Contemporary Colors

• Neutral colors often appear in contemporary design. A basic color palette allows you to keep up with the ever changing trends. Use inexpensive artwork and accessories so you are always on the edge of design. Paint the walls in a bright white, medium taupe or soft gray. If you want a more daring dining room, consider a bold chocolate brown or black. Use accessories such as bright orange plates or red curtains to bring in appetizing colors. Draw the accent color from artwork or use green accents for a nature-inspired room.

Materials and Focal Points

• Contemporary design combines natural and manmade materials. Bring nature into the dining room with a durable laminate, bamboo or wood floor that can be easily cleaned. Leave wood trim unpainted to show off its natural beauty. Place a few plants around the dining room for a cozy touch.

  The focus of a dining room space can be the architecture of your home or back yard. Accomplish this by keeping the room neutral so the eye drifts outside. Take off the window coverings to let more light in and lend a casual air to the contemporary dining room. If you want window treatments, try natural bamboo or grass shades. Add a silk panel on either side of the window. The shades will give you privacy and the curtains won’t even need to close.

Flooring

• The flooring in a great room needs to accommodate the various uses of the room. The floor must withstand high traffic, food and moisture while maintaining comfort and appearance. Common flooring choices for great rooms include hardwood, laminate, tile and carpet. Area and throw rugs can help define spaces within the great room, while runners add protection for high-traffic areas. Consider varying the flooring within the great room to further define the zones, such as using tile in the dining room and hardwood or carpet in the living area.

Lighting

• Standard overhead lighting is often inadequate for a great room, particularly if it has a vaulted ceiling. Instead, use chandeliers and pendant lights to bring the lighting closer to living areas. Supplement with task lighting, such as a pendant over the dining table and floor lamps or table lamps near the sofa. Recessed and track lighting can add ambiance to and accent architectural features of the room.

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  Repeat shapes. A contemporary dining room gives off a feeling instead of an overall theme. You can create continuity in your room with shapes. If you have a round dining table, try a large drum shade light fixture over it. You can repeat the pattern on the rug, & even etched into your glasses. Stripes, squares & other geometric designs are often found in contemporary design. Just make sure that you use muted or neutral colors so it doesn’t start to look childish.

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  Decorate with white. White is one of the most used colors in contemporary dining rooms. You might think that you already have a white dining room, but it may be looking a little dingy. This can make the room feel unkempt. The white should be intentional instead of the default. However, a coat of bright white paint will really bring in that contemporary feeling.

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  Use elements of nature in unexpected ways. This can be as simple as having a bamboo floor in your contemporary dining room. Modern design stays away from many natural elements, but a few touches in contemporary design can soften the feel. You can even look for chargers with a sleek wood grain on them, or bring in a sisal area rug.

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  Play around with height. Many contemporary dining rooms are found in newer homes. These often have high ceilings. One of the biggest trends in dining right now is a counter height table. These work especially well in breakfast nooks. Just make sure that you are comfortable sitting at this new height for a good length of time.

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  If you accentuate the height of the room it can make the entire space seem larger. You can even try making a large centerpiece made out of curly twigs or willows. Top notch wedding designers often use these at celebrity weddings. Just make sure that the piece is skinny enough that your guests can still see each other around the centerpiece or through the branches.

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  Purchase modern dining room furniture. Avoid tables and chairs with too many elaborate details; instead, look for pieces that feature clean lines. Glass-topped tables are popular, as are solid wood and stainless steel. All your dining chairs should match to avoid the shabby-chic effect. If you have the space, purchase a modern dining console in which to store your china and other items.

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  Install a contemporary light fixture above your dining table. Choose from brushed nickel or chrome finishes; if you prefer a softer look, choose a drum-shaped fabric shade. There are also many modern light fixtures made of glass, but avoid the dated crystal chandelier look.

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