They were once a staple of the home where families would gather for all the important conversations.
But our once loved dining room appears to have fallen out of fashion.
In fact, the dining room is one of the most neglected rooms in the house.
According to a survey by Toolstation, 25 per cent of households which have dining rooms no longer use them.
Does this mean we have we seen the death of the dining room?
Heart of the home: A family enjoying lunch in a traditional dining room – but 25% of households which have dining rooms no longer use them
‘I’ve seen a big shift in attitudes towards the formal dining room,’ says Katy Raywood, interior design consultant at Howson Design.
‘One of the biggest reasons is down to the modern work/life balance.
‘Most couples both work which can mean working at different times and longer hours. This makes eating at different times more normal.
‘And if you have children the dining table becomes the dumping ground for crafting, homework, and toys.’
So how can you bring your neglected dining room back to life?
Dual purpose
Unloved dining rooms can be transformed by turning them into multi-functional spaces for work, study, being creative or mixing a cocktail.
Consider how to accommodate at least two functions in your dining room, says Aarti Popat, of Aarti Popat Interior Design.
‘If you’d prefer to keep the room for entertaining, incorporate a home bar into the space,’ she says.
To make room for the addition of a bar, strip out the dated sideboard and traditional display cabinet.
If the room is small, consider a compact accessory like a gold wall mirror with bar shelf from Rockett St George for £130.
If you have the space and fancy adding a bit of glitz to your dining room, Popat suggests splashing out on a mirrored free-standing bar for £1,895 and gold bar stools from the same company.
Homeware boutique Audenza has a range of fun accessories to give your bar some personality (from £30).
By adding a sofa to your dining room it can double up as a snug or playroom for the children to watch TV.
If you prefer to keep the room media-free, add a statement chair and reading lamp to create a quiet nook to get lost in a good book.
Cheers: A Rockett St George bar shelf, £130
Hero tables
Even if you want to shake off the room’s formality, your dining table and chairs (always go for comfort) should remain the focal point of the room.
A hard-wearing family table that can host children’s homework or a crafting session can still be a standout feature.
‘A wood table works perfectly for the family due to its rustic nature,’ says Raywood.
‘It doesn’t matter if it gets marked or knocked and you can personalise it with different chairs of your choice.’
She recommends the Bespoke Collection at Hemming & Wills, with sale prices from £220.
A folding table and banquette-style seating is a good space saving option and the perfect compromise for using the dining room as an office when it’s not in use.
Danetti.com has a range of extendable dining tables in a neutral palette starting from £494.
Dive into decor
‘Metallic accents are a great way to make dining rooms feel more luxurious and modern,’ says Victoria Foster, interior stylist at ScS.
‘Consider adding touches of brass or stainless steel to create more interest through shelving, framed mirrors or the legs of your furniture.’
By changing your light fittings and switches or introducing a sculptural lamp, updating your wall art or adding decorative pieces like vases, you can instantly give the room a fresher feel.
To update your colour scheme, Foster recommends choosing rich colours such as olive green or royal blue.
‘Creating a statement wall with a bold wallpaper is also a popular choice, just make sure it’s a pattern that you’ll love for years to come.’
Open or closed?
Open plan remains popular, but it isn’t for everyone. Estate agents Strutt & Parker say homeowners should think twice before knocking down walls because some buyers still like the option to have a private eating space.
Traditional dining rooms were often positioned in the brightest part of the house with the best view.
Consider relocating your kitchen here instead of knocking down walls.
If you want an element of open plan, but don’t want the space between your kitchen, dining room and living room to be entirely open, you could partially knock through and choose pocket doors to create a divide.
Pocket doors are sliding doors that when open, disappear into a compartment in the wall.
‘Alternatively you can knock down the wall and add in glass partitions or double doors that can open the space out when you need it,’ says Popat. ‘My favourite are Crittall doors, sliding or folding.’
Focus on flooring
If you’re a fan of an open-plan kitchen/diner you can add definition between rooms using zonal flooring.
This is the combination of two designs of floors that can be fitted securely together, explains Anastasiia Kudashova, lead design manager of flooring experts Quick-Step.
In kitchen spaces, a concrete-look floor would help denote a working area while a contrasting wood-effect one could be used for living and dining spaces.
‘This design can help break up larger spaces and help to compartmentalise rooms without the need for walls or barriers,’ she adds.
Consider a herringbone or chevron pattern for the dining and living area and water-resistant flooring such as laminate and vinyl to help deal with the most common spills and mishaps.
