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This blog post is all about the best ideas for a modern farmhouse dining room!
If you have been reading the blog for some time, you know that I am a huge fan of the modern farmhouse style. I love how, in recent years, farmhouse interiors have been combined with more contemporary features to create rustic but elegant decor.
If you also love spaces that feel cozy and welcoming while still looking curated and sophisticated, a modern farmhouse dining room may be exactly what your home needs! From high-quality wooden tables and farm chairs to accent wall art and fabric decor, you have the chance to create a beautiful space for special family moments and hosting.
In this post, we’ll have a look at 26 modern farmhouse dining room ideas to help you get all the inspiration you need. Whether you are simply looking for a dining room refresh or want to transform your space completely, get ready to dive into rustic elegance!
Shop The Post – Modern Farmhouse Dining Room
26 Modern Farmhouse Dining Room Ideas To Inspire You
1. Use Spindle Back Dining Chairs
Spindle-back dining chairs are a staple of this design style and for a good reason. They perfectly capture the nostalgic charm of modern farmhouse interiors and are a great match to the wooden accompanying tables that are so typical of these dining rooms. While they are available in a variety of colors and finishes, I find that black wood tends to give the most modern and sleek look.
2. Include A Woven Leather Bench
Bench seating is a must-have when it comes to the perfect modern farmhouse dining room. Not only does it create some visual interest by breaking the pattern of a standard dining set, but it also makes the space feel more open and welcoming. Bench seats are more associated with convivial and casual occasions.
Personally, I love a standard wooden bench but if your budget allows for a bigger investment, consider a leather woven bench. It looks very modern and sophisticated!
If you don’t love the idea of replacing dining chairs with a bench, you can also use a smaller model for a lovely window seat. Just make sure you are not making your dining room feel too busy with furniture!
3. Add A Statement Chandelier
A statement light fixture is a great way to add a stylish piece to your dining room, creating a beautiful focal point over your table. When it comes to farmhouse chandeliers, you have several options: exposed lightbulbs – these have also a nice industrial feel to them, wagon wheel lighting – perfect to introduce rustic metals or even wicker fixtures.
4. Add A Wooden Ladder
When designing a farmhouse dining room, it’s important to try to include as many natural materials as you can. This style is all about embracing the beautiful texture and finishes of wood, stone, metal, and rougher fabrics.
For example, a wooden ladder can be a simple but perfectly on-theme design element for a corner of your dining room. You can leave it as is, or use it as storage space for some beautiful throws or table linens.
5. Hang a Statement Mirror
If you’re interested in smaller dining room design ideas, you should consider hanging an oversized mirror as part of your wall decor. A piece like this is perfect for tight areas as it reflects natural light, opening up the entire space. Your dining area will immediately feel more airy and brighter.
You can choose a simple wooden frame if you like a more minimalist approach to farmhouse, or opt for a cornerstone piece like the one in our inspiration photo above. Personally, I like oversized metal frames or window designs – they are a bit of an investment but can be wonderful pieces if you have ample space for wall decor.
6. Opt for Round Pedestal Tables
If you’re looking for the perfect farmhouse dining table, your best option is to go for natural wood. wooden tables are gorgeous, rustic, and sturdy, timeless pieces that you’ll cherish for a long time to come.
While rectangular tables are more common, a round pedestal table may be a better choice for family dinners and large get-togethers as it encourages conversation across the entire group, making for a more inviting space. You can also go for an extendable dining table if you love hosting but are working with limited real estate in your dining room.
Overall, there are plenty of options for a farmhouse dining room table. When choosing which one works best for you, remember that a good table will serve your home and lifestyle. Decor pieces should always be functional above all else!
7. Include a Wooden Sideboard
If your dining room layout allows for it, consider including a solid wood sideboard along one of your walls. Especially if you are working with a larger space, this can help you create a second focal point of the room, adding some structure to your dining area.
This is also a very simple solution to add storage space, as well as a convenient area for your farmhouse decorative accents of any family photos you may wish to display.
