Dining Room Design
One of the most tradition – yet under appreciated – rooms in a home is the dining room. As the open concept aesthetic becomes more popular, we see formal dining rooms disappear, but they are by no means out of the picture. If you are often host large family gatherings or prefer to have a designated dining area, the dining room is going to be an important element in your home. Your dining room doesn’t need to be stuffy; you can design it to suit your specific needs. Here are a few design and suggestions to keep in mind.
- Proximity to kitchen. This one is kind of a no brainer, but a poorly placed dining room can diminish the usefulness of the space. Walking across the house to deliver food can be exhausting and has the potential for a lot of messes. In most cases, dining rooms should be adjoining to the kitchen. A clever – and stylish – way to do this is to create a large pass through between the kitchen and dining room. Not only can the counter act as a serving station, but also it can be used as a breakfast bar and more informal meals.
- Add a wet bar. If you decide to move your dining room a bit further from the kitchen, adding a wet bar to the room could make the space more convenient. Plates and glasses can be rinsed, water is readily available, and you have a semi-formal bar. Add a wine fridge or icemaker to make hosting your next party even easier.
- Build in banquet or bench seating. Benches are becoming increasingly popular seating options for dining rooms and eat-in kitchens. Built in seating can offer additional storage and creates a slightly more informal dining environment.
- Create a walkout patio. The seamless flow between kitchen, dining room, and outdoor living space is ideal for the individual or family that likes to entertain. Sliding glass doors, French doors, or accordion doors will let light flood in and are impressive focal points for homes – especially in dining rooms.
If you don’t often have a lot of formal meals, you probably don’t need a dedicated room. Instead, you could create more of a lounge with conversation couches with a couple end tables. Dining rooms may be traditional, but they are far from outdated. Design your dining room with your family’s lifestyle in mind.
