Simple Steps to a Beautiful, Minimal Dining Nook

Have you ever noticed how some of the finest restaurants have very simple, white plates? No need for elaborate patterns or colors when food is delicious and beautiful. The same philosophy can apply to the rooms, corners and nooks that we eat meals in. A minimal, non-distracting space can be the perfect backdrop for your own prepared meal, whether enjoyed solo or among friends or family. And this modern dining room is an example of how to layer a minimal and beautiful space.

The success of this specific dining room comes down to a somewhat modern design principle: Colorblocking

Colorblocking is when you use different colors to create “blocks” of color. Not actual block shapes; more like large swaths of color. Do this in a few different areas in a room, and you create a big visual impact without having to add a lot of decor to a room. Though colorblocking is often a mix of several bold colors, more subtler hues can work, too. In fact, when color blocking is mixed with soft, lighter colors — as in this dining room — you get a soothing space that’s a beautiful canvas.

→ Trend Spotting: Colorblocking in the Kitchen

In Mery’s Spanish home, her dining room’s design starts with a first layer of modern furniture with clean lines, in three different but neutral “colors.” Notice that the furniture has robust outlines; the table and bench have thick, sturdy legs and tops. The stools have strong circular shapes.

→ 10 Ideas for Defining Space with Colorblocked Walls

Next comes the addition of a paint block over the architectural element on the wall, at left. Then, she added softness and texture to the vignette with pillows that are the same hue as the bench, strengthening its “block” of color.

A sleek, light pink modern shelf reinforces the modular, horizontal vibes of the room, but a mix of accessories creates interest (though none have any bold colors or graphics, so none disrupt the composition). The final element is a simple, industrial hanging pendant light in a silver finish that echos the gray of the bench and the pillows.

1. Buy or DIY sturdy, block-y furniture
Look for straight lines, thick pieces and simple shapes.

2. Paint a shape of color somewhere in the space
For inspiration, see how this one renter created a beautiful circle on her wall.

3. Include one (or two) more block(s) of color
It could be a shelf, like in the dining room above, or it could simply be a furniture piece in another color.