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Aren't these bulky pieces of furniture that take up lots of space and are rarely used outdated now except with older people?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But isnt this just all outdated and unecessary faff a house can do without in a time when people are no longer as formal when it comes to situations such as dining?

shes not a journo,regular i think.

katz-yes imo.just feels nicer.more room as well.

Thank you to those who answered without needing to be rude and insulting by insuating things about the level of manners or the behaviour possibly presented in my household.

Amazing If I do keep having a table I'm thinking of having one made to my specifications so it fits the space. Someone mentioned large oak style furniture earlier I think and thats what I want, London houses just seem too small (until I get my dream home or move somewhere bigger soon hopefully) so was thinking about this as an option instead.

Hammy etiquette and manners is actually a big deal in my home. I knew how to use chop sticks by the age of six because my mother and father raised us not only to understand the customs and etiquette of our own culture's, but to understand what we could about others, even if simply for eating out. My parents' culture's (mixed heritage) take these things very seriously and in my house there are even more rules on etiquette for day to day living than you find in the average home. Eg: It is unseemly to ever serve someone something with your left hand as it is considered the hand you bathe your body with so you should never address someone with it as it is insulting. This is then compunded with traditional etiquette learned from living in the UK. My children will be raised the same way.

YABU. We use our dining table every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We rarely eat in front of the TV, it's not healthy to do so. We get to talk/interact while we eat, something you don't do (or don't easily do) in front of the TV. Children learn table manners sitting at the table.

We use our dining room table for all sorts of things. The kids sit at it to draw/paint. We sometimes work at it. I'm sitting at it now and typing this.

What an odd post. Are you writing a dissertation on modern manners, or something?

And yes I am a regular, Dorkus, the little teddy emoticon us newbies can't do, and the big debate about 'celtic mummy' if that helps.

We have my mums old drop leaf one. Its great,we can have it half up if its just the 3 of us, or squeeze up to 8 round it if we have people round.

And then when DS wants all his toys all over the floor/ we need space to walk through, we have both sides down and it sits flat against the wall.

Practical and convenient!

We use ours every day! We don't have a formal dining room as that's the kids play room but we have a large kitchen with a table that seats 6. Kids eat their breakfast together there and we always sit and eat our evening meal as a family without any tv on. I love us all sitting together :)

If space is an issue go for something extendable. here or something with drop leafs maybe here

We have a kitchen table - we eat every meal at it together. We don't eat anything in front of the television apart from naughty late night cheese and biccies my dh and I.

Our 'dining room' is my workroom so there's no space for eating.

We don't always eat at the table. In fact it's normally just used if we have a roast dinner or something that needs extras to be on the table.

Just because meals aren't served at the table doesn't make my daughter any less capable of eating correctly and knowing how to behave at restaurants.

how about this nice ikea thingy

It's weird and gross to eat meals sitting on a sofa. Do agree about the cabinet things though.

I love our dining table. It is ideal for family meals (just us) and also extends to hold upto 10 people when we are having a gathering.

We use it for breakfast and dinner and I found it was a great way to encourage our DC's to try new foods when younger and we regularly enjoy a family tapas night.

We also use it for drawing, making, sewing and building lego cities for the kids to play with!

We always eat at the table, couldn't live without it.

The ds's do all their homework and writing stuff at the table too.

Pre-dc's me and dh always used a table too. When we were renting a tiny flat, we used to have a folding leaf table which we set up each evening.

The only time we have been without a table was when we had the builders n making a big open plan kitchen diner. The dc's used to eat at the coffee table in the lounge, it was absolute hell! Horrid mess and so uncomfortable for me and DH, eating on our laps.

We use ours every day too....tho admittedly there are occasions when I just like to eat a meal off my lap in front of the telly....or whilst sat at the computer.

Wouldn't be without it though...
and it's big enough to seat guests when we invite them over for dinner or a special occasion.

