If you’re working on blueprints for a new build or making a must-have list for your house hunt, the decision of whether or not to prioritize a formal dining room is a pretty big one.
While open-floor concepts have taken center stage in recent years, there’s been some chatter about the return of closed concepts, which usually include a formal, separate dining room. To find out whether formal dining rooms are unnecessary, we turned to three designers.
Meet the Expert
- Stephanie Abernathy is the principal interior designer at Studio Wellington where she specializes in bespoke interiors.
- Victoria Holly is a designer known for her designs that reflect her clients’ unique tastes, from traditional to contemporary. She works on projects from coast to coast.
- Jennifer Jones is the principal designer at Niche Interiors, a high-end residential design firm in San Francisco.
Are Formal Dining Rooms Back in Style?
According to Los Angeles-based designer Victoria Holly, formal dining rooms are experiencing a renaissance.
“Formal dining rooms are here to stay, and they’re experiencing a resurgence,” she says. “While kitchen islands and casual dining spaces became the go-to during the remote work shift, formal dining rooms have regained popularity as people return to hosting and entertaining at home.”
Jones believes that a formal dining room elevates your guests’ experience at dinner parties and holiday gatherings, and you simply can’t replicate that in a casual space.
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Hot Take: They Never Went Out of Style
Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp
One designer we chatted with believes that formal dining rooms are timeless and, therefore, have never and will never go out of style.
“Formal dining rooms are classic and absolutely have a place in the current era,” says Stephanie Abernathy of Studio Wellington. “They are a place that separates daily eating into a dining experience and where you gather with family and friends to enjoy separation from day-to-day life.”
Consider the Home’s Architectural Style
Whether or not a formal dining room will seem out of place in your home depends on its architectural style, says Jennifer Jones of Niche Interiors.
“As an interior designer, my thoughts on formal dining rooms hinge on the style of home,” Jones says. “Having a formal space dedicated to dining makes complete sense for classic and traditional homes where the layouts are designed with this use in mind.”
However, she notes that in contemporary homes, open-concept spaces are more fitting.
Tips for Making a Formal Dining Room More Functional
If you’re not a big cook or your rarely host friends, there are some ways you can make the most out of your formal dining room’s square footage.
For example, if your home is tight on space, Abernathy suggests using this space for more than one purpose. You could let this space double as a small sitting room and still place your dining room in the center. Or, it could be an office space with work supplies hidden in a nearby credenza.
Holly echoes the same sentiment and often tells her clients to add two key features to their formal dining rooms if they opt to make it multi-purpose: a bar and versatile lighting.
In terms of versatile lighting, a dimmer switch will allow you to adjust the ambiance to match the room’s current purpose. Additionally, a built-in bar will allow you to serve your guests without making frequent trips back to the kitchen, which will also maximize your time with them.
Bonus Tip: Say Yes to Table Leaves
Jones always has one ace up her sleeve to make a dining room more functional.
“One of our favorite designer tricks is to use extension dining tables,” she says. “Utilizing a smaller dining table for everyday use and family meals allows more room for other activities during most of the year while providing the ability to seat 10-12 for holiday gatherings.”
She notes that her firm often designs dining rooms that can also function as a place for family game nights and working on puzzles. Just be sure to choose a table with a durable top if you go this route.
