Dining rooms have travelled a bumpy old road over the years, with homeowners frequently changing their minds over how they feel about them – are they the height of sophistication or a fusty, unsociable relic of a room that no modern homeowner should consider?
Opinions on dining room ideas remain divided. That said, there is no denying the fact that dining areas with a more sociable, connected feel remain more popular than those that feel cold, closed-off and underused. For this reason, knocking through from a dining room remains a hugely popular remodelling or renovation project, whether that is to bring it into a kitchen space or incorporate it as a casual eating area in a living room.
Here, with the help of some design experts, we look at the pros and cons of opening up a dining room and how to ensure the project is a success if you do decide to tackle the task.
Is knocking through from a dining room a good idea?
Knocking down an internal wall separating a kitchen and dining room is one of the most popular remodelling tasks undertaken – bringing together two rooms that just long to be together.
"I’ve worked on many projects where clients wanted to open up a dining room to connect it with the kitchen or living space," says interior designer Marta Balazs, founder of Embee Interiors. "It can completely transform how a home feels, but success lies in thoughtful planning beyond simply 'knocking through.'"
"I often find that dining rooms are one of the most underused spaces in a home," picks up fellow interior designer Holly Scott of Holly Scott Interior Design. "They can easily become a bit of a dumping ground rather than somewhere you actually enjoy spending time.
"Opening up the dining room to the kitchen can completely change that," continues Holly. "It creates a brighter, more sociable space that works beautifully for everyday family life. Cooking, eating and chatting all flow together – which is exactly how most people like to live today."
Marta is a London-based interior designer helping homeowners create functional, timeless and calming spaces that inspire a sense of well-being – with a touch of Scandinavian style.
Also know as The Happy Home Designer, Holly Scott is an award-winning luxury interior designer based in Oxfordshire. Holly is known for designing unexpected, statement interiors that create talking points through the finishing touches and styling. She has over 20 years of experience dressing windows and interiors for iconic brands such as Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Liberty, Harrods, and Ralph Lauren – not to mention many beautiful residential projects
What are the advantages of knocking through from a dining room?
There are a whole host of benefits to be enjoyed by removing the wall between a dining room and a kitchen, as the experts we spoke to explain.
"Opening up a dining room creates better flow, natural light and social connection," begins Marta Balazs. "It suits modern living where cooking, dining and entertaining often overlap. It can also make smaller homes feel much more spacious and cohesive."
"It connects family life together rather than keeping people in separate rooms," adds Holly Scott. "It also just makes entertaining easier and more relaxed."
Of course, knocking through from a dining room isn't always done just to realise dream kitchen diner ideas – sometimes, an even more open-plan layout is desired, incorporating a living space too.
"When it comes to combining kitchen, dining and living in one space, it can work brilliantly, especially in smaller homes, but I often recommend keeping a separate living area too if possible," advises Holly Scott. "It gives you a quieter, more relaxed space to unwind away from the activity of the kitchen."
"We’re actually working on a project right now where we’re removing the wall between a kitchen, dining room and a bathroom and completely flipping the layout," says Marta Balazs. "This will free up enough space to add a bigger kitchen, and a lounge-style soft seating area. When done for the right reasons, these changes can dramatically improve how a home supports everyday life."
What are the downsides of knocking through from a dining room?
Of course there is a reason why separate dining rooms are still valued by many – in fact, there are whispers that dining rooms are back in fashion. Something to bear in mind before tearing down that wall.
"If your family values quiet, separate spaces for work, study or downtime, or if the home’s period character would be compromised, it may not be the right move," advises Marta Balazs. "Every layout decision should enhance how you live, not just how it looks. In our own home, although both my partner and I love open spaces, we chose not to knock down the walls. It's not only a load-bearing wall but we would have lost the original Victorian features that make the house so special. Instead, we embraced the cosy, cocoon-like feel of each room through textiles and colour, and used the layout to our advantage within each space."
In fact, removing walls throws up some design challenges well worth considering, including sound transferral and the loss of storage and hanging space, not to mention the mess and disruption caused by the work itself.
How to knock through from a dining room successfully
If you have your heart set on opening up your dining room to the other spaces within your home, what advice did the designers we spoke to have to offer on how to ensure the project is a success?
"Always consult a structural engineer before removing any walls," says Marta Balazs. "Dining rooms often sit between load-bearing structures or include chimney breasts that influence what’s possible."
Once you have ascertained what type of wall you are dealing with and carried out the necessary structural checks to ensure the work is done safely, what other steps should you take?
- Define zones: "Once walls are gone, you lose natural boundaries," explains Marta Balazs. "Use kitchen and furniture layout, lighting and finishes, such as a pendant above the table, zone a dining or seating area with a large area rug, or a change colour where you have built-in cabinets – all help maintain balance."
- Add soundproofing measures: "Add texture and warmth through rugs, upholstery, curtains and timber finishes," suggests Holly Scott. "Mixing materials – like wood, stone and soft fabrics – helps absorb sound and stops the space feeling stark or echoey."
- Consider storage: "Fewer walls mean fewer storage options and so that’s where built-in cabinetry or bench seating can make a big difference," says Marta.
- Keep it cosy: Open-plans can lose intimacy," warns Marta. "Use as many textiles as you can – rugs, curtains, upholstered furniture and layered lighting to keep the space warm and comfortable.
FAQs
Is there a minimum dining room size?
In some properties, dining rooms can be very compact affairs, seemingly there just to tick a box rather than to provide any kind of useful function.
While there is no minimum size when designing a dining room in the UK, it is useful to first think about the size of table you either have, or want, to position in this room. From there, work on needing a minimum 1m of clearance space (ideally 2m) on at least two sides.
Getting open-plan living right is no easy task. Make sure that you take into account exactly how you intend on using each area of your new space and be sure to consider different ways of creating zones as well as a cosy feel.
