GOODBYE TO THE FORMAL DINING ROOM
N some homes, this under-used room has come to life with new personality and purpose.
IWhen people started staying home when the pandemic hit in March 2020, some looked around their space and came to a surprising conclusion: Their dining room was being wasted. “It tends to be the least-used room in the home,” says interior designer and stager Susan Corvo of Susan Corvo Redesign, in Fairfield, Connecticut. It turns out that it’s “somewhat easy to convert to another use like a home office,” she says.
Check out some dining room alternatives that may be a better fit for your lifestyle.
Home Office – One of the most popular makeover options, a home office makes life easier, especially if you previously had a long commute. Out went the china cabinet and table for 12 and in came a desk, ergonomic chair, and filing cabinet or wall shelving unit. Good lighting became more important than ever.
Gym – Rethink the basement as your go-to spot for lunges and shoulder presses. Move the treadmill, mats, and all your other exercise equipment upstairs to what is probably a room filled with more light than your dark and dingy subterranean spot.
Library – How awesome would it be to have all your beloved books on shelves in one place? You don’t need to go all Dewey Decimal System and catalog them (unless you want to!) but just having your books organized and in one room will make reading even more enjoyable. A plush sofa, good reading lights, and a small table are the only other things you need.
Guest Room – One of the challenges in converting a dining room into a guest room is that the space has no closet. But as Corvo points out, “It doesn’t necessarily need a closet if it is just a guest room. You can use an armoire for a guest’s clothes.” As for the lack of a door, consider folding doors or curtains in the doorway for guest privacy.
Media Room – Corvo’s picks for outfitting this fun space: “Definitely a TV, ideally mounted on the wall, decent speakers for surround sound, and comfortable chairs or movie chairs,” she says.” If the room is large enough, she suggests installing cabinets and a small fridge. “Usually media rooms have some sort of soundproofing too.”
Playroom – If your whole house seems like one giant kids’ toy room, turning the dining room into a playroom will be a sanity saver. A soft rug, a child’s size table and chairs, plenty of storage, and a firm rule that everything needs to be put away at the end of the day are must-haves.