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The Dining Room
The very words imply hospitality–dining room. A space apart from the hustle and bustle of busy, often hectic lives, it’s the place to enjoy the good things that come when you gather to dine with family and friends. Never mind if your dining room isn’t formal, or even if it’s not a separate room. A corner in the great room, a breakfast nook, any sliver of space will do. The important word here is “dining,” not eating on the run, but savoring–at leisure–the food and the people it’s shared with.
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What are the three most popular dining options? The formal dining room, casual dining and the breakfast nook. Features of each are described below.
Formal Dining Room:
Devoted solely to dining, this room is typically adjacent to the living room. Furniture can be of any style, but usually all pieces are from the same look. The table in the formal dining room typically seats eight or more people. A hutch or sideboard takes a place of prime importance for china display or serving. Window treatments and fabrics are as elegant as those in the formal living room.
Casual Dining:
The dining space is located between the great room’s living and kitchen areas–conveniently close to both. This multipurpose room is used for dining, homework and hobbies. The furniture blends stylistically with that of the living area. A hutch or armoire is positioned for storage of dinnerware and linens. Window treatments and fabrics are the same, or similar, to those in adjacent areas.
Breakfast Nook:
This area is typically located at one end of the kitchen or in a custom-built bay. The nook is most often used for family dining but sometimes for informal entertaining. Furniture, whether free-standing or built-in, is casual. This applies to complementary furnishings as well. The table is sturdy enough to use for hobbies, games, homework and additional kitchen work space.
To create a dining room as functional as it is appealing, consider these fundamental tips on space planning, furnishings and design elements:
- Before buying a table, determine the maximum number of diners you most frequently serve. Each diner should have ample elbow and leg room. Leave at least 3 feet behind each chair for pull-out and serving. Before combining mismatched dining pieces, measure the height of the table and the chair arms to make sure the seats can slip under the table.
- Nothing sparks dining room drama like candlelight. For function, add overhead illumination, such as a ceiling-hung fixture suspended about 34 to 36 inches, centered above the table.
- In picking the room’s palette, consider the time of day the room is most frequently used. Depending on your lighting play, wall color in a bold apple green may be dramatic for dinner, but it could be overbearing at brunch. Likewise, though they’re pretty by day, soft pastels may wash out by night.
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Dining Room