8. Use A China Cabinet To Fill A Corner
One of my favorite farmhouse dining room ideas is to include a china cabinet. This piece is an easy way to upgrade an awkward corner and can also make hosting much easier. For instance, you can use it to provide storage options for all linens and dinnerware you need directly in the dining room, cutting down on table setting time and keeping them separate from daily pieces.
9. Add a Traditional Rug
Area rugs are a must-have for your modern farmhouse dining room. These pieces add a ton of warmth to your space and help ground your furniture, bringing in beautiful colors and textures. They are also an efficient way to visually separate your dining area from your living room if you’re working with multifunctional rooms.
Bonus tip: given a dining room is a high-traffic, hosting area, look into machine washable rugs. They look amazing and can be cleaned in no time! My favorite brand is Ruggable.
10. Go For A Neutral Color Palette
Color schemes for modern farmhouse interiors tend to be quite neutral, often embracing grays, beiges, and whites. This helps counterbalance the dark tones and rustic texture of the many wooden pieces included in the decor.
Sticking to a neutral paint color with gray walls or warm white paint can also help you open up a small dining room. These lighter colors reflect better any natural light that may be coming through, giving the impression of a bigger space.
11. Use Wooden Candleholders as Decorative Elements
I love including candles in all rooms – they are great not only as beautiful decor but also to create the perfect atmosphere in the evening! If you have space in your modern farmhouse dining room, make sure to include a gorgeous set of oversized, wooden candle holders. You can even mix and match different rustic materials combining them with antique brass or iron. So chic!
12. Include Greenery
Greenery is often used in modern farmhouse interiors to add splashes of bright colors without straying too far from a fully neutral color palette. You can include small plants as part of your table centerpiece or even use a beautiful potted tree to decorate an empty corner.
13. Choose Shiplap Walls
Shiplap grey or white walls are the perfect way to add some rustic charm and visual interest to your modern farmhouse dining room. Depending on how distressed the finish is, you can use this feature to create a more casual or elegant space.
Personally, I like shiplap boards only on the lower half as a full-wall feature tends to overwhelm most spaces and it’s a bit too vintage-inspired for modern farmhouse design.
14. Add Leather Farmhouse Dining Chairs
Leather is a beautiful material that really adds a modern twist to even more traditional farmhouse spaces. Cognac leather especially, pairs extremely well with wooden accents and black iron, making it a great candidate for your dining chairs. While you can opt for full-leather chairs, these tend to be too minimalist and modern in my opinion. A good idea is to find dining chairs that combine a wooden frame with leather accents!
15. Choose a Farmhouse Table Runner
Once you have chosen the perfect dining table, you’ll need to style it. One of the easiest ways to immediately transform your table is to pick a stunning runner. For the perfect farmhouse piece, opt for simple but high-quality materials like linen or cotton, preferring items with traditional embroidery or unfinished trims. You can also play around with patterns. Stripes, gingham, and plaid are all perfect candidates for a farmhouse table.
16. Include a Jug Vase
If you’re looking for a simple but impactful centerpiece for your farmhouse table, consider investing in a jug vase. This style of vases, especially if you go for an oversized model, perfectly embodies the love for simplicity that is so typical of farmhouse interiors. You can use your jug vase to store fresh flowers or, if you’re not a fan of high-maintenance decor, simply invest in a beautiful bouquet of dried or artificial wildflowers.
You can also use mason jars for a more affordable take on this idea. Just make sure to choose a few different sizes and you’ll be able to create a beautiful DIY composition.
17. Hang Nature-Inspired Prints
While modern farmhouse dining rooms tend to embrace a lot of decor, you can also decide to create a simple space. For example, I am obsessed with how elegant and understated these bird prints look. Between the sleek frame, black-and-white colors, and vintage design, they manage to look rustic but extremely sophisticated! I have linked in my Shop The Post section a similar set from Amazon.
