For us Neills, Wednesday night is reserved for “family dinner”. My brothers and I don’t make plans unless it’s something unavoidable and my father doesn’t schedule any appointments with customers. My mother prepares a delicious home-cooked meal, my daughter helps set the table and we all gather in the dining room to enjoy a few hours of good food and great conversation.
After mentioning this to several friends and acquaintances, I’ve come to realize that we are the exception to the norm. And after some further research I was saddened to discover that many homeowners no longer use their dining rooms for dining at all. With the new open kitchen design plans in most homes built over the past 10-15 years, it seems there is no longer a need for a formal dining room. For many it has become a collection room cleared out only as needed (and I’ll be the first to admit that my dining room table is currently covered with mail and projects my daughter brought home from art camp last week). Some homeowners are even opting to convert their dining rooms into rooms that will be used on a daily basis, such as a den or home office.
Although many of us may not use our dining rooms on a daily basis, research also shows that most of us still like knowing that it’s ready and waiting for the next holiday gathering of family and friends. I say, why save it for special occasions?
If you haven’t used your dining room in ages, maybe it just needs to be updated with a fresh coat of paint or some new window treatments. You may also want to consider eliminating some of the formality and making it more warm and inviting. The days of rooms that you’re afraid to sit down in are long gone (my best friend growing up had a formal dining room that we were never allowed to set foot in). If you turn your dining room into a welcoming space that you truly love you’re more likely to use it, and don’t wait until you having company over for dinner. You’re special too, so enjoy your next meal at the fancy table and use the good china.