Where is the dining room usually located?

Room dedicated to consuming food

A dining room is a room for consuming food. In modern times it is usually adjacent to the kitchen for convenience in serving, although in medieval times it was often on an entirely different floor level. Historically the dining room is furnished with a rather large dining table and several dining chairs; the most common shape is generally rectangular with two armed end chairs and an even number of un-armed side chairs along the long sides.

History

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In the Middle Ages, upper-class Britons and other European nobility in castles or large manor houses dined in the great hall. This was a large multi-function room capable of seating the bulk of the population of the house. The family would sit at the head table on a raised dais, with the rest of the population arrayed in order of diminishing rank away from them. Tables in the great hall would tend to be long trestle tables with benches. The sheer number of people in a Great Hall meant it would probably have had a busy, bustling atmosphere. Suggestions that it would also have been quite smelly and smoky are probably, by the standards of the time, unfounded. These rooms had large chimneys and high ceilings and there would have been a free flow of air through the numerous door and window openings.

It is true that the owners of such properties began to develop a taste for more intimate gatherings in smaller 'parlers' or 'privee parlers' off the main hall but this is thought to be due as much to political and social changes as to the greater comfort afforded by such rooms. Over time, the nobility took more of their meals in the parlour, and the parlour became, functionally, a dining room (or was split into two separate rooms). It also migrated farther from the Great Hall, often accessed via grand ceremonial staircases from the dais in the Great Hall. Eventually dining in the Great Hall became something that was done primarily on special occasions.

Towards the beginning of the 18th century, a pattern emerged where the ladies of the house would withdraw after dinner from the dining room to the drawing room. The gentlemen would remain in the dining room having drinks. The dining room tended to take on a more masculine tenor as a result.

In the 1930s and 40s, dining rooms continued to be separate from kitchens even as servant's rooms became less common in middle-class houses. In the 1950s and 60s, dining and kitchen areas were merged, and living rooms were merged with the kitchen-dining rooms.[1]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, dining rooms that still existed were used as home offices or classrooms and were valuable for their seclusion.[2]

Contemporary usage

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A typical North American dining room will contain a table with chairs arranged along the sides and ends of the table, as well as other pieces of furniture such as sideboards and china cabinets, as space permits.[3] Often tables in modern dining rooms will have a removable leaf to allow for the larger number of people present on those special occasions without taking up extra space when not in use. Although the "typical" family dining experience is at a wooden table or some sort of kitchen area, some choose to make their dining rooms more comfortable by using couches or comfortable chairs.

In modern American and Canadian homes, the dining room is typically adjacent to the living room, being increasingly used only for formal dining with guests or on special occasions. For informal daily meals, most medium size houses and larger will have a space adjacent to the kitchen where table and chairs can be placed, larger spaces are often known as a dinette while a smaller one is called a breakfast nook.[4] Smaller houses and condos may have a breakfast bar instead, often of a different height than the regular kitchen counter (either raised for stools or lowered for chairs). If a home lacks a dinette, breakfast nook, or breakfast bar, then the kitchen or family room will be used for day-to-day eating.

In Britain, many families would traditionally use the dining room only on Sundays, eating other meals in the kitchen.

In Australia, the use of a dining room is still prevalent, yet not an essential part of modern home design. For most, it is considered a space to be used during formal occasions or celebrations. Smaller homes, akin to the USA and Canada, use a breakfast bar or table placed within the confines of a kitchen or living space for meals.

Gallery

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See also

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References

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The way the rooms in a home are laid out determines how it functions as well as how it looks. Some rooms go together naturally but details count, so you might be wondering whether a dining room needs to be next to the kitchen.

Are there advantages in maximal proximity between the space in which you prepare meals and the space where they’re eaten? Or perhaps a little distance between dining room ideas and the kitchen can be preferable?

To provide the answer to these questions and help you create a home that works beautifully for every family member and when you’re hosting guests, we asked interior designers to share their expertise, and here is what they told us.

Does a dining room need to be next to the kitchen?

Kitchen-diners allow a breakfast room – also known as a breakfast or dining nook – to be a part of the kitchen rather than a separate room, but for many Americans, a separate dining room is desirable in addition to a breakfast room, or as an alternative space walled off from the kitchen and often closed off by a door. 

