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Aren't these bulky pieces of furniture that take up lots of space and are rarely used outdated now except with older people?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But isnt this just all outdated and unecessary faff a house can do without in a time when people are no longer as formal when it comes to situations such as dining?

Maybe in 3 years you'll 'get it'

You cant possibly be expecting your 2/3 yr old (congratulations by the way) to eat on a sofa using a side table or from a tray?

I think you're a little bit bonkers - but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

We live in a very small flat, and it would be easy not to have a dining table, but we do, we have a fold up one where you store the chairs inside, it is a faff getting them out and in but we use it every single mealtime, unless we sit on the balcony. I think it's sad that most social housing today is, like ours, built without any space for a dining area - ours partially blocks the kitchen, and you can't open the fridge properly, but I wouldn't be without it.

I don't have children so table is not used for crafty things but when looking at houses/flats space for a table has always been a priority.

another mumsnetter who wouldn't be without her dining room table, we're semi open plan. We eat breakfast and dinner everyday at the table and lunch at weekends. Some meals get eaten on laps like saturday pizza in front of a film but mostly we eat at the table. Even when we had a tiny house we had a table to eat at.

i love meal times best time of the day. If time is short then we plan a tea that can be cooked quickly to maximize time at the table.

My dream, btw, is to one day have a dining room, and a dinner table I don't have to fold away!

I got rid of loads of books after the DCs were born. I had a ton of coffee table fashion books which took up a load of room. I had lots of paperbacks too.

I didnt want to lose them but I heard someone, somewhere say 'they are not trophies they are books. Read them and pass them on'

I think I gained at least an extra two foot of space in my living room by binnng the Billy Bookcases.

Before I had the kids I didnt sit at a table to eat. I mostly ate in bed

The OP said they have family days out so surely she has children?

bung a few plates of snacks down, a bottle or three of wine and I'm set for a chatty gossipy evening

What time shall we all come round Pinot? :o

LDNmummy I understand what you are saying. but for me the physical table is still more important. If you are all eating and talking together, why would you not sit at a table all together?

Oh I get it, they're grown up but a little one is on the way

I see you have no children yet....you.may change your mind once you do, although I still much prefer eating at a table with DH than on my lap...

I am (soon to be) 44 and we only ate roundthe table on Sundays. It was trays on laps the rest of the week.

I prefer my kids to sit round a table where I can interact keep an eye on -them-- with them in an improving fashion

Personally we'd never buy a house where you can't have a dining room. It doesn't get used everyday - DS' tend to eat at the kitchen table and DW & I in front of tv later in evening. (not really a good example) but pretty much every weekend we have family meals that use the table. Plus have guests and if we extend the table fully can get about 12 (squeezed 14 once) around it. Also prefer having the dining tbale away from the kitchen so any cooking stuff is not on view.

Think its a shame if the dining table does not have a place in the modern home - even if its part of a more multi function room.

I love a table - we sit at it, do homework, play games and eat. Where would you do all that without a table. That said, I'm not sure that homes need a "dining room" as most people eat in kitchens or other rooms.

I meant when i was growing up.

yes LDNmummy a table is very useful when you have children. From what you've said earlier I am assuming you have a counter with stools in the kitchen. Very difficult (dangerous?) for a toddler to negotiate and your sofa will be destroyed in nanoseconds if they eat there. Can't you get a kitchen table and then not bother with dining table? I think that's what a lot of people here have, I do.

We use our table for every meal, homework, crafts, computers, wrapping presents - you name it and we use it. Can't be without it and it means the kids learn to sit up at a table and chat, be polite etc and not stare at the tv.

Wouldn't ever be without a dining / kitchen table. Especially with kids. We eat together as a family at least once a day. At a properly set table. Always have. Even as students.

we switched from oblong dinning table to round one as it felt more 'together'mines second hand,scratched,dented,well used-i love it.

Ah- no small children- I think that makes all the difference!

And LDNMummy- you may be using a tray on your lap now, but in 2mo time you may find that rather difficult (tray on top of your bump perhaps?)

OP - do you mean a formal dining room or just having a table and chairs somewhere to use?

YABU; friends of mine without a table (no room) miss it cos their DC spill food on the sofa & visitors have to balance plates on laps with the dog smacking his paw straight on the food if he can... My nan has a fold out table - no room for chairs but she uses it for doing 'buffets' for us eg. Pizza & other snacks. Most people i know have a table or breakfast bar at least & use it for meals & homework.
As for dressers - they are good for storage as well as displaying ornaments. I got a small cheap one with glass doors for books & my old ornaments (saves on dusting).
Lots of people like to collect stuff so dressers are good.

cheese - does it work? we're looking at switching from an oblong to a round table (will fit new room better)

I have a dining table, and a sideboard. We eat at the table every day (except when it is warm when we eat at the table on the patio), and the sideboard is where I keep my dinner service and other nice dishes.

You do sound like a journalist.

No children? That makes all the difference!

You will almost certainly find life requires a family-sized table when you have a child who is learning to feed themself, and doing nice messy artwork, and then homework from school.

It can be in the kitchen, the living room, or the dining room, but you will find you use it far more than you can imagine at the moment.