To keep or remove dining table?

[windywell]

We have recently renovated our kitchen diner giving us more space up the kitchen end, but less space in the dining area end.

I'm currently pregnant just now and due to our little one at the end of the year;

We're undecided whether to keep our dining table, or turn this area into a snug. We eat all our meals at the breakfast bar, bar Christmas! However with the little one on the way, feel we may regret getting rid of the table.

How important would you say a dining table is?

(we're changing lights, wallpaper and sofa)

What about something like this:
https://furniture123.co.uk/p/julian-bowen-savoy-dining-set-in-light-oak-sav101

Can you build in seating on an L shape along the wall - like bench seating but with a backrest and a rectangular table- and then have either a bench on the side of the table that's closest to the kitchen or stools (and a highchair). (The bench would take up less space than chairs, but could make fitting a baby chair at the table more tricky).

I can't imagine not having a dining table and it would be a very high priority for me - I don't think there's ever been a day when we've not used ours. But maybe a square or rectangular table might be better and would take up less space?

Like others have said, I'd swap for a more practical table with drop sides. My DC are always at the kitchen table building lego, using play doh, drawing, writing, and now doing homework. We even eat there some times :😀

Will the breakfast bar comfortably sit 3 of you?

I'd keep the table. Ours is used for more than just eating at - craft, homework etc.

How about getting something like this?
www.futoncompany.co.uk/shop-by-product/furniture/tables/bordeaux-folding-table.html

The floor plan is attached! The line is where we've extended the breakfast bar too, we only use this for eating at the moment and can now fit in three/four bar stools as opposed to two.

Thanks, everyone for your suggestions! We sit mainly in the kitchen with the living room being more of a formal room, so we're hoping to keep a sofa in here. The layout worked before, just with the current set-up looking a tad tight!

We will be adding a TV in this room too.

We hope to in the future extend into the garage, however, funds are a tad dry after the kitchen reno!

I would have a couple of arm chairs or small sofa, a small dining table for 4 and toy storage

Our whole downstairs is open plan, and we got rid of our dining table when I was pregnant and made a big breakfast bar. Said baby is almost 3 now and we sit together as a family to eat our meals at the breakfast bar. We have much better use of the rest of our space and we still use the breakfast bar as we would have a table (it's similar size to yours).
In an ideal world I'd love separate dining room to have a 'nice' table for special occasions.

Glass tables are dangerous for kids so you need to get rid off it anyway.

One thing I am very glad that I've done with my DS, is eat every meal at a table. That's how they learn table manners. It also means like they don't learn bad habits like eating in front of screens. No screens at the table is a good rule as it gives you more control.

If you want to eat out with your child before they hit puberty, you need to teach table manners (sitting down, conversation, cutlery) at home.

Children are messy eaters and having them only eating at a table contains the mess- unless you're happy with a toddler running about spreading toast crumbs and butter on everything.

You'll also need a table for drawing, craft, homework etc. Something robust, wipe-clean or scrubbable.

A breakfast bar is also intimidating for a small child, I have a very strong, agile child and he doesn't like sitting on high stools like that.

I'd get a rectangular table (possibly one that can fold down small) and arrange it so that the seating against the wall can be used to sit at the table, too.

We've never had room for a dining table and it's never been a problem. Our eldest dc is 5 now and he has a children's table and chair for eating his meals at, I actually find it a pain when we go to families houses and have to sit up a table as he's just too small for it and he ends up making a mess 🤣 also the crawling/ toddling stage is just a pain and they go under the table then cry for help 🤣

I think you need a proper dining table but please replace your glass table for a wooden one. One of my children had a nasty freak accident with a piece of glass furniture at a relative’s house when he was small and glass furniture had always made me shudder ever since.

I’d be tempted to get rid of the breakfast bar. Just make it a flat side (rather than overhang breakfast bar), then I’d have a bench seat up against that, table and you’d still have room in the far side of the room for a sofa/armchairs

Also, I’m struggling to get my head around how you get into the toilet with the utility room door open - I’d go for a pocket door if possible, into the utility.

That was my thought. I would get an upholstered corner dining bench for where your sofa is now, and a large rectangular table. Then you can comfortably sit to watch TV or chat, but have the option of family dinners. When you have little ones and want friends for them, you usually have to invite over the parents and make friends with them until secondary school 😂

Angel and Boho are great for custom made upholstered sofa like corner benches.
https://www.angelandboho.com/customisable-banksie-velvet-upholstered-corner-dining-sofa-bench-in-16-sizes-32531-p.asp

I’d get rid of the round table and the L shaped settee. Get an oblong table that can go in the corner, and be pulled out if you need to sit round the whole thing. You could even have benches instead of chairs that double as toy storage. Then I’d get a smaller sofa on the other room by the window. It will leave you plenty of floor space but be a more practical room.

Keep the table. It's not just eating but as your child grows, games, art activities, parties etc

It depends on your family. We eat every meal at the table. I only use the breakfast bar if I'm on my own. I eat at the table even if it's just me and DH. I grew up in a family eating all meals at the table. DH ate all his in front of the TV on the sofa.

It's very personal.

What about a lower coffee table to sit beside the sofa?

It makes no sense to have a room for only sitting in that you don't use much, another room for sitting in, and no table to eat at. You need to stop thinking about what you used to do - you've renovated, you have a baby on the way. Life is going to be different now.

Your child needs to learn that eating happens at a table with a plate and cutlery. That will start as early as 6mo.

Realistically, you will have that baby/toddler in the kitchen/diner a lot. It's where you will cook and eat and clear up, and where your baby will toddle and play. I would remove the sofa, put in a square or rectangular table (round ones take up too much space and make no sense for eating at unless they're enormous), get used to getting more use of your living room, and assume that this kitchen area will be full of toys and child-stuff.

Doing homework and projects would be very difficult without a table .

I loathe breakfast bars as they're meaningless.
Uncomfortable to sit at and tricky for short arses like me.

A table is a focal point .

When children arrive , you will need a table.