The American Dining Room Has Come a Long Way
Before the late 1700s, American families found it difficult to dine together regularly. Rooms and tables had multiple uses, and families would eat in shifts. If chairs were in short supply, the men would sit and the women and children might stand. One of the first American homes to have a specific dining room was Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello (seen here), built in 1772. The dining room, with the dining table at its center, began to be incorporated into wealthy homes across the country, eventually working its way into the middle class.
What Is Your Dining Room Personality?
You may not think of your dining room as having its own personality. However, your dining room can – and should – be a reflection of your entertaining style, and of your personal sense of design style. What could that look like?
- Casual: You enjoy having family and friends over for meals but you want things comfortable and cozy rather than stiff and stuffy. You’ll want lights, walls, artwork, and furniture that emphasize comfort and casual relaxation.
- Formal: You like serving elegant dinners that are special and exude a sense of style and refinement. You’ll probably choose lighting, furniture, and other décor that reflect a refined and somewhat more formal atmosphere.
- Intimate: If the meals you share with others are smaller, more intimate affairs, you may want a dining room that’s also a bit smaller and feels cozy and intimate (regardless of whether it’s casual or formal).
- Larger: If you enjoy having larger groups to dinner, you’ll want to make sure your dining room will accommodate a bigger group comfortably. That may mean allowing more room for the dining room table and chairs so that family and guest can sit comfortably.
Another thing you’ll want to consider is access to the dining room. Will it be open to the kitchen? How will that affect the ambience in the dining room? Can you make that work with the style (casual or formal) that you want? Beyond that, you’ll also want to think about how your dining room fits in with the style of the rest of your home.
Thinking about your dining room personality early in the remodeling process with us can allow us to come up with a plan that fits your home entertaining lifestyle.
Timeless Dinner Table Advice
“Never argue at the dinner table, for the one who is not hungry always gets the best of the argument.”
– Richard Whately, 18th Century English writer
