Food, or rather eating and meal times do not seem to play such an important role anymore in our busy lives between work, other duties, hobbies and social commitments. Studies about our eating habits suggest as much, for example that forks outsell matching knives by almost double in the UK nowadays. What lifestyle do we choose? A large TV with big sofas and a small table and chairs in a corner, or a proper dining table that can be much more than just an adequate space to eat.
Food and eating is something to be celebrated and a great opportunity to socialise and relax. There is always space that can be found, cleared and changed to accommodate a table and some chairs, and which ever functions you want to give this area - it can reflect them.
The traditional layout of many homes has seen the dining room as one of the reception rooms of the house. This has begun to change recently with people appreciating a space with table and chairs as a social centre point of the house. It might be arranged as part of the living room, increasingly it is directly connected with the kitchen now that this important functional space is no longer a small utilitarian room tucked away at the back of the house.
The focal point of any dining space is the table and it is important to choose the right one that accommodates all the functions we want it to perform. If it is not set up as a separate dining room, it might want to be part of a lively space such as kitchen or living room so that it also can be used for a variety of other activities: homework, reading books or newspapers, meeting each other, playing games, having friends round – and having meals. An open plan layout is of course ideally suited for this, connecting spaces and therefore connecting functions and goings on in the house.
The choice of materials and the style of furniture reflect functions as much as location and set up do. For dining tables there is a wide variety of finishes available, ranging from polished materials such as glass or stone through to high pressure laminates, such as Formica, or wooden table tops. Whilst a spotless glass or other polished surface might have a more formal appearance, a wooden top is probably the most adaptable both in style and for different functions. Like the other table finishes it can be combined with fabrics such as table cloths, runners or place mats, but it is also very pleasant to use just with ceramic or glass table ware on its own. It is, with the correct finish, robust and easy to maintain, and ages well.
Chairs will need to suit, but not necessarily to match, the table both in design and materiality. Apart from fact that they need to be comfortable to use both for sitting and handling, it is worth considering how they look from the back, as they will mostly be seen from this angle. Arm rests add comfort allowing for sitting back and relaxing when using the chairs for a longer time.
Other furniture items in a dining area depend on the available space. It’s great to see that sideboards seem to be enjoying a come back, ever practical they provide a lot of storage space for crockery and glasses, and they can be beautifully used for the display of flowers or cherished objects. Sideboards are available in a many designs, styles and materials, the Cornish designer Lucy Turner for example re-uses old pieces and gives them an interesting twist applying contemporary patterns.
Two more aspects should be considered in the dining space: floor finish and lighting. For flooring, the choice of material has to suit the type of uses you are invisaging for this area. Practicality, comfort and noise should be thought of as well as the appearance. Stone, tiling and timber flooring are easy to keep clean, whilst a rug has the benefit of dampening noise. A thin, hard woven rug might be an option, for example a natural fibre material, allowing chairs to be moved easily but adding that extra bit of comfort under your feet.
