3 Ways to Set Up a Dining Room, Even If You Need to Fake It
For my entire adult life, dining rooms have been a foreign concept. An entire room? Devoted to just dining? That’s nonsense! Having a dining room seems like a pipe dream while living in a one-bedroom Manhattan walk-up, but I’ve learned there are some easy ways to create a cozy dining space even if you don’t have an entirely separate room for it.
So, in the spirit of “fake it ‘til you make it,” here are three great ways to create a dining “room” even when you don’t actually have one. For major inspiration, we turned to Value City Furniture™ and their extensive Designer Looks dining room collections.
1. Use Your Corners
If you’re looking to create a nice dining space within your home, consider your corners. Some might say it goes against the traditional rules of furniture layouts, but a petite round dining room table can easily double as a countertop. The key to making it work is finding one that’s A) the right size, and B) adds some personality to your space.
A stylish round dining table like the Charthouse Round Dining Table can easily pull double duty. Scoot it into a corner and for regular weeknight dinners, you’ll have seating for two (or extra prep space while you’re cooking). Or, when you have company over, pull it out to create room for four.
2. Create a Space
Let’s be real: Most dining room tables get used at Thanksgiving or dinner parties but sit silently for the rest of the year. So, is there really a need for one? We think yes. Buying a practical table that can double as everyday extra counter space in your kitchen or living area is a great idea, and the Charleston Counter-Height Kitchen Island is the perfect solution. Dinner on a typical Tuesday night feels way more special when it’s served at an actual dining table.
It’s a pretty ingenious design — instead of making it the standard dining table height of 30”, Value Signature Furniture realized it would be handy to have a table that’s the same height as your countertops (36”). This lets you tuck it into a corner or against a wall in your kitchen for everyday extra workspace, and pull it out to use as a dining table when you have company over. It also expands to a generous 86” long with the help of a leaf, providing enough seating for six. You can easily create a dining “room” by cordoning off a section of your space with plants or a bookshelf. Or, you can establish the space with a rug. If you have an open floor plan, this is definitely the way to go.
3. Go Light
Dining rooms tables are traditionally very visually heavy. But in a small space, “heavy” doesn’t really work, so it’s smart to go with a lighter option that doesn’t take up so much visual space. Artemis Counter-Height Marble Dining Table, with its small footprint, offers just that.
Unlike traditional wooden dining rooms tables, its marble slab table top brings in a bit of brightness to the room. It’s also a bit higher than traditional dining room tables, which adds to the airy feel and means it could double as extra counter space. When it’s time to entertain, it functions as more of a big high top table that seats six, giving your dining space a chic, bistro-like feel.