Many homes are built with formal dining rooms, but are modern families still using them? With busy schedules, more casual lifestyles and open floor plans, dining rooms may seem like relics of the past. However, recent surveys and trends show dining rooms are far from obsolete. While their function has evolved, dining rooms remain relevant in homes today.
Brief history of the dining room
Formal dining rooms first became popular in wealthy European homes in the Middle Ages. They were a way to impress guests with an ornate space dedicated to dining. This tradition continued and expanded as the upper class desired manor homes with many specialized rooms. Dining rooms became nearly ubiquitous in middle class houses by the mid-19th century. They reflected family values around shared meals and entertaining.
The 1950s saw a surge in formal dining, inspired by suburbs, traditional family ideals and post-war prosperity. By the 1960s, casual lifestyles challenged traditions like using dining rooms only for holidays. But many still considered them essential, especially for hosting parties and family gatherings.
Open floor plans emerged in the 1970s and 1980s, blurring lines between rooms like kitchens and dining areas. Casual dining nooks or eat-in kitchens often replaced formal spaces. Yet classic dining rooms remained common in suburban homes.
How are modern families using dining rooms?
Many assume families rarely use formal dining areas anymore amid busy modern lifestyles. However, statistics and surveys reveal dining rooms are still common and serve important functions:
– A 2019 Houzz survey found 79% of homeowners have a formal dining room. This has held steady over the past decade.
– In 2021, the National Association of Home Builder’s survey showed 65% of new homes had a formal dining room. This was down from 71% in 2015, indicating a small decline.
– According to a YouGov poll, around 55% of Americans still use their dining room for regular family meals. Meanwhile, 25% use it a few times per month and 15% use it rarely.
– Dining rooms rank in the top 5 most popular rooms to entertain, according to an American Express survey. Nearly 60% of homeowners host parties and family gatherings in their dining room.
This data suggests that while dining room use has decreased, the majority of homes still have them. Many homeowners use dining rooms for holidays, entertaining and occasional family meals. They remain a flexible space and haven’t become completely obsolete.
Benefits of today’s dining rooms
While less formal than decades ago, today’s dining rooms offer many benefits for modern lifestyles:
– **Daily family meals.** Many families aim to eat together regularly, but kitchens or breakfast nooks lack adequate space. Dining rooms provide a dedicated area for daily family dinners.
– **Holiday gatherings.** Major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas bring large gatherings. A dining room offers the table space and seating to accommodate extended family.
– **Dinner parties.** Dining rooms create an elegant atmosphere for hosting dinner parties, with space for table settings and decor. The separation from kitchen messes adds formality.
– **Homework space.** Some transform unused dining rooms into kids’ homework stations or home offices for remote work. The table offers a handy workspace.
– **Crafting area.** With a large table surface, dining rooms can double as craft zones for hobbies like sewing, scrapbooking or model building.
– **Game room.** Empty nesters may convert their dining room into a game room, with space for cards, puzzles or board games.
– **Extra storage.** Dining rooms are ideal for storing extra items like holiday dishes or kids’ artwork. Sideboards, hutches and cabinets provide ample storage solutions.
How dining rooms are evolving
Dining rooms today look quite different than decades ago. Open floor plans and casual lifestyles have influenced their modern form and function:
– **Open to kitchen.** Walls between kitchens and dining rooms are frequently knocked down for a more open flow. This accommodates conversation and traffic between spaces.
– **Casual decor.** Formal rules around ornate furniture and decor are fading. Modern dining rooms display more casual, minimalist or rustic styles.
– **Multipurpose use.** Families use their dining room for homework, crafts, games and storage along with occasional meals. Rooms evolve based on changing needs.
– **Smaller size.** Large McMansion-style dining rooms are decreasing in favor of right-sized spaces. Consumers want rooms suited to real-life use, not for show.
– **Flexible furniture.** Benches, stools or Pub height tables allow for flexible seating and uses beyond traditional dining chairs.
– **Merging with kitchen.** Some forgo a distinct dining room and extend the kitchen with an eat-in dining nook. This creates a casual space for regular meals.
Dining room use by generation
Utilization of formal dining rooms varies widely between generations. Here is a breakdown of how different age groups use these spaces:
| Generation | Dining Room Use |
|---|---|
| Baby Boomers | Regularly use for family meals and entertainment due to formal traditions. |
| Gen X | Occasionally use for holidays, more casual daily meals in kitchen. |
| Millennials | Rarely use; prefer open kitchen/dining flow. May convert to office or playroom. |
| Gen Z | Typical in new construction but used casually/infrequently like millennials. |
Baby boomers are the most attached to dining room traditions, while Gen X maintains some formalities but eats casually more often. Millennials and Gen Z rarely use a closed-off dining space, instead opting for open floor plans.
Regional differences
Dining room use also shows regional variations:
| Region | Dining Room Use |
|---|---|
| Northeast | High use for entertaining/holidays due to more formal entertaining culture. |
| Midwest | Moderate everyday use and for holidays due to family-centric culture. |
| South | Frequent use for holidays and traditions but casual everyday meals. |
| West Coast | Lower use overall due to casual lifestyles, focus on open floor plans. |
Homeowners in the Northeast and South are the most likely to use dining rooms formally for special occasions like holidays, while Midwestern families use them more regularly. West Coast households prefer casual dining options.
Home size and dining room use
Unsurprisingly, dining room use correlates strongly with home square footage:
| Home Size | Have Formal Dining Room | Regularly Use Dining Room |
|---|---|---|
| Small ( | 35% | 10% |
| Medium (1500-2500 sq ft) | 65% | 25% |
| Large (>2500 sq ft) | 85% | 55% |
In small homes, open floor plans are more common along with kitchen dining areas instead of separate rooms. Large homes can more easily accommodate a dedicated space used regularly for meals.
Design trends
Dining room design embraces casual, multi-functional spaces:
– **Mix-and-match seating:** Benches, accent chairs and stools replace formal matched dining sets
– **Durable, family-friendly materials:** Washable upholstery; wood or stone surfaces resist wear
– **Informal lighting:** Pendant lights, Edison bulbs or modern chandeliers instead of candelabras
– **Multipurpose furniture:** Storage benches, buffets that can act as desks, adjustable tables
– **Warm, minimalist palette:** Neutral tones, textural rugs and plants create an inviting mood
– **Open to kitchen:** Bar height counters or counters allow serving food easily
– **Defined conversation zone:** Comfy seating nook near dining table for chatting before/after meals
Conclusion
While their heyday has passed, dining rooms still hold relevance in many modern homes as flexible spaces for gathering. New builds include open floor plans, but most remodels aim to repurpose rather than remove dining rooms. They provide a space for holidays, parties, and occasional family meals many homeowners are reluctant to lose. Dining room use is declining among younger generations who prefer casual dining experiences, suggesting their eventual extinction. But for now, this special room holds its own in American homes.
