My hubby and I just moved into a new house and we need something to do with our dining room. I know it seems obvious... dine in it, but we are a very casual couple who doesnt have formal sit down dinners. For us it would be a waste of space and money to go buy a formal dining set that we would never use. We have an eat-in kitchen for meals and a family room that we watch tv in. So we're left with a big empty room in the front of the house. Any suggestions on what we can do with the space?
Also, I already turned one of the bedrooms into an office, so pls dont suggest we make it an office. Any suggestions are appreciated!
2007-02-01 12:54:48 · 11 answers · asked by shanmarie1083 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Decorating & Remodeling
Before I decided to have a formal dining room, I toyed with a few ideas that didn't work out until I thought of having some of my more interesting and neat looking hobbies stationed in there. I decided to free up some space in my hobby room by moving my paintings, along with my easel, paint and paint brushes into the dining room area. The chandelier in there provided great lighting for works in progress, the paintings looked great on the wall and made it my little mini-gallery. I also had in there an apothecary which is an interesting piece of furniture sort of like a chest of drawers that has many little drawers which housed my paints and paint brushes. You can leave the area open, but yet it looks complete as an artistic center. Oh, and I also had a pretty bookcase in there which decoratively held my Native American flutes and my few interesting antiques.
2007-02-01 13:28:12 · answer #1 · answered by ●Gardener● 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
These are ofen nicely-finished rooms, commonly having a low chandelier hanging.
What we did, since I'm the oldest of 3 kids, and I'm 16, was raise the chandelier up, and turn that room into a semi-formal study.
Now this works well because it connects right to the kitchen, unless its a strange house plan. I'm assuming that you spend alot of time working at home, so this allows you to buzz between the kitchen and the office rather easily. In many houses, there's either no study, or it's opposite the dining to give the formal living area balance.
Also, usually, you are close to the middle of the house in the dining room, and if you spend alot of time in the office, then this is a good option for changing your dining room into.
2007-02-01 13:06:08 · answer #2 · answered by The Firebrand Transit 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could do a parlor or sitting room for when guests come, something just a tad more formal than your famliy room and as it's at the front of the house it's a place to park guests without parading them through the whole house. You could also make it a game room, a reading room or a big plant room depending on how much light you have. You could also make it the exersize room. I would practially KILL to have a big, unused room to spread out into!!
Really it depends on your lifestyle and activities what you use it for. If you just give it time, it will come to you.
2007-02-01 13:49:31 · answer #3 · answered by heart o' gold 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try these: a pool room(billiards table), home theatre), a bar, game room(card table,casino table,chess table, video games, various board games, etc., an art studio/gallery, mud room for coats, shoes,umbrellas,skis,skates,skate boards,etc. Just a giant walk thru closet or just a simple recieving room with a decorative table, art d'objects,maybe one or two chairs, and some reading materials, sort of a library.
2007-02-05 07:00:36 · answer #4 · answered by stop n'stare airbrush artist 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A zen room!
OR
A game spot for all your collectibles/sports memorbilia even if you do not have room for a pool table, you can put in some kind of little foosball game table
OR
A room just for your pets with their bed and toy box
OR
build cabinetry in there for a storage/arts n crafts room.
2007-02-01 14:13:48 · answer #5 · answered by JENNIFER B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could make it a club room. Put in a comfy couch, high bistro table and chairs, a wine refrigerator and possibly your stereo equipment. Some floor lamps to add mood lighting and you have a room to "hang out" in!!
2007-02-01 13:40:53 · answer #6 · answered by Patricia D 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What about a recreation room where you have an extra tv....maybe some games systems...a library area or bookshelves. If you like piano or have another hobby maybe work around that.
2007-02-01 14:32:11 · answer #7 · answered by LAURA 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, make it a dining room. Might change your life - you might want to entertain, or have kids who know how to eat at table, or you might use it to entertain each other.
2007-02-01 13:04:24 · answer #8 · answered by gabluesmanxlt 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I like the first guy's choice but.......if you'd rather not......do you like house plants? Maybe you could make a green room. Full of beautiful plants, stands, tables, large on the floor plants, etc...get it? That would look pretty.
2007-02-01 13:02:17 · answer #9 · answered by Shari 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just put in a dining set. you'll need it for those formal parties. and then you could always play poker on it, have sex on it, etc. =D
2007-02-01 12:58:13 · answer #10 · answered by eriq p 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