The Inside View: The decline of dining

Rightmove findings indicate the dining room has been steadily declining in popularity over the past decade, with mentions in property adverts in the last year decreasing by 28%.

While many of us may still use this room for Christmas dinner, this is likely to be the only time of the year it serves its original purpose, begging the question do modern homeowners need a formal dining room?

Steve Hird, director at interior design specialists, Edward Thomas Interiors offers his insight.

Aformal dining room was once considered an indication of wealth and prosperity with the table itself a status symbol; it was to be treated with respect, “kept for best” and protected at all costs As the popularity of kitchens increased, alongside the rise of the TV dinner, the dining room has become almost obsolete, used once, maybe twice a year And with the pandemic meaning space within the home is at a premium, it’s not sustainable to maintain rooms purely for decoration

Modern living requires multi-purpose space where personal and professional personas blend seamlessly, and the family has room to grow Our design briefs are focused on maximising square footage and styling rooms to avoid convention A dining room is a luxury now, we’re probably only installing these as a formal space on 15% of our show homes Instead, it’s important to encourage homeowners not to be afraid of changing rooms to suit lifestyle and illustrate alternative options

Our top five uses for a dining room are:

1. Office/ study/ library: certainly the most common purpose since Covid. Without a table dominating the room, you can create workspaces for two adults, or a parent and child. Floor-to-ceiling cabinetry makes an impressive backdrop, and adds all-important storage space to hide equipment, cables and filing too

2. Cinema/ gaming room: a dedicated space for families to watch films, stream series or compete in Virtual Reality, these can be a cosy alternative to the open plan kitchen/family room, or formal living room

3. Playroom : half-height furniture and storage helps children learn and play or invite friends over when it’s a grey, rainy day and outdoors isn’t an option.

4 Craft or hobby room: a craft room can be a real incentive for those that have always wanted to take up a new hobby but never had the space, Amateur sewers, painters or musicians could learn new skills, or those wanting to read or practice yoga could create a quiet spot

5 Downstairs bedroom: as family living evolves, and we embrace multigenerational homes, re-purposing a dining room as a bedroom is ideal for a student returning from university or an elderly relative.

While it’s true the dining room is in decline, dining together is as important as ever so a home still needs space for the family to enjoy a meal New homes are now designed to accommodate dining as part of the kitchen/breakfast room Here is where we’ll typically add a table and chairs, bench seating, or a combination depending on the space and overall style, both formal and informal arrangements are still requested Also popular as part of this open plan design are French or bifold doors, meaning the garden becomes an extension of the home so another option is to add bistro tables or outdoor seating

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For more information go to www.rdr.link/dam041