My IKEA® Modern American Dining Room Dream Design

 The idea of The American Dream gets thrown around a lot. I think because it means so many different things to different people.

For some, the idea of the American Dream is just living in America, the land of the free. To others, the dream is a specific goal, such as sending your kids to college or owning your own business. For me, the American Dream is about building a good life with my family.

IKEA believes in the American Dream as well. As they say in their new campaign.

“The American Dream has changed, but it’s still alive. And no matter who you are, what you do, or how much you make, you can still make the dream yours.”

Home is the essential element of my American Dream, and the dining room is the center of my home. Like a lot of families, our dining room isn’t just for eating. We use it for homework, projects, and playing games. But family meals are such an important part of our days. It’s not just about feeding my family a nutritious meal, although that is important to me, it’s about having the time to connect. Research has shown that kids who have family meals have better self-esteem, better academic performance, lower risks of substance abuse, lower rates of obesity and depression. It isn’t just about eating together, it’s about the time together.

Because of that, the look of my dining room is almost as important to me as what I serve. A calm [change to fun or exciting if more appropriate], inviting space creates the perfect background for my family to sit and talk about the day. When the dining room is cluttered or chaotic, no one can sit and relax.

I find that IKEA’s affordable, modern furniture fit in perfectly with what I wanted to create for this room. I wanted a space that was modern and reflected my aesthetic but was also livable and creative. As our family gathering place, the dining room needs to reflect all of our personalities.

Here is my IKEA dining room set-up:

OPPEBY (Table, dark brown white, Västanå high gloss white dark brown) – JANINGE (Chair, yellow) – IKEA PS 2014 (Storage table, multicolor) – GRUNDTAL (Mirror, stainless steel) – VARDAGEN (Glass, clear glass) – OLUNDA (Picture, dancing alliums) – MASKROS (Pendant lamp) – SKYN (Serving plate, white) – KASTRULL (Pot with lid, green) – FÄRGRIK (18-piece dinnerware set, white, stoneware)

One of the ways we keep the focus of our family meals on the conversation and connection is by starting meals with a “pre-meal grace.”

You can also simply have a question in mind to begin meals with, too. Something like, “What was the funniest thing that happened today?” Sometimes we even start with “What was the most annoying thing that happened today?” We’ve even started with the game, “Three Truths and a Lie” where everyone mentions four things that supposedly happened during the day, and you have to guess which one they made up.  It doesn’t really matter what you ask, as long as you get everyone talking.

As I said, family meals aren’t just about the food you serve, but it does help to serve dishes that they enjoy. Since it’s a fresh new year, I’ve been trying to integrate healthy options for our meals. This sweet potato hash is a favorite so far!

Print Recipe

Whole30 Whole 30 Sweet Potato Hash with Fried Egg

Yield: 1-2 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 sweet potato, peeled & diced (the smaller, the easier to cook through)
• 1/2 medium onion, diced
• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• seasoning of choice (I like an all-purpose seasoning)

Directions:

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When hot, add sweet potatoes and saute for around 5 minutes.
2. Add onions and sautee hash until onions are translucent and potatoes are cooked through.
3. Using a spatula, create space in the middle of the hash, add a tsp of olive oil to this space, then crack egg on top to cook. Cook to desired liking and serve!

All images and text ©Amy Bellgardt for Mom Spark

What room in your home is the “heart” of your American Dream? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

I am a Brand Ambassadör for IKEA U.S. This is a sponsored post. IKEA is a registered trademark of Inter IKEA Systems B.V. The views, ideas, and opinions expressed here are my own.

Amy @ Mom Spark

For 16 years, I have been the creator & full-time blogger of Mom Spark. I’ve also created content for numerous outlets such as Good Housekeeping, Better Homes & Gardens, & Huff Post.