18. Mix and Match Different Dining Chair Sets
Some of the more creative country dining room ideas lean into the very casual approach of this style to interior decor. A beautiful example of this principle is to use thrift or antique finds to create your very own mismatched dining set. This idea will make sure your dining room feels more eclectic and extremely unique. It’s also a very affordable idea if you’re working with a smaller budget.
19. Use Pendant Lights
Pendant lights are a great idea for this kind of dining rooms with high ceilings. They are an incredibly impactful piece of decor that immediately creates a focal point at the center of your dining table. This, in turn, helps give your room’s layout more structure and makes decorating easier as far as proportions and perspective are concerned.
In terms of shapes, you can consider different options for farmhouse pendants. A classic would be a wicker pendant. I especially like models like the one shown in the photo as they provide maximum lighting thanks to their open structure. It’s perfect for very dark spaces!
20. Include Farmhouse Patterns
If you feel like something is missing from the current dining room design, check whether you need some farmhouse prints in your space. Oftentimes, fully neutral environments can feel a bit incomplete or boring, and a good pattern is the best way to fix that.
You can include in your modern farmhouse collection prints like gingham, plaid, wildflower, tone-on-tone embroidery, and seasonal nature. Of course, patterned accents can be spread across various furniture pieces. For example, you can use a pattern for a chair cover and a similar one for your table linens. The more patterns you mix and match, the more of an eclectic look you’ll get!
21. Add Fabric Accent Chairs
A full set of fabric-covered dining chairs tends to be a bit too formal for a modern farmhouse dining room. However, if you like the look, you can still include them in your design. A good way to do so is by using them as accent chairs at the ends of your table.
You will introduce some new texture and color to your dining set while keeping the design rustic and informal.
22. Create a Display of Farmhouse Wall Decor
The perfect modern farmhouse dining room should include some farmhouse wall decor. This interior style actually allows for a great variety of wall decor pieces, combining textural elements, geometric patterns, and natural accents.
For example, if you plan on hanging a mirror, make sure to choose a piece with trim details. Or again, if you want to display greenery, opt for a rustic wreath rather than a basic plant. The options are truly endless!
23. Add A Touch of Glamorous Decor
If you’re trying to design a modern farmhouse but a formal dining room, glamorous touches are the easiest way to achieve an elegant look while also embracing this style.
The key is to replace rustic metals with gold or silver pieces and prefer refined wood over rustic materials.
Delicate colors like lavender or light blue are also perfect to bring some added sophistication to the space.
24. Use Modern Art To Balance Rustic Pieces
If you have a good understanding of the usage of color in farmhouse spaces, introducing modern art can be a great way to add different styles to your decor without them looking out of space. One of the core principles of modern farmhouse design is exactly that of taking contemporary pieces and using them to counterbalance the very rustic and old-fashioned look of traditional farmhouse decor.
Don’t be afraid to experiment!
25. Go for a Minimalist Farmhouse Approach
If you love clean lines, modern elements, and simple silhouettes, a minimalist approach may be what your modern farmhouse dining room needs. You’ll need to invest in a few high-quality pieces; the kind of furniture that does not need surrounding decor to shine or look elegant.
Once again, sturdy wood in beautiful finishes is the way to go for this idea!
26. Include Gold or Copper Accents
Sometimes all a space needs is some metal shine to add a luxurious touch and some brightness. If you’re looking to invest in a new piece for your modern farmhouse dining room, consider choosing a gold or brass accents. Items like a chandelier or a mirror frame can be a perfect addition to your space and complement the warm tones of wood.
To Conclude
This post showed you 26 stunning ideas to create the perfect modern farmhouse dining room!
As you redecorate your dining space with farmhouse design, remember that this style is all about embracing simplicity, high-quality materials, and understated finishes. All you have to do is create a unique mix and implement the ideas we discussed in the post to make your own dining room feel like a modern farmhouse dream!
Are you looking for Modern Farmhouse or Dining Room Inspiration?
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