There’s been a lot of debate about whether dining rooms are in or out, but it seems like they’re having a moment again. Blame all the recent Jane Austen movie adaptations for fueling daydreams of fancy-pants dinner parties set at tables dripping with decadent candelabras, fabulous feasts, and pastel petit fours. Even if you haven’t jumped on the Regency bandwagon, it might be worth incorporating this retro room in a new home design with your unique style. And with these ideas below, you can learn how to build a house you’ll love from the dining room up!
Some feel formal dining rooms got overlooked by the popularity of open floor plan designs. Both have a lot to offer: an enclosed dining room gives a private sanctuary for daily dining and parties, while an open-concept floor plan allows cooking, eating, and entertaining to flow seamlessly in one space.
You know the saying, “Go with the flow?” Let this be your dining design mantra! Think about how you want traffic to flow in your dining room. Do you want room for people to drift around the table in a circle, or end in an L-shape? Would you prefer a cozy dining nook, or do you need easy access from the kitchen? Answering these questions can help you find the best fit. (Hint: our Palisades Homes floor plans have both options!)
Once you’ve found the best layout, it’s time to think about how your furniture fits in the space. Is there enough real estate in your floor plan to fit your grandma’s antique sideboard or a bold statement lighting trend? Do you have room to walk around your chunky mod table while carrying plates without bumping into kids rocking in their chairs? Consider these before putting the final stamp on your design!
While it may be tempting to choose your dining room floor based solely on a hot trend, make sure you know what to consider before deciding. Think about household members and lifestyle, and find out realistically what works best. For example, plush white carpet might not work well if you have an active family of children and fur kids. If your dining room is going to be a high-traffic area, you might consider a more durable solution like laminate. Luckily, there are many great options out there to fit different styles and budgets!
If lighting is an art, how do you create the composition? Here’s what you need to know about choosing lighting: start with your dining room’s needs. Can you get away with a decorative statement piece, or do you need functional lighting to illuminate the space? When working with a small, dark room, it often calls for extra fixtures if you want to brighten it up. It’s important to be able to see your dinner, right? But if your living room has oodles of windows, the sky’s (or ceiling’s) the limit!
If you’re looking to incorporate some of the top dining room trends of 2025, make sure they mesh with both the space and your needs. While dark statement hues are popular, they might not work if you have an itty-bitty room to eat in, since these colors can make small rooms feel even smaller. Luckily, it’s easy to incorporate trendy picks like mixed materials and solid wood furniture in any sized dining room.
The Great Dining Room Debate will go on and on, so how do you decide? The bottom line is, it’s your house, and your style. You choose what feels right for your lifestyle and needs! If you’re ready to start the design process, contact Trilogy today.
