to think it is just not necessary to have a dining table anymore?

[LDNmummy]

Traditionally it has always been the look of a good home to have a dining table, preferably with its own area/ room in a house for family gatherings.

But, with modern life as it is, I just don't think it is necessary to have one anymore, unless of course you genuinely use it at least once a week. But do most families anymore?

I don't know many families who still go through the process of sitting around the dining table every weekend let alone every day, possibly for the fact that it is a little extra effort people are not as formal about anymore and sitting together doesn't have to be around a table but even just in the living room watching the telly together IYSWIM.

Plus, houses are not always big enough to accomodate a large family sized table and some may just feel it isnt worth the hassle to cram one in.

I also think this about the large cabinets that traditionally housed all a households fine dining wear that would come out on special occasions.

Aren't these bulky pieces of furniture that take up lots of space and are rarely used outdated now except with older people?

My MIL has a six seater table in the living room that could easily fit eight diners but is used properly about once a year. Half the reason for that is that it is too big and has to be crammed against a wall so isnt convenient to sit around daily or even weekly anyway. She also has a very large display cabinet full of her best dining wear wich is only used when special guests such as family travelling from abroad are visiting, which is rarely.

She is about 60 and in her eyes these two items of furniture are essential to beautify a home as well as for practical reasons, which IMO is questionable. My DM and all the older women in my family feel the same way.

But isnt this just all outdated and unecessary faff a house can do without in a time when people are no longer as formal when it comes to situations such as dining?

We have never allowed eating anywhere else but the dining table, we aren't animals.
It doesn't matter if all the family are together or not, we sit at the table and encourage good manners.
There is no tv in the room and nobody uses their phone or any other gadget.

We use ours every evening as I feel it's more sociable and gives focus time for us as a family.

We have a large table in the kitchen. All meals apart from weekday lunches are eaten at it. Not sure where else we'd eat meals if we didn't have it.

We don't have a dining room if that helps.

I love mine, it's used at least for breakfast and dinner, sometimes lunch depending on what it is. I'm saving up for a circle table which when twisted doubles in size.
We use it for loads of things.

YABTU. We use our table every day.. I couldn't bear to eat in front of the TV. When do you SPEAK to each other? I agree that separate dining rooms are old fashioned, but eating in front of the TV is an absolute non starter for me.

Each to their own, we don't have room for a dining table in our living room and don't have a separate dining room. Although it's nice to sit round a table together, my teenagers would certainly not be overly keen on doing that and my younger three eat at the coffee table. I guess there is no right or wrong way to eat your meal so long as you and all the family are happy. In fact there is something nice about watching a good family movie or a series whilst eating dinner. If super nanny is reading this horrified.... Well tough!! Haha

It seems after 21 pages that we have established that pretty much everyone BUT the OP has a dining table and she is totally the odd one out by not using a dining table and as is as such Being Unreasonable

We recently moved and in most of the new build houses that we saw, the kitchen and dining room was one massive room. Apparently that's what most people want now- to use the space they have on a daily basis.

Use ours at every meal. It is a great opportunity to sit and listen to what other members of the family have done with their day. Also don't like people walking around the lounge with food - just more mess to clear up!!

Oatplum if you had the room (i.e. a large kitchen diner and/or separate dining table) do you still think you and the children would eat in front of the TV or at the coffee table? Is it a case of needs must or do you really not like dining tables or think coffee tables and TV dinners are superior to them?

*seperate dining room

I don't have anywhere to put a dinning table. A combination of baby stuff and a small house I'm afraid. We eat in front of the TV.

*Separate!! argh.

We eat at the dining table every day - could not imagine eating food off a plate on my knees and would certainly not have taught my kids that this was normal.
i don't know any friends or family who eat off plates in knees - though I have seen people do it on TV ( and that does nothing to promote the idea).

We only have a small flat, but I got one of those fold down butterfly tables for the livingroom so we can fold it down between meals. We eat every meal we are in the house for at the table. This means breakfast and dinner every week day and lunches at the weekend. I am slightly obsessive about eating meals together and at a table. I can't stand eating from trays or on the sofa and would always have a table no matter how small my house.

Every single meal is eaten at the dining table, I wouldn't be able to eat slumped in a chair trying to balance plate and drink. It's just easier to use a table and we all sit at it as a family.

We sit at our table for every meal we do have the odd pizza in front of TV but that's very rare. I can't imagine not having a table.

i couldnt be without my dinning table. we are a family if 5 our dinning table sits 6. DP eats at the table with us twice a week due to work. the children and myself eat at the table every eveing. we also so arts and craft at the table and home work ect. the dining table is in our kitchen in its own space. i believe the kitchen is the heart of the home and i am not old either (mid 20s) and i also have special dinner plates, cutlery and tea sets that only comes out on special occassions. mine are in a kitchen cupboard.

We eat every meal at the table if home. I can't imagine a world where people always eat dinner on the sofa in front of the TV. I hate that idea except for once in blue moon when unwell or slobbing about with Xmas snacks etc. I don't think it sets a good example to children either. All but the tiniest home can surely squeeze in some kind of table or counter to eat at. My table is the hub of the home really for eating, games,crafts and just gathering.

I think the responses should persuade you that many people do not think that a dining table is defunct in a modern lifestyle.
I've always been led to believe that sitting up at a table is better for digestion and it certainly feels like that to me.
Also, when you have your child, I think you'll find that a high chair up at the table is the most effective way of getting them to eat. Eating together this way at this stage is definitely encouraged.

As a family, sitting around the dining table for meals is a social occasion. We eat every meal there except occasional lunches if we are all around at different times when some of us may sit at the table and some take their lunch to the computer/console/TV.
Our dining table is in the kitchen - I wouldn't personally want it to be in a separate room because we also use if for all sorts of other things.
If we were limited for space I'd squeeze a folding one in at the expense of something else :)

Big table inside, big table outside. Love it!

We eat breakfast and dinner at ours every day. In fact, I am sitting at it now, ready this with a coffee and some chocolates. It's in a room with a settee and TV but I like to sit at the ta me. I would call our mealtimes formal though.

Sorry, I meant to say our mealtimes are not formal!

We use our table everyday it's our time to catchup as family and talk about our day