At a Glance:
Dos and Don’ts of Modern Style
Must-Have Pieces in a Dining Room
Creating a modern dining room is all about choosing simple pieces and avoiding clutter, but that doesn’t mean your space has to feel cool or sparse. Modern dining rooms can be incredibly inviting and warm, especially when you mix materials, finishes, and textiles to create a curated room. Wood, glass, metal, stone, and upholstery are all on the table when it comes to creating a unique modern dining room design.
In this guide to modern dining room designs, we’ll define modern style, highlight the dos and don’ts of modern style to make it cozy and welcoming, and discuss the must-have pieces for any modern dining room. Then, we’ll recommend our top modern dining room furniture picks from Colder’s.
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Shop NowModern Style, Defined
Modern style is often confused with contemporary design, but they are two distinct styles. Contemporary fluctuates with what is on-trend at the moment while modern style is rooted in the early to mid 1900s.
Modern design is known for its simple silhouettes, mix of materials (wood, stone, metal, glass, soft textiles), and lack of clutter. You’ll typically find neutral color palettes, although there is freedom to add a bold accent color to express your personality. Alongside geometric shapes, you’ll also find natural and organic forms and materials or abstract art.
Modern style can be interpreted in several different ways. Here are some common subsets of modern dining room styles:
- Minimalist: The simpler, the better. Minimalism takes modern style’s simplicity to the extreme and makes a statement through its spare look. Think sleek silhouettes and very little adornment.
- Mid-Century Modern: Modern style eventually morphed into mid-century modern, which kept the use of wood and simple silhouettes but turned up the color with warmer wood tones and pops of orange, rust, green, ochre, and red. You’ll also find more curved shapes in mid-century modern designs.
- Modern Farmhouse: Modern finishes meet the rustic warmth of farmhouse style. Imagine warm wood or white kitchen cabinets alongside sleek metal hardware or a stainless steel island. In the living room, you might find a metal and glass side table alongside a rustic leather couch. In the dining room, you might find a metal bar cart alongside cozy upholstered chairs.
Dos and Don’ts of Modern Style
Wondering what are the dos and don'ts of a dining room modern? Here are some standard rules of thumb for a modern interior design dining room:
Do
✅Avoid clutter
✅Mix materials
✅Choose simple silhouettes over ornate details
Don’t
⛔Forget to add elements of warmth
⛔Forget about décor like rugs and lighting
Learn More: Your Guide to Modern Interior Design
Must-Have Pieces in a Modern Dining Room
Every room has its essential elements, and a modern classy dining room is no different. Every living room needs a couch. Every bedroom needs a bed, nightstand, and dresser. What does every dining room need? A table, chairs, and if you have room, a cabinet for added storage and display. From there, you can play with the look and feel of the space by considering décor and rugs. modern dining rooms
Keep reading for modern dining room ideas and tips on how to decorate a modern dining room.
Modern Dining Room Tables
Your dining room table is the largest piece of furniture in your dining space, so it’s a natural focal point. A modern dining room table may be made of wood, glass, marble, or a mixture of materials. Stay away from ornate details like turned feet and other elaborate carved details, since this is more traditional design.
We Recommend: Canadel Modern Clear/Pecan Washed Dining Table
Shop This Canadel Modern Table
This sculptural dining table provides a lot of visual interest for your dining room without being busy, overwhelming, or ornate. The sleek glass top is simple while the unique wooden base grounds the table and anchors your space. This piece would look beautiful centered on a textured rug where the translucent surface lets the visuals shine through.
Learn More: 5 Round Dining Table Designs Your Family Will Love
Modern Dining Room Seating
Dining room seating is critical for creating a space where people want to gather. You can opt for standard chairs or upholstered ones, which make sitting for longer more comfortable. In any case, when it comes to choosing modern dining room chairs, prioritize sleek silhouettes. You can make a statement with a sculptural, interestingly shaped chair, a leather chair, or an upholstered chair.
We Recommend: Signature Design by Ashley Burkhaus Dark Brown Dining Chair
Shop This Signature Design by Ashley Dining Chair
Remember that modern design doesn’t have to be cold or austere. This neutral, simple chair adds warmth to the space with its light-colored upholstery. The black base would pair well with a black or glass table. These armless chairs would be lovely as a set, but you can also add a little drama with matching arm chairs at the head of the table.
