With the rise in open plan living and a more casual approach to meal times, it's often said that dining rooms have lost their appeal. But, with the rising cost of living and a need to connect in an increasingly busy world , the question is being asked, "are dining rooms back in fashion?"
We're all for having another room to renovate or decorate, but what do industry experts and interior designers say? Is the dining room having a resurgence in popularity, or should we abandon our dining room ideas and put the space to better use instead?
After all, while decor trends may come and go, turning a room into something other than what it was designed for is a much bigger task – and not a decision to be taken lightly.
Are dining rooms back in fashion?
Spoiler alert. If you were thinking of abandoning the idea of including a dining room in your self build, you might want to think again. The tables are turning, dining rooms are back in fashion, and there's more than one reason why.
“In recent years, Scandinavian styles with laid-back, open layout rooms have taken centre stage in home design as we embrace relaxed hosting. But, in recent years the formal dining room has made a return," says Ally Dowsing-Reynolds, lighting expert and co-founder of Dowsing & Reynolds.
And, she wasn't the only expert to tell us the same thing. No longer are we eschewing the idea of a dining room as being old-fashioned, instead we are beginning to appreciate the value of a dedicated space for eating, family and focused attention.
Why are dining rooms back in fashion?
There's no doubt that in recent years, we became a nation of homeowners who opted for installing a kitchen island as a dining room substitute.
As a result of busy lives, and options for eating out or food delivery in abundance, dining rooms slowly lost their appeal. And, it's fair to say that the pandemic also played a part in this downward trend, with many dining rooms turned into home offices or classrooms – and in many cases both at the same time.
Throw into the mix the fact that when the pandemic ended, we ate out and socialised more, it's no wonder dining rooms were resigned to the back of our minds.
However, in recent years, the rising cost of living has changed many homeowner's relationships with their home. No longer in a position to be able to afford to eat out as often, eating and entertaining at home is now back in vogue, as is the drive for a life that's a little less reliant on tech.
“The dining room is an intentional space, dedicated to conversation and socialising," says Shannon Taylor, marketing manager at Lakeland Furniture. "We’ve seen this shift towards dining rooms rise in line with a growing desire to separate dining and entertainment from the kitchen, as we look to bring people together without screens and distraction.”
“After years of everything happening around the kitchen island, people are craving a slower, more intentional way of gathering," says Shannon. "A dining room gives that sense of occasion – it’s a space where people sit down and connect. From a design perspective, it also allows for bolder style choices or softer lighting that wouldn’t work in a kitchen."
As marketing manager at Lakeland Furniture, a family run furniture company, Shannon's leadership and vision are vital to connecting quality furniture with the right customers
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What are the benefits of dining rooms?
Of course, as well as the option to explore different design ideas in your dining room, such as colour capping, there are a number of practical benefits to having a separate space.
If you don't have the space for a back kitchen to hide meal prep, a dining room means you can eat in visual peace, without having to look at the mess you've made. Plus, regardless of how good your kitchen ventilation is, the smells of cooking can linger for a while on items such as fabric bar stools or dining chairs. In a dining room, this problem doesn't exist. Everything is untainted by odour or smells.
As mentioned, lighting can also be tailored, and you may even feel happy to choose a softer floor covering such as carpet in a dining room – an option that's never really recommended as the best flooring for kitchens.
And, above all else, it's also a chance for connection in a world which can feel increasingly disconnected.
"In a world where we're constantly multitasking, the simple act of sitting down together to share a meal and conversation can feel truly special," adds Kate Palmer, creative director of the The Painted Furniture Company. "This kind of quality time is invaluable and helps to reinforce family bonds and build cherished traditions."
It can also enhance seasonal events notes Debbie Leigh, design manager at ILIV. "With Christmas festivities fast approaching, many homeowners are revisiting this often-overlooked room and appreciating its potential. A dedicated dining room can be a beautiful room to escape from the clutter and noise of busy, modern life and take time to slow down and enjoy a meal with family and friends."
How to make the most of your dining room
Of course, the success of any room will come down to how well you design the space. From considering room sizes through to dining room lighting, designing a dining room isn't just about creating a space that's big enough to seat a certain number of people. Instead it needs the same amount of attention as any other room.
“Focus on comfort, build quality and some of the more finite details such as how your dining room chairs will hold up to daily life," says Shannon Taylor. "Choose materials that are easy to clean and finishes that tie in with the rest of the home renovation or self build – whether that’s oak floors, painted wall panelling, or a modern extension with glazed walls.”
"Ensure it works for casual weeknight meals as well as those bigger, dinner parties," notes Amanda Huber, creative director at the Dining Chair Company. "Think about how you’ll use the space on a day-to-day basis as well on special occasions. If you often host large groups, opting for a generously sized rectangular table in materials like wood, marble or glass will create a focal point and help to balance a larger room’s proportions.
"For smaller or multifunctional spaces, an extending round or square table might be better suited," she suggests, "allowing you to use it daily and adapt it for when you need to seat more people.
And, if your dining room does still need to have a modern twist and provide you with a multi-purpose space, don't forget to consider this from the ceiling down, says James Kendall, operations director at KES Lighting & Home.
"When designing a dining room, consider how the space will be used beyond mealtimes. If it doubles as a workspace or homework area during the day, adjustable lighting is crucial. Track lighting or directional spotlights can provide focused task light when needed, while pendant lights set the mood for evening dining.
"Investing in smart lighting systems allows you to program for different occasions," suggests James, "switching effortlessly from bright and functional to soft and intimate with a single tap."
From dazzling crystal chandeliers and statement wall lights to designer lamps and elegant drop pendants, James and his knowledgeable team are always on hand to help customers find the perfect lighting for their individual project
While adding a dining room to your self build plans can be done early on in the design stage, what if you've already renovated and realised you should have allowed space for a dining room after all?
There are several less permanent ways of dividing a broken plan scheme, such as floor to ceiling storage. Or, if you want to make it a more fixed feature, there's always the option of building a stud will with a door.
Or finally, if you have an integral garage then even a garage conversion could provide you with the dedicated dining room you didn't realise you needed – until now.
