Not everyone is lucky enough to have space for a formal dining room (shoutout to you, apartment-dwellers!). However, if you find yourself with one, you might start to feel like that blessing is... well, more of a curse. Dining rooms tend to stay undecorated for longer than other areas of the home, since they’re not in use as much as, say, the kitchen or living room (unless you’re a champion hostess putting the rest of us to shame).

If you’re stuck when trying to style your midcentury dining room, you’re not alone—and since simply plopping down some vintage furniture finds and calling it a day isn’t enough, we’ve rounded up some of the most inspiring midcentury dining spaces on Instagram to help you elevate your dining area instantly. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be hosting a midcentury dinner party of your own pretty soon. 

01 Add a Plant Shelf

Honestly, we don’t predict the #plantmom trend is going away anytime soon—which is great. It’s a nice way to add a welcoming natural element to the sleek lines of a good MCM dining set. (Bonus points if your pothos trail dramatically into your bar cart.)

02 Make Room for Mirrors

Minimalist Brass Metal Double Glass Wall Sconce, Modern Durable Ribbed Vanity Light, Wall Mounted Light, Wall Light for Bathroom, Hallway, Living Room

We all know the old trick about mirrors making rooms feel bigger, but in a dining room, they do so much more. From elevating the vibe of your next soirée to dramatically reflecting candlelight from your tablescape, mirrors can really do wonders when placed the right way. In a dining room, you can opt for bigger mirrors to get the look you want.

03 Paint It Black

Since light wood tones are common to the era’s furniture, one way to make them really pop is to create tons of contrast. Even in this seemingly simple dining room, every piece stands out against the black built-in shelves (with a fireplace to match). The rest of the room leans towards light tones, creating a perfect balance.

04 Wallpaper a Nook

An easy way to liven up your dining room nook? Add wallpaper that has playful or artistic patterns and colors. Whether you choose to add art over top or leave it bare is up to you, but you can't go wrong with adding an accent wall or nook to showcase your creative side.

05 Load Up a Ledge

Even the most commitment-phobic home decorator can get behind this idea. A simple set of floating shelves lets you switch up your artwork and dećor with your mood. As a bonus, it won’t detract from the clean lines of those midcentury chairs.

06 Keep It Natural

Japandi Large Weaved Chandelier, 42.5 Inch Hand Natural Rattan Ceiling Light, Light Fixture for Kitchen Island, Dining Room, Living Room

Play up the natural beauty of Danish modern design—like those iconic wishbone chairs—by echoing the texture throughout the space. We love how a woven light fixture and raw beams bring balance to this space. The perfectly-imperfect wooden table truly captures the concept of midcentury, and is a stunning focal point we can't look away from.

07 Try Geometric Painted Wallpaper or Murals

Even true MCM purists can get behind the slightly offbeat appeal of hand-painted wallpaper—or, for DIY mavens, hand-painted pattern murals—in the dining room. Just stick with a muted palette to keep things cohesive with the less-is-more look of fine-lined furniture.

08 Add a Bench

Adding a bench can be an easy way to create more seating while also giving a nod to the midcentury style. However, if you have the space, why not go a step further than a bench and add a full banquette? The retro-cool look brings tons of midcentury bang for your buck into the dining room... and yes, you can conceal some storage underneath, as well.