The concept of a dining room has changed drastically over the decades, from a separate room with a dedicated entrance to the kitchen to, more recently, being phased out altogether. In honor of the demise of the dining room, here are a couple of modern home layouts with dining room options for each one.
Open Floor Plan Ideas
Thanks to the Gainses, people have been knocking out walls all over the nation. Open-concept floor plans have never been more popular, but in order to open up those spaces, sacrifices had to be made. One of the first rooms on the altar was the venerated dining room. Let’s talk about a few ways you can dine comfortably in an open floor plan.
The combo layout
Combining the living room and dining room into a single socializing space creates an environment of interaction. In this layout, family members and guests can easily flow between the areas as the evening develops.
One challenge in keeping this layout cohesive is the color scheme. Try to make sure that color elements can flow easily between the two rooms to further blur the line between them. Choosing a dining table that is a stylistic match for your living room furniture will further blend the areas. Fortunately, finding matching furniture has never been more accessible. You can check prices on popular home furniture here.
Angle couches and loveseats so that they face each other, but are still open to the dining room table. Opt for a longer table placed at a right angle to the living area to better balance the space. This will also allow those in the living area to be a part of the conversation going on at the table.
The zone layout
This layout works well when the living area is longer and narrow. Contrary to the strategy used above, you’ll be working to differentiate the two areas. That means that it’s okay to use separate (though complimentary) styles and colors.
Unlike the combo layout, putting the back of a couch toward the dining area is desirable because it further delineates the boundary between the dining room and living room. You can also opt for a circular table, which will help a narrow design seem larger. It will also make conversation at the table more intimate and exclusive.
Working with Limited Space
Another modern trend in living space is that home designs are simply becoming smaller. With the notable exception of the tiny-home craze, this trend has less to do with a style choice and more to do with growing populations and urbanization. But just because you’re designing within a smaller space doesn’t relegate you to eating frozen dinners in front of the TV. Here are a couple of ideas that will make the most of a limited space.
The breakfast nook
Formerly only featured in larger homes with separate dining rooms, the breakfast nook can actually double as a dining area in the modern, compact home. Ideally, you would tuck a small oval or circular table into a corner or alcove with a window adjacent. Dining next to a view, no matter how limited, helps the space feel less restrictive. Opt for modern, low-backed chairs and lighter colors (if they mesh with your interior paint) to expand rather than detract from the natural light from the window.
Tiny dedicated dining
A fun way to let your creative juices flow is to dedicate a small area, maybe adjacent to the kitchen, as a separate dining room. Your dining room design, however, won’t be defined by walls, but style!
Your job will be to separate this room from the adjoining space by whatever seems fun to you. You could throw down a separate small rug beneath the table, hang some special wall art around, or even drop in a tiny chandelier.
Small round tables are best for these types of spaces because they fit more comfortably into corners. Feel free to choose a table and artwork that match each other but have a style completely unique to the rest of your home. If you’re feeling particularly bold, you could even paint that corner of your apartment a different color!
With all of these suggestions, remember that this is your home. Do what makes you feel comfortable and happy!