Many homeowners only use their dining rooms for special occasions like large family dinners and holidays, preferring the kitchen for everyday meals. With an entire room sitting largely unused, some homeowners recognized a need for functional space and converted their dining rooms into home offices, gyms, or other areas they use more frequently.
Thanks to the onset of COVID, families spent more time at home than ever. This meant there was time to prepare actual meals rather than heat up quick, ready-to-eat food. This also meant sitting down to meals together instead of grabbing something and eating quickly in the kitchen or eating on the run. With a shift in our household routines and behaviors, many homeowners are once again turning their home office or library back into a proper dining room and using them more often.
Here are a few ideas to make the dining room a space your family can use to gather and relax together every day:
• Add a fresh coat of paint
• Use some wallpaper to give the room a whole new look
• Trade in the formal, uncomfortable dining room table and chairs for a comfortable set. Think chairs with soft, plush cushions and a table with a generous surface area that is easy to clean.
• Use roomy cabinets and cupboards for storage, and not just for tableware. Make your dining room a second family room. Use the space to store board games, puzzles, or other activities you enjoy together.
• Homey touches to show this space really reflects your family, whether they are wall hangings, photos, or unique collectibles.
Dining rooms are usually right in the middle of a home’s ground floor and treated as a stop on the way to the living room or kitchen, or off to the side and not in the natural flow of the home. Make this space an important part of your home by adding glass doors to give you privacy when you want it, but still give the room a welcoming feel. Or knock out part or all of a wall. Add shelving to the half-wall to hold appetizers, dishes and utensils, or overflow items from the dining table. Cut out a small portion of a wall to create a “passthrough” to the kitchen, so the cook can still be part of the conversation and easily transport dishes to the dining room through the space in the wall.
Your dining room should not be limited to usage a few times a year or serving as a display area for treasures that should not be touched. Instead, it should be a favorite place for your family to gather, eat, and enjoy each other’s company.
Ready to convert your dining room but not sure where to start? Sovereign Construction Services has years of experience in the construction and remodeling industry. Contact Steve Rush for a free consultation. He can offer suggestions to make your dining room a space you won’t want to leave. Call him today at 610-639-2986.