A dedicated dining room is typically near to the kitchen, but does that mean it needs to be next to it, or can further separation be desirable in some circumstances? Below are the factors that can influence the decision so you can achieve the right arrangement for your home.

Think serving and clearing

(Image credit: Blakes London)

One of the major advantages of locating a dining room next to the kitchen is that it’s convenient for both serving food and clearing up after a meal.

‘Placing the dining room adjacent to the kitchen is time-honored. It ensures hot meals are served without delay,’ says interior designer Artem Kropovinsky. Meanwhile, there’s minimal distance between dining and dishwashing when cleaning up, he points out.

Susan Serra, president, designer, Susan Serra Associates, agrees. ‘Dining rooms are typically next to the kitchen due to the convenience of transporting food and serveware to and from one space to the other,’ she says.

However, she notes that there is a possible solution should a current dining room space next to a kitchen be useful for another function. 

‘The existing dining room may be much better suited to another purpose such as a comfortable gathering area near the kitchen,’ says Susan. ‘With the help of a lovely vintage cart, moving items from the kitchen to a dining room further away can be a great, and accessible, solution to reclaiming space for more frequent use.’

Artem Kropovinsky

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Based in New York, Artem Kropovinsky, founder of Arsight, has a decade of extensive and considerable global design experience. Prioritizing minimalism, sustainability, and authenticity, Artem, alongside his team of professionals, works on projects in the US and worldwide.

Consider sociability

(Image credit: Future)

A further advantage of a dining room that’s next to the kitchen is that the chef won’t feel isolated. ‘There’s ease of interaction between hosts and guests during dinner prep,’ says Artem Kropovinsky.

Bear in mind, though, that while many people prefer this lack of isolation, for some people talking while preparing feels too distracting, and personal preference should always guide you when thinking about this factor.

A dining room not beside the kitchen can also be preferable for formal dinners. ‘The cooking process is behind the scenes, putting the focus on the dining experience,’ says Artem.

Focus on atmosphere

(Image credit: Future)

A dining room that’s not right next to the kitchen can have a different atmosphere from one that is – and there are reasons to prefer this. ‘A stand-alone dining area can be curated for ambiance, separate from the bustle of the kitchen,’ says Artem Kropovinsky. ‘Though it may demand more footwork, the spatial distinction makes each meal feel like an event.’

Equally, locating the dining room further from the kitchen could allow better views, points out Susan Serra.

Opt for an open layout

(Image credit: Future / Mary Wadsworth)

There is a further alternative to the choices of putting the dining room next to the kitchen or locating it further away.

‘While it makes logistical sense to locate the dining room adjacent to the kitchen, we are seeing the expected sequence of “rooms” be rethought,’ says Laurie Hughet-Hiller, principal at McIntosh Poris Architects. ‘In many contemporary homes we design for today’s lifestyle, we often eschew the traditional plan of an eat-in kitchen with a separate formal dining room in favor of leaving the kitchen open to the dining area and the living area. The kitchen, dining, and living functions then all flow together as part of a single, open volume of space.’ 

FAQs

Can a dining room be separate from a kitchen?

A dining room can be separate from a kitchen. It may be preferable if you need to seat a large number of people – either because of family size or you like having large groups of guests over. It also helps make dining more of an occasion. Keeping dining within the kitchen has benefits along with possible downsides you should consider. ‘An integrated kitchen-dining space caters to the modern, open-plan aesthetic,’ points out interior designer Artem Kropovinsky. ‘It blurs boundaries and promotes inclusivity. It also enables multitasking, ‘managing culinary tasks while staying engaged with seated guests’, he says. ‘The challenge lies in ensuring the kitchen remains tidy, as everything is in the line of sight,’ Artem adds.

Convenience of proximity should be weighed up against factors such as noise, views, and the creation of a more formal atmosphere when deciding if the dining room is next to the kitchen. Both modern dining rooms and traditional dining rooms can make the space special. Think dining room wallpaper, colors, furnishings, and elegant dining room lighting, too for a sophisticated space.