With our busy lifestyles and on-the-go culture, many of us don't have time to sit down at the dining room table to eat. Nowadays, we eat our meals in the most frequented rooms of the house where we naturally gather because of its function. Such as the kitchen area where we cook, or take meals in the family room while watching the television together. The dining area remains empty of our company and may be used a few times over the course of a year, exclusively for holidays, birthdays and special occasions. So, what do you do with a dining room you don’t use?
Keep reading to find ideas and inspiration on how to set-up and decorate the space for its new function, that will work perfectly for your family and lifestyle.
Home at the Office
With the massive changes in the way we work, having an adequate home office for remote company work and finding space to accommodate has been a challenge for many people. Converting the dining area into a home office is a practical solution.
For configuring your home office, a desk with storage is a good starting point. Perhaps repurpose the dining table into an attractive desk. If you sit for long periods at a time, an ergonomic sit-stand desk is a great alternative to a conventional desk as it gives you the flexibility to stand while working.
The office chair is probably the most important piece of furniture, while you can stand up occasionally, you sit more frequently. Choosing the right office chair for your needs is essential. Look for seating that meet all your requirements be it extra lumbar support, easy height adjustment, the material, and its comfort.
Storage with drawers for files and cabinets for office supplies keep things organized and conveniently stored away from sight. Add a few works of art, photos or degrees to make the space more personal and showcase your professional achievements.
Get a Workout with a Home Gym
You may not have enough space right now for a home gym, converting the dining area is the ideal answer. You want to exercise on your schedule, especially with limited access to fitness venues these days, a home gym makes it convenient.
Setting up a home gym has a few special requirements; one is primarily flooring. If you are using heavy training equipment such as a treadmill or stationary bicycle, a padded floor is a good way to protect your room floors. A padded floor is also great for use when doing yoga or Pilate’s workouts. Rubber tiles or padded sheet vinyl flooring is readily available and easy to install.
Another requirement is good lighting. This area typically has a good source of natural light with plenty of windows to open and let in fresh air. Overhead lighting is also preset in this room and can be changed to match the style of the workout space if needed.
Decorate with art or posters that express an energetic mood or sport to inspire and motivate you.
Relax and Have Fun with a Game Room
If you enjoy the camaraderie of collaborative activities and entertainment, a game room can be the right choice to tailor the space to your lifestyle.
The home entertainment industry has certainly evolved over the past few years, in particular with the increasing demand for quality home theater systems and streaming platforms. So having a room dedicated to this kind of entertainment makes sense. It could be an extension of your family room used specifically for video games and electronics.
Perhaps you want to get away from the tether of technology completely and do something completely old-school, like a billiard table or host other game equipment, such as a Foosball table.
Whatever activity you decide, in this type of space, vivid wall colors can be used to express the strength of the room. Use bold patterns for rugs and window coverings that transmit the energy of fun activities happening in the room. Experiment with unusual art or wall sculpture to display as a fun conversation piece. Tie the room together with a striking ceiling light, use comfortable seating or gaming chairs along with side tables to hold beverages and snacks.
Pursue your Artistic Interests with a Hobby Room
The abandoned dining space can be re-imagined yet again for use to pursue your artistic interests with a hobby room.
The hobby room setting encompasses a variety of interests from art to music and beyond. It all depends on what your interests are and the type of furniture it may require for that particular hobby.
A music room where you and your family will practice and play music, may need space for a piano or other instruments, plus storage cabinets for sheet music and accessories. Whereas a sewing room will need a large table for cutting fabric patterns and shelves.
The most important design element in a hobby room is its reflection of your personality and talents within the room. For example, use wall colors that are soothing if you play classical music, mount prized antique instruments or frame your favorite sheet music to display on the walls.
Conclusion
The ideas above are a few ways to turn the dining room into a functional and useful space in your home. Think outside the box and re-evaluate the traditional function of what a room was originally intended to do in your house. Then, create a space that fits your specific needs and will be used much more frequently for years to come.
After transforming an undervalued piece of room real estate, the bonus is that you get the maximum use of your all the rooms in your home, that are set-up to accommodate you and your family's specific interests, needs, and lifestyle.
