To not use my dining table?

[JorisBonson]

It's just DP and I in the house. Realised last night that I think we've only used our dining table about 5 or 6 times in the 2 years we've lived together. One was Christmas and once was playing cards.

Are we terribly slovenly to eat our dinner on the sofa?

We have a 6 seated dining table and only use it for big meals (basically anything with gravy!).
There's only me, DP and the baby and she's not eating yet.

We only use ours at Christmas id rather not have it at all as it’s a space I could use for something else but wouldnt feel right eating Christmas lunch on our laps

We only started using ours when we had kids. It's nice to sit up and eat together plus it contains the messy buggers in a more cleanable area.

Where else do you do your jigsaws?

What! You don't do jigsaws?

I think each to their own really.
We (DH, DD15 & I) do eat at our table. It's in the kitchen so no TV distractions and no phones. It's the only chance we get to have a chat about our day altogether before DD disappears to her room and DH to his mancave - after he's washed up of course!
I think whatever works for you is fine

The cat eats on mine . He has his own tray and everything. (Tbf this is more for my benefit as I find it hard to bend down.)

I also use it for sewing and other crafting etc.

Only gets used for formal dining on occasions. So very rare, but I wouldnt like to be without it.

i have always thought its important to sit down at a table and have a meal together at least once a week, with sofa dinners your often distracted by tv etc i feel as a family we talk better at a table. I felt the same when it was just us two, especially if i made an effort over dinner its nice to present it at a table.

Years ago we built a breakfast bar as there was then just three of us and late hours home by him often meant he was eating alone, we now hardly ever use it, we eat at table most nights, i find kids and sofa dinners are too messy. I found it was a good place to get kids to try other foods by eating offothers plates and learn table manners etc that sitting on sofa doesnt work so well. but when its just the two of you, that said i love a friday evening lieing on sofa eating dinner but its usually something like pizza or chips.

i have a friend who eats on her sofa every night, when she is at mine she says she loves the novelty of eating at table, but she views it as more work putting mats and cuttlery on table than having on a tray, i dont get that , i like standing up from a meal and leaving the mess behind on table.

Honestly, I think you’re missing out on special family time by not eating your meals together at the table.

I use the dining table all the time. Eat there, with napkins and everything Paint my finger nails there. Read the paper, play cards, you name it, I’ve done it on the table .

I’ve just realised I love my dining table.

I don’t think I’ve ever used mine!

My mum used to force us around the table - hated it. Why is family time more valuable if you’re uncomfortable? We have much nicer family time on the sofa with good AND comfort - I’ll never understand why people think you need to sit around a table to have a good conversation!

Put a tv in there and I bet you will use it more. If you could put on in The dining room what you were watching just before tea was ready you'd be quite happy to sit at a table rather than balance on your lap.

We rarely use ours, but we do eat around the kitchen island which serves the same purpose. However as others have said the dining tables should be used for parties and Xmas etc

So here’s a question- the only way the table can be used is with one side up against the wall. So if there is only 2/3/4 of us we can sit round it without pulling it away from the wall- which is far more practical for space reasons- however some of us are eating facing a wall which drives me potty. Am I being weird or is that just not cricket?

Each to their own, but I can’t imagine having dinner with someone else and sitting on a sofa

My dining table is the most used furniture in my house by a mile. We all eat at it. I do my make up at it and my nails. 9/10 I sit and drink a cup of tea at it. When I get back from work my dds and I sit chatting about our day at it and they do homework at it.
In my old house it was rarely used but in our new home it’s in the kitchen so I think that’s made the difference.

We never eat in the living room...eugh the mess on the sofa. Eat at the table. It's much more civilized. How do you cut food when it's on your lap? Do you have a tray each.... surely it's just more comfortable to be sat at the table. How do you talk to each other when you are glued to the TV screen?

I can't eat anywhere but at a table! Kitchen or dining room, both see regular action.

If I tried to eat on the sofa I would make the most fearful mess

We use ours every day. All meals taken at the table. Otherwise we would have crumbs and mess all over the sofas.

Also we usually serve main meals from the table ie pot or dish in the middle and people help themselves. Lunch is usually cheese/meats/salads/ bread all out on the table and help yourself. Breakfast I like to have all sorts out if granola/ fruit/yoghurt, or if toast/ eggs etc we need space for butter/ jam/marmite etc..

Also work with the laptop a lot from the dining table, Prep meals there if lots to chop.

I find it more comfortable sitting at a table to eat. I find it really uncomfortable on a sofa so we eat most of our meals at the table. Sometimes we eat pizza whilst sitting on the sofa as thats easy to eat. We tend to watch a film so chat less. I presume we'd chat if we sat on the sofa without the tv on.

Yes you are.

I hate eating on a

All meals eaten round the table (except pizza). I find eating a knife and fork meal on the sofa really uncomfortable. I would get rid of my sofa before I got rid of the table. DH uses it as a desk, dd does her homework there. I use it to cut out my sewing patterns. ...

Where else do you do your jigsaws?
What! You don't do jigsaws?

Our family life revolves around the dining table. I can't imagine not having one. All meals are eaten there and drinks and snacks throughout the day, the kids chat, play games, do homework there. It's been a den, an operating table and a stage.

Now the children are older we've finally moved away from wipe clean leather sofas to ££££ plush fabric ones. They are beautiful and comfortable. No bloody way am I having anyone eat on them. I sit in the conservatory looking at the TV through the sliding door to have a biscuit with my brew!

Whoops! Hate eating away from a table, so uncomfortable. We eat at the kitchen table, only use the dining room table for big family meals.

The only time mine gets used for eating is when I have people round for dinner. But it gets used all the time for other stuff. I assumed that's what everyone did.