The way kitchens and dining rooms are designed has changed a lot in the last decade. Separate, formal eating spaces have evolved into more casual in-kitchen dining – usually in the name of having barrier-free rooms that keep the family more connected around mealtime. That said, every family is different. The way you use your kitchen or dining room should inform the layout of the space; it should facilitate the kind of dining experience you want. There’s no one right answer. A busy family that eats on the run will need a different setup than one that eats together every day.
The Traditional Formal Dining Room
When most people talk about dining rooms, they mean traditional separate dining rooms. That is, long rectangular tables and enough dining chairs to seat eight to twelve people. Having a dedicated, dressy space to host guests is historically a must-have. But in many contemporary homes, they go unused for anything but holidays, which makes them a waste of space. That said, big, grand dining rooms are great for people who do a lot of entertaining. If you host large groups on a regular basis and don’t want them flooding your kitchen while you cook, a traditional dining room is a tried-and-true way to do it. Otherwise, consider scaling down a little. A six seat table with a removable leaf is perfect for everyday use; just add the leaf back in and a pair of chairs to seat a group when you need to.
Kitchen Island Seating (For Any Size Crowd)
Kitchen island seating has become the big contender to traditional dining rooms. But they’re really a modern re-purposing of the same idea. Formal dining rooms separate guests from the kitchen. This keeps cooking messes out of sight, but also banishes cooks from the party. Island seating brings everyone into the kitchen, so no one’s left out while doing the dirty work. In modern greatrooms, it also keeps the kitchen, eating, and living areas in talking distance. That means you can host a crowd without seating everyone at a big table. This setup also makes it possible to keep an eye on the kids while you’re busy in the kitchen, or snag a little family time when you’re in a rush. That said, while islands are great for large group socializing, they can make it harder to have an unplugged, sit-down, face-to-face dinner on an average night.
Getting The Best Of Both Worlds With A Large, Open Greatroom
Growing up, I remember almost every kitchen having a kitchen table. These small tables were distinct from the separate formal dining table, and were where people ate most meals. Kitchen tables as such have since fallen out of popularity; they’ve largely been replaced by some combination of casual dining tables and kitchen island seating in open, barrier-free spaces. Knocking down the walls that separate your dining room but keeping a formal dining set intact allows you to have the best of both worlds: plenty of face-to-face seating in a more relaxed setting that encourages socializing.
Keep A Dining Table For Guests, But Add A Banquette For The Family
One option that’s risen as a popular substitute for kitchen tables is the classic banquette or breakfast nook. These consist of a (usually built-in) bench and chair seating around a small table. For a small house, this might be all the seating you need; in a larger space, you’ll probably also have separate island seating or a dining table. Banquettes have the intimate, face-to-face sit-down feel of kitchen and casual dining tables. But the more comfortable bench or booth-style seating makes them a nice place to just relax. A cushiony booth and big table can even encourage kids to spread out and do homework where you can keep an eye on them while you’re in the kitchen. Banquettes are also great for seating a crowd. Bench style seating lets you scooch in and make space for more people in a way you can’t with a traditional dining table.
Minimize Seating In The Kitchen With Bar Style Breakfast Tables
If you and your family do do most of your eating at a separate dining table (either in a dining room or greatroom), that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with some of the other types of seating mentioned here. While I’ve certainly seen kitchen islands with an army of bar stools lined up along one edge (as many as ten or twelve in really big kitchens!), you can easily design an island that only has one or two seats. Ditto for banquettes and breakfast tables. If your kitchen doesn’t have room for a full sized kitchen table, it might have room for a bar table or breakfast nook. You won’t do most of your big meal-eating at these tables. But they’re wonderful for enjoying a slow morning with a loved one – or just giving yourself a spot to take a breather during food prep.
Use Your Dining Room For Conversation Rather Than Eating
Having so much flexibility in how to structure your kitchen and dining areas means that a lot of traditional dining rooms are getting overhauled and re-purposed – as game rooms, libraries, home offices, music rooms, and more. But there’s one conversion that I think is particularly worth pointing out: using your dining room to entertain, but not necessarily for a big meal. Sometimes, it’s nice to be able to gather a group around a table – to talk, to snack, to play games. Round tables are better across the board for basically any face-to-face, sit-down activity. Round tables are also great for light meals (like tea or brunch) that are heavy on the conversation. You’ll sacrifice a little bit of table surface, but will have an easier time engaging with everyone around the table.
For better or for worse, the way we eat is shaped by the spaces we make to eat in, and vice versa. So if you’re looking to update your kitchen and dining room, take the time to really consider what you want and need from the space to ensure you create something that will serve you well.
