Special offer

Formal Dining Room, Nah! What a waste...

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Immediate Home Solutions

In my opinion, formal dining rooms are antiquated.  Are you really going to spend thousands of dollars on a room that's used maybe 2-3 times a year?

Instead, turn that room into a home office or something that's really useful, especially now during these tumultuous times.

Yes, you could keep that drab room the way it is, which is passé or you could make it into a room that you use and that actually gets used all of the time.

Who says that the room has to be used for what someone else says that it's for?

Maybe you don't want to use it for yourself, ok, what can you use it for?  Well, let me enumerate the ways...

 

1. Game Room:  Everybody loves to play games, board games, darts, air hockey, poker, cards, puzzles, etc.  All of these things and more.  You might even want to put in a pool table.

Cards

2. Playroom:  Your stuck at home, the kids are running around and they don't really have an area for them to go to.  Well, give them some of their own space.  You can design a fun and safe place for your kids to play in and keep all of their toys and playthings in one place.

Play Room

3. Bar:  Are you looking for a place for your family and friends to gather?  Put in an inviting place for them to be and just hang out.  It's better than being in the "Family Room" where you sit and watch T.V.

Bar

4. School Station:  Are you tired of your kids wanting to stay in their room all day?  I know that I am.  Yes, they could probably make anyplace their own work place at that particular time, but why not make it special?  If you have a dedicated work space for you, why not them?  Remember, your looking for them to be productive.  Change may do them good.

School Station

5. Media Room:  Are you lacking an area that may get used alot?  Make this a space where you can play video games, watch movies or listen to the music you want to.

Media

6.  Library:  Do you like to sit and read?  Drink tea or coffee?  Both at the same time?  Put out your favorite books and some comfy chairs with a table and relax with the written word.  Some of us still like the weight of the book and the feel of turning the pages.  

Library

7. Craft Room: Have you been looking for a place to put your sewing machine or a place to do all of the crafts that you've been wanting to do?  Stop putting that stuff on your dining room table and convert it to your own place.

Craft

8. Workout Room:  Gaining weight staying at home?  Turn that useless room into a place that helps you stay in shape.  You and your significant other can workout together of at different times.  Hey, it beats sitting on the couch with a bag of chips.  Of course, you can have two bags if you work out enough!  It may even be less than buying a new wardrobe because you got a little bigger and your current clothes don't fit so good anymore.

Workout

Anything that your heart desires, hey, it's your space.

 

Posted by

With Enthusiasm,

Jeffrey M. Richman

 

Linda Blumenthal
631-819-2913 - Westhampton Beach, NY
NYS Licenced Real Estate Salesperson, CBR

We use our dining room every day.  Enjoy your day!  

Oct 07, 2020 07:23 AM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

I think it really depends upon lifestyle. I do know folks who really do put their dining rooms to good use. But, I can appreciate the ideas of transforming a little used room into something more user-friendly. 

Oct 07, 2020 07:37 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Jeffrey,

It really depends on the lifestyle of the people buying the home.  My mother in law had a beautiful dining room where the family gathered for the holidays.  I have many fond of moments of gracious living, we had one in Los Angeles that we also used as our yoga room...I don't think they are antiquated at all.  a

Oct 07, 2020 08:04 AM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

Well some good suggestions, but it always surprises me that buyers want both the family room and a second sitting area as well.

Oct 07, 2020 09:20 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Great suggestions, Jeffrey! We had a dining room in all of our previous homes and this is the first one that we decided to give that up! As you said, we used it at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter...and that was it! That being said, we still did have to use the flex space in our home now to incorporate a table for 8 to be sure we had the space for dinners and holidays. We use it every Friday and Saturday night now - to play Rummikub and watch sports on the TV that is also in there! 

We live differently each and every chapter in our lives and you gave some amazing suggestions for those who are ready to move on to the next chapter.

Oct 07, 2020 10:10 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Jeffrey- as they say...it depends. Since I'm always thinking resale, I'd consider how much you want to do to the room to make it not a dining room. We use ours for major holidays and when I have the family over. Like Debe Maxwell, CRS said, if I didn't have a formal dining room, I'd still need a room that could accommodate everyone for dinner. 

Oct 07, 2020 11:10 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Jeff around here homeowners are not only turning dining rooms into home offices but also spare bedrooms as well.

Oct 07, 2020 02:36 PM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Morning Jeff.

I haven't seen a formal dining room in a long time.  It is a thing of the past.

Oct 08, 2020 12:50 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Hi Jeff we do have a 'formal' dining area but it's wide open to the living room and back patio/pool areas.  We've used it for different purposes for many years - 22 to be exact since we moved in!  Right now it's a dining room but soon it will turn into a champagne tasting room for the holidays.

Oct 09, 2020 10:39 AM