Evolution of the dining room
Dining rooms are evolving to keep pace with changing lifestyles. The demand for smaller scale furniture is growing, driven by young homeowners, townhouse dwellers and second homeowners.
Comfort is the primary motivation behind the move towards greater simplicity. Other key factors include an emphasis on function and on taking up less room. Consumers today want to make the most of the space they have available. People living in townhouses, second homes, and apartments tend to have less formal dining spaces. Fortunately, casual dining pieces are available in smaller sizes or with features that make better use of these limited spaces.
Formal dining rooms are still very much in style, with emphasis being brought back into the home where people are doing much more entertaining, for which they still seek formal dining rooms. There are also many very large and opulent homes that require you to fill large-sized dining areas. But smaller homes can indulge in elegant dining rooms, too.
Even if you live in an open-concept home, you can still make a separate and intimate dining area by painting one wall with an accent colour to give the feeling of a separate room. You can also use different luxurious fabrics on the chairs.
According to Grech, colour choices can make or break a dining room. "Reds are still very hot this year," she says. "Shades like Autumn Leaf create a warm, inviting atmosphere while Raspberry Truffle adds an element of fun to the room."
As people continue to combine their living spaces with their work spaces, they want greater functionality from their furniture and furniture that expresses their personal style. As a result, they are demanding furnishings that fit both the living spaces and their changing needs. New options in dual-purpose furniture for the dining room are turning up on many showroom floors as furniture designers are creating smaller sets for townhouse owners and large sets for the luxury homes.
Tips for choosing dining room furniture
Keep the shape of your space in mind. Is the room rectangular or is it square? Its outline can help you determine the shape you want for your table.
To make sure that the furniture will fit, try plotting out the dimensions of the piece you're considering in the room before you buy it. You can do this by laying masking tape on the floor to help you visualize the actual space your dining piece will occupy. You will need to allow an extra 40 to 60cm behind your dining chairs to make sure they can be pulled out from the table and to ensure that your guests will have room to sit comfortably.
For extra flexibility, choose a dining room table with one or two leaves that you can add or remove as needed. This will allow you to expand your dining room table when you're entertaining.
If space is limited, you can create the illusion of roominess by adding surfaces that reflect light. A mirror-back dresser with built-in lighting, or a large wall-mounted mirror, will expand a space visually.