Worra we have a lot of cousins and siblings and a large group of friends so we do have days out even without children. Last week alone DH's cousin and I visited The Natural History Museum and The Tate Modern. We had a family basketball game at the local park yesterday though I obviously didn't participate in that bit.

Someone mentioned ready meals earlier but no, we have home cooked meals everyday, I learned how to cook aged 9 thanks. Traditional upringing as mentioned earlier.

MrsDevere I could never get rid of the books so will have to find a space for them somewhere. DH and I both read a lot, academically and recretionally. I have a collection of Greek tragedies that I could not handle getting rid of for instance. Plus I want the LO to use them in the future.

I honestly hadn't thought about needing it specifically for the LO to use yet. I suppose in my mind it isnt something I would need for another couple of years but I see where everyone is coming from on that front.

YABU we eat as a family at breakfast and tea and if we're home in the daytime we eat our dinner together too.

If your lifestyle is different that is absolutely fine but it is a little odd to wonder if dining tables are simply unnecessary for everyone.

Also sideboards are very important pieces of furniture and anyone who doesn't have one or want one is being totally unreasonable. I am very proud of my sideboard.

Thanks for the links guys, fishie I had already considered that one as I almost bought it a couple of years ago too. It just wouldn't go with anything, too modern though very practical.

Yes Stranded the Pombear, I joined last December so new enough not to know

I can't imagine life without tables.

As a small child I spent many happy hours secreted under the kitchen and dining room tables listening to stuff adults didn't want children to hear and sometimes the kitchen table would be upended so that we could play 'boats'.

My life revolves around my kitchen table; stories are told, opinions are voiced, letters written, solace and comfort administered, newspapers read, advice sought and dispensed, games played, drinks consumed... elbows are allowed on this table and most nights it's used for eating.

In the summer months I breakfast at the garden table, and I love to chill out by its side alone or with friends and a bottle or jug of something alcoholic on balmy evenings.

My dining room table is made for lingering - it's older than I am and could spin many a fine yarn if only it could talk. I quiver with anticipation when I see it dressed in all its glory, and am filled with quiet satisfaction at the sight of crumpled napkins and all of the debris that is left at the end of a long evening of good food and wine and lively conversation/debate.

In our house only the very sick and poorly are allowed food and drink on a sofa in front of a tv, but we have a tradition of opening our Christmas presents around the living room coffee table while consuming hot canapes and Buck's Fizz.

OMG!
Its the heart of our family day to sit and eat at the table, telly off, just the 3 of us talking about stuff!
NO way would i not have a dining room table in our house.

YABVVVVU.

Come to think of it, there is only one family that i know of who sit in front of the telly to eat. They dont have a dining room, they only have a wee 2 bedroom bungalow so no room.

We have a 6 seater dining table in our dining room which is used for all meals, I don't allow eating or drinking in the front room.

We eat at the table every day... the children have all their meals there and are perfectly capable of setting the table in 2 minutes flat. The only time dp or I eat in front of the tv is if we missed dinner and are eating quite late at night.... even than certain meals are just a pain to balance on knees.

I also cook a meal most night though.... sounds like most of the grab and go families rely quite heavily on ready meals that can be cooked individually.

We have a dining table but as it is only me and DP at the moment, we don't use it every day. Although thinking about it, we use it at least twice a week for dinner.

It is something that I want to make a focal point once we have DC's though. I think it is an important object in a house with children as you learn about your childs lives as they grow older and stop coming to you to talk! That's what my mother maintains, anyway.

Before DD we used to eat off trays on our laps.

Since DD I think it's essential to have some sort of table to eat at, it's easier to clean up after meal times when the child is chained to restrained at the table.

I also think, now she is in school, it is so important for us to eat together at the table. DH in work all day, DD in school so we all eat our evening meal in the dining room and 'catch up' with each other. It helps with family cohesion.

Our dinning table is used every day too. Wouldnt be without it.