Are Traditional Dining Rooms a Thing of the Past?

A lot has changed in home ownership and design over the past several years. One of the most significant changes is that home ownership has become much less accessible and affordable for younger people, meaning that younger generations are renting for longer or buying smaller homes. At the same time, the number of single-person households has also been increasing. For these reasons, and many others, the traditional home layout and the way people use their homes have been changing, too. Dining rooms have been a primary subject of these changes, oscillating in and out of favor over the years. So, what’s the current status of dining rooms as we know them? We asked designers to weigh in.

Are Dining Rooms Still in Style?

Another important factor that has affected dining rooms is the popularity of open floor plans. “For years, as open plans reigned supreme, it seemed as though dining rooms were falling out of favor,” says interior designer Hannah Goldberg, the founder and principal of Hannah Charlotte Interiors. “As the kitchen became the heart of the home and many were designed with welcoming islands or breakfast rooms adjoined, the formal dining table and dining room seemed to become less and less important.”

However, things are shifting again, Goldberg says. “But we are seeing a pendulum swing away from fully open plans, and a desire to separate the art of entertaining from the mess of entertaining prep,” she explains.

“Truthfully, there will always be people who enjoy a separate dining room in their home for many different reasons,” says interior designer Emma Kemper, author of new book, House Rules: 100 Ways to Feel at Home.

So, according to the design experts, dining rooms aren’t going anywhere, but they are evolving.

Multifunctionality Is Key

Traditional dining rooms of the past were one-trick ponies. They were meant for sitting and eating everyday meals with the family or for hosting guests for dinner, and they were more formal in nature—but today’s dining rooms are changing. “Over the past several years, we are seeing a decrease in formality and a rise in multifunctionality in dining room design,” Goldberg says.

Goldberg explains that this shift can also be attributed to the way homes were used during the pandemic, with dining rooms serving “double and triple duty” as homework stations, home offices, and more. “As we’ve moved beyond the specific challenges of the pandemic, we have seen that people have really liked having flexibility in using a space where true formal dining events may be few and far between,” she says.

Alternatives to Traditional Dining Rooms

If you find that your dining room is collecting more dust than memories and good times, you may want to rethink how you use the space. So, here are some alternative ideas for how to repurpose—or add an extra purpose—to your dining room.

A Cozy Library

Goldberg says her favorite way to transform a traditional dining room space is to create a cozy library room. “Wrap the perimeter with bookshelves, paint it all a deep, earthy color, and immerse yourself in a wonderful and relaxing space perfect for reading a book, doing a puzzle,” Goldberg says. “Add a desk or central table for a work-from-home space if needed.”

A Home Office

If you find yourself using your dining room table as a desk more than a table for dining, you might as well go ahead and make the switch. Kemper says dining room spaces are typically bright and spacious, providing plenty of space for a desk, storage, and a separate seating area.

A Banquette Area

If space is an issue, and you don’t have a full separate dining room, adding a banquette off the kitchen can be a great use of space. “Banquettes are your best friend when working to invoke the feel of a formal dining room into a home that lacks sufficient space for a formal dining room,” Goldberg says. “It allows you to maximize your space.”

If you do have a separate dining room space, but don’t want to use it as such, then adding a banquette area means you still have a designated dining space, but can use the rest of your bonus room however you choose.

A Playroom

If you have young kids, it may be unlikely that you’re able to gather everyone around a table for formal family dinners each night anyways. So, your dining room space may be better used as a playroom. “This way, you can keep the toys and mess out of the family room and it gives the kids a designated space to be extra creative,” Kemper says.

A Den or Extra Living Room

“Rather than using your living room off the kitchen as both a formal entertaining space and a less formal living room, you can turn an unused dining room into a cozy den, where you can have all the throw blankets and throw pillows you want without having to compromise when guests come over,” Kemper says. Doubling the cozy lounge space in your home? We like the sound of that.