Minimalistic design has massively grown in popularity over the past decade due to it’s aesthetically pleasing components. By definition, minimalism is about designers expressing only the most essential and necessary elements of a product or subject by getting rid of any excessive and, therefore, unnecessary components and features. Minimalist design focuses on stripping back a space to it’s bare bones, quieting clutter, and understating your decor. With so much chaos around us, dining rooms should serve as a great escape within our homes. They should represent a clean environment for us to embrace togetherness, enjoy meals, and engage in conversation with loved ones. Read on to learn our tips and tricks on creating the ideal minimalist dining room layout.

Declutter

Whether you have a large family or live alone, there are likely many spaces within your home that build up clutter over time. Your dining room should not be one of those spaces. It should be a room that is clean and fresh, therefore allowing a welcoming environment to enjoy meals and togetherness. In order to create a modern minimalist dining room, you should follow the interior design rule of “less is more” and focus on having only essential pieces in the space. When thinking of apartment dining room ideas, start with the dining table, dining chairs, lighting, a rug, and a buffet if you have the space for it. Our sideboard featured in a beautiful light latte finish is an excellent addition to any minimalist dining room.

Feature a Neutral Palette

Utilizing a neutral palette is essential in creating a minimalist design. We suggest using light paint colors such as whites, creams, grays, and pastel colors in your dining space to keep a very clean overall look. You can add in some texture and color through upholstery, an area rug, or decor if you’re looking for something extra within your design. Incorporating minimalist decor, however, doesn’t always have to mean all white. You can add in colors such as charcoal, dark green, navy, or muted pastels, and pair them with complimentary wood tones to keep the room looking balanced, clean, and crisp.

Use Natural Materials

As mentioned, being minimalist does not always have to mean a bright white space. If you are interested in designing a warmer neutral space, you can bring in loads of natural materials to give the room some character. Explore natural wood grains, textured materials, metals, and woven rugs. Using a natural oak for dining chairs with a textured fabric is one way to keep the room minimal while allowing the furniture to impress and speak for itself. Check out our Sarno Dining Chair in Latte Wood as a great affordable option for your modern minimalist dining room.

Explore Texture

While you may not want to experiment with color, you can certainly explore texture to make the room interesting while maintaining minimalist interior design elements. You should play with lighting in the room on various surfaces by embracing different textures and weaves. This will help add some dimension and balance to your room. Try pairing natural woods with metals and chunkier woven textures to draw the eye to different pieces within the space. You can check out all of our textured neutral colors and fabrics and order free samples on our swatch page here!

Balance with Symmetry

Within all dining rooms, and even more so in minimalist dining rooms, balance and symmetry are key. The reason for this is because there are not a lot of accents or distractions within the space, so focusing on symmetry will serve as a design within itself. When taking the minimalist approach, focus on your floor plan and arranging all of your furniture and decor with purpose. If you have a buffet, make sure to balance each side of it evenly. You can also utilize artwork to create depth and symmetry.

Use Flat Surfaces

A minimalist dining space should feature clean lines, sharp edges, and flat surfaces. You can also use shiny, clean surfaces that will reflect the natural light, therefore making the space feel larger. A rectangular dining table is a great option for a minimalist dining room, and you can check out our suggestions for modern dining table shapes and sizes in our article here.

Allow Negative Space

In a minimalist space, it is absolutely essential to have some negative space. Do not feel the need to clutter up every corner of your room, but rather embrace negative space and utilize it to your advantage. Style surfaces with few items, use abstract artwork, and allow the beauty of the pieces you do have in the space to speak for themselves.

Opt for Sleek Lighting

Forget about using an extravagant or elaborate dining room chandelier, and instead focus on something with clean, sleek lines. This will allow for the lighting to fit right into your decor, as opposed to standing out. We also suggest using warm light bulbs to brighten the space while maintaining the right mood for an intimate dining experience.

Experiment with Contrast

In addition to colors and textures, a minimalist dining area is also all about featuring contrast in some shape or form. You can mix light upholstery fabrics with hard and smooth surfaces, bold and muted colors, different surface materials, and a variety of shapes. For example, you can paint the wall a dark olive color and feature a light oak table with dark metal chairs to keep the space uniform while providing a sophisticated minimalist feel. Our Otto Dining Chair has a refreshing silhouette that incorporates elements of industrial, minimal, and organic construction. It is composed of solid ash wood and powder-coated stainless steel, which makes it an excellent choice for any minimalist dining room.