When you hear about design trends shifting what comes to mind? For most of us we think of paint colours and furniture styles. You’re not wrong but there’s more to it than just those things alone. One of the surprising changes that most homeowners don’t realize changes as well are floor plans.
Recently we have seen an exceptionally long cycle where open concept floor plans have been the popular go to for a couple of decades. During the late 90’s we started to see a shift from centre hall plans to open concept plans and they’ve been going strong since then.
Well it looks like their reign is coming to an end and one of the ways we know this is because we’re seeing a resurgence of homeowners looking for contained spaces, particularly dining rooms. Let’s explore what that looks like for the future of homes and design.
Why Is the Formal Dining Room Gaining Popularity?
We’re coming to the end of a period of casual living. With the rise of open concept homes came the death of formal rooms. We wanted to move away from the formal dining room and instead, gather around the kitchen island.
This worked quite well for many of us for nearly two decades. Open concept homes became particularly challenging for people during the pandemic when families were all forced to gather at home for work and school. Many people scrambled to find ways to shut themselves off from the gathering spaces to find solitude and quiet for work, school and as a way to escape for a little while.
Whether it’s just time for a change or we’re tired of communal living, it seems we may be craving a bit more formality in our entertaining style. Here are a few of the reasons for the return to sit-down dinners.
1/ Creating Unique Spaces
Open concept spaces mean that we share one wall colour, a single floor treatment, window treatments that coordinate between rooms and a strong sense of continuity between all the spaces. This looks polished and chic but for those with a desire for more creativity it’s hard to embrace anything bold or daring in an open concept space.
It appears we are truly craving a bit more creativity in our homes and it starts with bringing back unique opportunities for creating more bold and daring spaces. In the past, dining rooms have always been a place for bold design. We often saw patterned wallpaper or deeply saturated paint on the walls. This space set the tone for evenings with friends and family
One of the reasons designers are particularly excited about this trend is for the opportunity to be bold and bring back amazing eye-catching designs. If you’re unsure how to design a space that fits your personality, read this post.
2/ Stay Away From the Kitchen
Put your hand up if you prefer your guests to let you cook without also having to participate in ongoing conversations, pouring wine and refilling food plates. While I love the concept of gathering around the island, when I’m cooking it’s a recipe for disaster and distraction.
Instead, many of us are now happy to have a separate space to gather where it doesn’t flow into the prep and cooking area. We can quickly make our way through our last minute finishing touches while our guests are lounging and enjoying themselves in a separate space meant for entertaining.
We can also safely hide all the dirty dishes without having to rush to get them done while guests linger. If you often feel stressed about having pots and pans cluttering the same area where your guests are lingering, a formal dining room might be for you.
3/ Can Function as an Office
Working from home was a concept quite foreign to many of us before the pandemic. Most of us were expected to be in our office between Monday and Friday. Of course the pandemic changed all of that and suddenly we were at home everyday. It was a scramble to create makeshift offices and anyone with a formal dining room was grateful for that quiet, closed off space.
Many of us have remained working from home even after the pandemic. If you don’t have an office or don’t particularly require a special space, the formal dining room can often act as a makeshift office. This can alleviate the burden by using a space that rarely gets any daytime activity.
4/ We’re Craving More Human Interaction
I don’t know about you but living an online life can feel lonely and many of us are ready to put our phones down and reconnect with people IRL. The last decade or two has seen a rise in loneliness across the globe and now people are making an effort to be together more often.
A formal dining space allows us to gather and connect. This type of dining feels particularly grounded in connection because it announces our purpose. We’re here to be together and to eat a meal and share companionship. This feels like a true connection and can be strengthened just by our attention. We can give undivided attention in a space where we aren’t being pulled away for the needs of others.
5/ Quality Family Time
It’s hard to be a parent of busy kids and often we can be left feeling like our cars are the only place we eat anymore. A formal dining room creates a space where families can be together everyday, even for just a few minutes. Instead of eating on the run or eating in separate areas of the house, let’s all connect at the dinner table again.
Even just a weekly dinner together at the dining table can make families feel more connected. It’s easy to make this weekly tradition feel like a special event for our kids as well. Setting a fancy table and eating their favourite meal will enhance the quality time spent together.
Pros and Cons of the Formal Dining Room
As with any change in design, there are some advantages and some disadvantages. If you’re house hunting or renovating this is a question you may be contemplating for your dream list. Here are some things to consider:
PRO - A Unique and Separate Space
There is something special about an entire room set up for entertaining. As opposed to the open concept dining room where rooms flow together, this space creates a quiet retreat from the rest of the house.
PRO - Design Possibilities
There’s a particular kind of drama that can only be appreciated in a space that’s entirely defined and contained. The possibilities for bold wallpaper, elegant window coverings and stand-out artwork is endless in a formal dining room.
PRO - Makes In-Home Dining More Special
It can be challenging to entertain in an open concept space because there are endless distractions. Kids needing attention, dogs acting up and trying to keep up with everyone’s needs. Instead, a formal dining room takes you away from the activity of your home so you can relax and enjoy your guests.
CON - Special Occasion Space
If you don’t entertain often you may end up feeling this space is underutilized. Let’s be real, most of us aren’t sitting down at a formal dining table with our toddlers if there’s a kitchen table in your home. The frequency of use should be a determining factor as you don’t want to end up with a space that isn’t used.
CON - Serving is More Difficult
If you like to serve hot meals plated and ready for your guests you may find it more awkward having to run back and forth to the kitchen. Depending on the location of your dining table, it can make serving dinner a bigger challenge and more effort overall.
CON - Not a Multipurpose Space
Having a dining room in an open concept space near the kitchen often means a parent can be cooking while kids are doing homework at the nearby table. When we move the dining room to a separate space we may miss out on opportunities to monitor or bond with your kids.
I hope this helps you understand whether a formal dining space is right for you. If you need help with any design or decorating project you have coming up, reach out to me. I’d love to discuss how we can work together.
