Stunning Dining Rooms Worthy of a Dinner Party

Nowadays, the term ‘modern dining room’ is almost an oxymoron. With the popularization of open concepts and contractors with a vendetta against walls, you might not think about them much anymore. But dining rooms don’t have to just be a square room with a single long table and a china cabinet that hasn’t been opened since capris pants were in. Thankfully, Kortney Wilson and Kenny Brain are back for another season of Making It Home with Kortney and Kenny and they’re bringing with them their contemporary dining room ideas to, well, make it home!

In honour of the new season premiering Tuesday, October 11 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, we’ve rounded up Kortney and Kenny’s most iconic, swoon-worthy dining room designs.

Watch all of your favourite HGTV Canada shows on the Global TV App and on STACKTV with Amazon Prime Video Channels and Rogers.

Modern dining room with a large white gallery wall

HGTV Canada

1 / 10

Who Says a Dining Room Has to be a Room?

The stuffy cordoned off dining rooms you remember from the nineties are no more. Now it’s about making it feel like a natural extension of your home, style, and personality. Kortney uses various dining room wall décor ideas to accomplish just that. By dedicating a feature wall to matching picture frames, it allows for an interesting and personal design element that doubles as a talking point, showcasing the people that make this house a home.

Wood dining table with mismatched chairs

HGTV Canada

2 / 10

Mixed Textures

Who says that all your chairs need to be identical? By offsetting the chairs with complimentary woods and fabrics, it creates a more relaxed atmosphere that is great for a more casual setting. This same technique can be accomplished by chairs made of the same materials that are different in design or shape.

Large formal dining table with a scandi style pendant light

HGTV Canada

3 / 10

Formal Can Be Fun

You can’t forget the classics. Even though the definition of what is and isn’t a dining room has blurred, there’s something special about a formal dining experience. A nice long, symmetrical dining table, with good lighting, and even better company is a recipe for a memorable experience with guests, which is exactly what Kortney and Kenny accomplished, while staying true to their signature contemporary flare.

Light wood scandi style dining table surrounded by bright windows

HGTV Canada

4 / 10

Playing Up the Home

Deciding on the direction of a dining room is difficult. Often it’s the minor and subtle details that make these spaces great, but sometimes the house itself tells you exactly what it needs. In this space the natural stonework and lapboards were all too vocal, calling for natural wood tones and organic curves to make the room feel more alive.

A casual black and white themed dining room with a bold pattern area rug

HGTV Canada

5 / 10

One Size Doesn’t Fit All

A dining room, or area as the case may be, doesn’t have to be a grand affair. A more relaxed and natural setting that is open to the rest of the home is often just as effective as any dining room. Knowing when is enough is key.

Electric fireplace next to a dining table

HGTV Canada

6 / 10

As Much or Little As You Need

Not every home is meant for entertaining. Whether it’s due to lack of space or just not being a fan of hosting, the dining room should fit the needs of the people that live there first and foremost.

HGTV Canada

7 / 10

Mixing Familiarity With Formal

When a home is open concept it can be difficult to establish a formal dining space. Overhead lighting fixtures serve as a focal point for guests to rally around while elevating the design of the space. Kortney and Kenny chose to couple this low-rise table with a minimalist light fixture in order to keep sight lines open and the atmosphere relaxed.

open concept dining room with a large round pendant light

HGTV Canada

8 / 10

Simple Symmetry

Balance tends to bring out conversation without us even realizing it. When there’s no clearly defined hierarchy of seating, you may notice gets tend to come together naturally. Couple this with a rustic harvest table like this one and any visitors will find themselves feeling right at home.

Large dining table with an abstract light fixture

HGTV Canada

9 / 10

Good Lights and Good Lighting

What’s a party without the guests? For guests to enjoy their time in a home they need a few things: Food, drink, conversation, and most importantly, good lighting. Not only does a good light fixture elevate any design, but it’ll make those inevitable selfies IG feed worthy.

HGTV Canada

10 / 10

A True Extension of Your Home

At the end of the day the purpose of a beautiful dining room is to bring family, friends, and guests together. It should be as much a part of a home as any other room, not just a utilitarian space. Kortney and Kenny have come together once again to show us just how to create a dining room that will make you want to start hosting again.