14 modern dining room ideas

1. First, take your modern dining room back to basics

Modern dining rooms and minimalism go hand in hand. “Pare things right back to the essentials: dining table, chairs and lighting. This classic trio really lets your table shine (quite literally, if it’s glossy)! Modern dining tables are sleek, sophisticated and made from some of the world’s finest materials like marble, ceramic and lacquered solid wood, so you want to show them off,” says Tom St. Quintin, Retail Buyer - Cabinets.

3. Wake up your walls

From New York penthouses to London’s top restaurants, the world’s finest dining rooms all have one thing in common: statement wall art. “Art brings rooms to life, and abstract is the way to go in a modern dining room. Swirling lines, blocks of colour, a steely chrome palette - choose a piece that speaks to you and fill your space with serious design creds,” says Lauren Davenport, Retail Buyer - Accessories.

5. Try an open plan layout

The ‘race for space’ has seen many of us leave the city for leafier suburbs and the bigger footprints of countryside homes. “The demand for more living space has seen a huge increase in open plan living, and large dining tables are a part of that. Our large ALF dining tables, all handmade in Italy, have surged in popularity in the last year,” Tom explains. One thing’s for sure, while style is important, the modern dining room has friends and loved ones at its centre.

7. Change up your chairs

What’s more modern than throwing the style rule book out the window? Play with cool colour combos and watch your dining space go from fine to fabulous. Mix it up with different designs too. Tom’s advice? “Don’t be afraid to stand out from the crowd. Colour clashing and contrasting styles in your dining chairs will make your dining room unique."

Shop dining chairs

9. Bring the bar to you

Dining rooms aren’t just for eating. Serve up style and a mean martini with a glam drinks trolley. Load it up with liqueurs, mixers and glasses and you have a ready-when-you-are cocktail-making station. “Cocktails at home are the ultimate modern luxury - and drinks trolleys just look so suave and Gatsby-esque,” says Lauren. Now just to learn how to make a Bloody Mary...

11. Light up the room

For a modern dining room that stands out, look up. Ceiling lights transform spaces, especially if you have a lacquered or high-gloss table. “In the style spotlight right now are statement pendant lights in chrome or polished steel. They make an eye-catching feature and bathe your table in warm light. And for a cosy dinner a deux, just add a dimmer to set the mood,” says Lauren.

13. All laid out

You’ve mastered the flat lay, now it’s time to nail how you set your table. “Modern dining rooms are home to impressive, statement tables – and you want to do them justice. Quality cutlery and tableware makes such a difference. Decorate with flowers, beautiful cut glasses and a table runner.” Bonus points if you learn how to make napkin shapes - total Michelin restaurant vibes.