Featured Signature Design by Ashley Burkhaus review: “The cushion is sturdy. Goes perfect with the table.”
Modern Dining Room Cabinets
Dining room cabinets include dining hutches, servers, buffets, and display cabinets. Some are designed to display your favorite items, such as beautiful china or pottery (a modern dining room hutch is great for this), but part of the appeal of modern design is expression, so feel free to add a statement piece or décor that stirs up the setting.
Modern dining room cabinets can help carry your favorite style throughout the space, building on the design of your table and chairs. But modern dining room storage doesn’t have to be a perfect match, though. Feel the freedom to mix and match pieces and materials in your space to create a curated, rather than cookie-cutter, look.
We Recommend: Liberty Chaucer Aged Whisky Accent Cabinet
Shop This Liberty Furniture Accent Cabinet
If you’ve been looking for dining room cabinets modern in design, this aged wooden cabinet is a great option. It offers an eclectic twist on modern style with a bit more detail than is typical, but because the carving is geometric, it departs from the ornate flourishes of a more traditional design. We love the dark stain of this cabinet and the ample hidden storage it provides.
Modern Dining Room Bar Cabinet/Wine Storage
Dining bar and wine furniture is a great addition for those who love to host and entertain. You can have your drinks at hand with a bar cabinet or bar cart. For us modern dining bar and wine furniture is best when it’s made of glass, metal, or wood, but make sure not to choose pieces that are too ornate.
We Recommend: Pulaski Accents Dark Wood 2-Door Wine Storage Bar Cabinet
Shop This Pulaski Wine Storage Cabinet
This modern dining room bar cabinet is another slightly eclectic choice anchored in modern style because of its shape and color palette. Inside, you’ll find shelving, a drawer, and wine bottle storage. For those who love to entertain, it is convenient to have the next bottle right at hand. Pair its two-tone design with other geometric shapes for a daring, modern look in the dining room.
Modern Dining Room Collections
Opting for a dining room collection can help you find a complementary set of a table and chairs. When you’re designing a whole space, it can feel like there are too many options, so opting for a set can streamline that decision. Remember to mix and match other pieces and materials in your room, though. A modern dining room set may feature wood, glass, upholstery, or other materials and will provide a neutral backdrop to add personalized details as you accessorize your space.
We Recommend: Signature Design by Ashley Grindleburg 7-Piece Light Brown Dining Set
Shop This Signature Design by Ashley 7-Piece Dining Set
This set leans more toward a Scandinavian or modern farmhouse style with its trestle base, rustic wood, and white upholstered chairs. This ensemble is the perfect marriage of warmth and simplicity. Natural finishes balance organic and rustic finishes beautifully, making it a great set to create an inviting, cozy, and bright dining room design.
Learn More: 7 Stylish Ashley Furniture Dining Room Sets
There are so many ways to create a stylish modern dining room, whether you prefer a more industrial, mid-century modern, or modern farmhouse look. You can begin with a neutral color palette and then freely embrace all your favorite finishes from wood to glass, metal, and upholstery. With our wide selection of modern dining room furniture at affordable prices, Colder’s is the best place to shop for modern dining room furniture in Milwaukee. Stop by one of our four Wisconsin locations to browse dining room furniture in person.
Why Trust Colder’s?
Since 1942, we at Colder's pride ourselves on offering value, selection, and service. Serving Southeastern Wisconsin with four showrooms that stock quality name-brand furniture, appliances, and mattresses, Colder’s is sure to house exactly what you are looking for. And if you can't find it on our floors, chances are, we can order it for you. As a local, family-owned company, we are always doing our best to provide the highest value at the lowest cost to everyone who walks through our doors.
Colder’s is committed not only to continuously offering can’t-miss sales but also to working with each customer, making sure that you take advantage of every possible markdown — that’s our best price guarantee. Still need help? We offer zero percent appliance and furniture financing for your home needs!
Shop Modern Dining Room Sets at Colder’s
Don’t put off happiness — and shop dining room furniture online for unbeatable prices at Colder’s. Our friendly experts are always happy to help you design the perfect modern dining room, whether you call us at 414-476-1574 or use our online chat feature. Better yet, stop by one of our Colder’s locations in West Allis, Oak Creek, Delafield, and Grafton, Wisconsin to touch, see, feel, and experience home products that fulfill your dreams. Visit us today!
Learn More: How to Design a Mid-Century Modern Home