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Aren't these bulky pieces of furniture that take up lots of space and are rarely used outdated now except with older people?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But isnt this just all outdated and unecessary faff a house can do without in a time when people are no longer as formal when it comes to situations such as dining?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 use our dining table every day for breakfast and dinner. Up until a couple of years ago we had a tiny kitchen so the table was in the living room and hardly got used as it meant pushing the sofas out but we now have a bigger kitchen with a table and it's brilliant. No tv and phones are banned at the table. It's the one time of day we have time to talk about the day we've had. If we had a separate dining room it probably wouldn't get used but as the table is in the kitchen it does. My parents have a dining room that gets used a couple of times a week as they cook for family that pop in,

Are you for real? A table is outdated? Wtf?? Actually think a table is the heart of a good home and the first place a child learns their manners and social skills like
conversation. Actually thought your OP was a joke and you were trying to spark a reaction.

We have two dining tables.
We eat breakfast and lunch at the table in the kitchen and dinner at the table in the dining room.
Occasionally when DH is away DD and I will eat in the living room in front of the TV but not often.

We sit at the table for all meals with our toddler......

We do breakfast at the kitchen island and dinner in the dining room. I don't know anyone who doesn't have a "dining" table for meals in their kitchen, living or dining room.

My house is so small that we don't have a table. We've got chunky sided sofas which are plenty big enough for our plates... it's workable, but I CRAVE space for a table. When we finally move, my first purchase will be a table and chairs. Oh I just can't wait.

We, 2 adults and a toddler eat breakfast and dinner every day at the table. I eat lunch there alone in the week and with family and friends at the weekend. We have our only dining table in an open kitchen diner so it's not formal.

When we were renting a major bugbear about our flat was the lack of space which only allowed for a tiny folding table, yet we still sat at it every night.

When it came to buying our home one of our non-negotiables was space for a dining table. Now we have a lovely dining table for 6 that can expand, we eat dinner at it every night and I can't wait for decades more use out of it and watching our family grow around it.

The end of dining tables would be a very sad day indeed.

We use our table every day. Not everyone is always home but I'd be lost without it. Yabu.

myself and my DH eat at ours every meal always have done, our LO is only 3 months and he already sits st the table with us whilst we eat either in his highchair (a from birth Chicco one) or in his bouncer seat on the table. He will eat all his meals at the able as I grew up doing

Even if your family eats in front of the TV during the week (presumably due to eating at different times), I'm assuming that you eat together at the weekend. If so, then the table is necessary. Also, where do you sit to drink tea & gossip or have dinner and talk for hours when friends and family are there? Again, you need a table of some sort.

I think the concept of big heavy pieces of 'statement' furniture is outdated. At one time these, along with a new bed and a dinner service, will have been essential to every new bride. These days though, it doesn't matter what it looks like. However, whst it stands for will always be relevant. Eating and talking together is so important and such a joy, even if you do it around a fold away card table! It may be a cliché but the place where you eat and connect with each other is the heart of the home.

On the sofa, coffee tables, in bedroom. Dinning room is never used, dinning table is just covered in junk. When I can get the money I will be getting rid of the dinning space and extending the kitchen and living room. Our family doesn't have the time or interest in sitting around a table having a formal meal ever day. It seems so boring?

So in the 21st century YA N BU

All meals with the kids (3 and

Our table is the heart of the house. Every meal, then craft, home work, endless cups of tea etc. it's the most important part of our house

Nah I have no table, we all eat on laps, two dd and one toddler ds. My flat is tiny and actually very unloved!

Surely hefting mini tables, trays, coasters etc is way more faff than grabbing cutlery and plonking plates on a table? I don't get 'formal'. It's sitting down, facing each other and not the damn tv (not very during meals here) and eating together. It's not formal in any way, it's just a table!

You pick up plate, you sit on couch/bed you eat food. Where is the faff or hassel?

You sit at table you are forced to confront teenager who doesn't want to be there, your whole meal is stressful, you wish you could avoid it.

Dining rooms are the source of all arguments. I guess there are some perfect families out there but, mine ain't one of them. Middle class invention!

Do you all go to your individual bedrooms to eat, mathsmum?

middle class invention

Clearly someone didn't grow up in a northern working class home where eating at the sofa was for "commoners" and the front room was kept "for best"

We use ours for OH's kids when they stay. We also use it to work/play games.

Due to work we do not normally eat till late, so it is normally in front of TV. My DD is very young and not on solids yet.

When she is though I am worried about not doing the sit down together eating thing. Basically it would be difficult for us to work that. It is what I had when I was growing up, but then my mum was a sahm and dad home at 5:30. Life isn't like that for most people now.

Never eat on lap in front of tv or not
table every time for me

We eat together at a dining table..no telly. Think it's really quite important still.

Floggingmolly, its easier for families who have, 'sullen' children, to go their own way. Everyone else goes to the living room for a good laugh. How do families force everyone to sit at same table everyday, and force them to talk about... what?

I suppose middle class families have never experienced ADD or anything similar?

meant ADHD there

Mathsmum you're looking like a very judgemental and classist ass tbh.