every piece of furniture can overdo the aesthetic and make your dining room look one-dimensional. 

To ensure that doesn't happen, you need to balance the clear lines with pieces with curves. This balance in shape and scale, which you can create by, for instance, paring rounded chairs with a square dining table, helps ensure the lines add interest but don’t overwhelm the room. 

Be Minimalistic 

The key to nailing the mid-century modern design is minimalism. While you may want to fill your dining room with every furniture or decorative piece you may find, it's essential to take a step back. Open spaces are an essential part of this aesthetic, and you should place your dining table right in the middle and leave plenty of room to move around, so you can easily socialize when guests are over. 

You need to ensure your dining room is free of clutter so it doesn't take away from your dining table, chairs, and the light fixtures. If you want to go extra, these three aspects are what you need to focus on. If you still want to add something to the room, you can opt for a bar cart that looks nice and convenient for when you want to entertain guests. If the space gets too crowded, the bar cart has wheels so you can always move it outside to the living room. 

Add A Patterned Rug

A patterned rug is quintessential to the mid-century modern aesthetic. It is an excellent way to fully embrace the design. While you may opt for a typical ‘60s-inspired pattern with bold, vibrant colors, you can also opt for patterned rugs in neutral tones if you want to adopt the aesthetic without it being too overwhelming. For mid-century modern patterns, look for geometrics, abstracts, atomic, and modern deco. 

Be Smart With Light Fixtures

There are many lighting ideas you can explore with this aesthetic. Completing your dining room's aesthetic demands a light fixture right above the table. Very few things channel the mid-century modern aesthetic more than the Sputnik chandelier. The Sputnik spacecraft was a vital part of the ‘50s and ‘60s, and incorporating this design into your dining room creates an appealing focal point. 

Final Thoughts

The mid-century modern aesthetic isn't going out of fashion any time soon. With so many design ideas to experiment with and implement, you can always revamp your space whenever you want to switch things up. An aesthetic that appeals to almost everyone, this is one style you don't want to miss out on!

Have you ever taken inspiration from the mid-century modern aesthetic? How did you make your space stand out? Let us know in the comments below!