Formal dining rooms fell out of fashion with the rise of open-plan layouts, but have become newly popular in recent years.
When resurrecting any trend, it’s important to adapt it to current lifestyles rather than trying to recreate an imagined version of a past era when people dressed for dinner and entertaining was a more uptight affair.
“Start by remembering that this room should work for your actual life, not your imagined life,” says interior designer John McClain. “A dining room can still be beautiful, but it has to be comfortable and easy to live in. That is what makes people want to use it every night.”
Overly Formal Dining Rooms
Create a Multifunctional Space
Off-duty dining rooms can be used for casual meals as well as zones for homework, family meetings, crafting, or remote work, depending on your needs and lifestyle.
McClain recently designed a custom dining table for a client that converts into a pool table.
“Chairs simply pull back to the side of the room, and overnight the space went from formal and ignored to the hub of their home,” he says. “That is what happens when you prioritize function over formality.”
Dining Room Decorating Tips
McClain offered his favorite tips for striking the right balance to decorate a dining room that works for both relaxed modern living and special occasion entertaining.
- Choose comfortable chairs you can linger in. If they are stiff and uncomfortable, the room will be, too.
- Use performance fabrics and surfaces so spills are not a crisis, such as a textured vinyl that looks like leather.
- To encourage daily use, keep the table clear except for one simple centerpiece that can be moved in seconds.
- Skip the permanent place settings. They make the room feel untouchable.
- Layer lighting to shift the mood quickly. Soft light makes dinner feel special—even when it is takeout.
- Lighten up the drapery. Light and airy means inviting and functional.
- To elevate the room for a celebration, add linens, candles, and styling for the evening, then return it to a more relaxed setup the next day.