skip to main content

Home Decorating

How to arrange our future dining room?

10 years ago

Hi,
We are in the process of building and I'm getting nervous about the size of our dining room. You can see the plans below. To the left is the living room and the opening to the bottom of the dining room is the entry hall. We took out the desk in the dining room to give more space, but I'm worried that the space will seem cramped with the stairs jutting 2 feet into the corner of it.

I can't move any walls at this point and am hoping to leave windows where they are, although I could change them. I can certainly move lights.

My real question is what shape and size of dining room table can I comfortably fit there? We have two young kids and plan to have more, so we need a decent sized table.

I think a 5 or 6 foot table rectangular table would fit fairly well, perpendicular to the kitchen island? That would leave a 3.5 or 4 foot isle in the tightest spots, not counting chairs. We could put benches to fit more people of necessary. What do you think? Thanks for any ideas!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

chispa
10 years ago
The area is very square and straight edged, so I think a round table would soften up the space. If you do a 60" round pedestal table, you should be able to fit 7, maybe 8, chairs as long as they aren't very large. The pedestal should be simple to allow as much space to push the chairs in.

I have a 60" round, but I have large chairs so I have 6 chairs for daily use , but can just squeeze in a 7th. For more flexibility, you could do a 60" round with a leaf or two, for when you have a large group.
judithva
10 years ago
My dining room is 11' x11'. When I had my 58" round glass table in there, it was a little bit of a tight fit for the person pushing back from the table next to the wall (no buffet there at the time), but doable. I now have a oval table that is 42" wide, and have leaves to make it larger. With all the leaves in it, it seats 6 people comfortably. I do have a small buffet type of table (40"L x 15"deep) next to one of the walls where 2 people sit near, BUT, they have to be skinny people to push away from the table since the buffet is behind them. (In this case it is always my DD who is very slim). But at the ends of the table for the 11'x11' room there is ample room. In your case of having 15' at one end you should be fine IMO.

On my blog link, in the first picture you can see how the oval table works in my room, in this shot it only has 1 leaf in it, but as I mentioned 2 leaves are fine in there too. Also, the photograph is deceiving in how close the buffet appears (due to the angle I took the pic) next to the table, there is still enough room for my DD to push away from the table. I suppose ideally, in my case, the buffet would be best removed, but her and SO's visits are only occasional.

Here is a link that might be useful: DR
Related Discussions
How to arrange a large 'square' family/dining room off kitchen.
Q
Comments (3)
During the planning stage we went back and forth several times with the direction of the vault. The porch outside the big glass doors is a gable and we played with the idea of having the vault run from left to right and through to the porch. We kept changing the proportions of the room to accommodate dining, seating areas etc. At the end we 'forgot' to change the dimensions back to 22 x 26. You look at the plans so much that you don't 'see them'. The room looks massive yet it is not long enough for seating and dining - and its too wide. I didn't notice it until the foundation was already poured. Originally we had planned that the room to the left of the main entrance would serve as a dining room. I was advised to put the dining table in the main room and so we made the original dining space smaller by adding space to the office. I'm old school and always liked a dining room and breakfast space in the kitchen. Now I'm building a very expensive house without either. Lesson: decide on the things that are important to you and stick to them. Ignore the advice of people who might live a different lifestyle than you.
...See More
how to arrange a living dining room of 15 x13 ft
Q
Comments (1)
Can you do a drawing of the layout, with measurements for all walls, doors, and windows? Add a list of your furniture, with their sizes, too. Then a few photos of it all will help.
...See More
Small Living Room as a future Dining Room
Q
Comments (5)
"can 11.5 x 16 work for dining?" That's going to be hard for anyone else to answer without seeing your floor plan, because you may need to account for walkways, door swings, etc. (Also we don't know the size and shape of the table you are trying to fit, how many people you want to seat, or if there will be other furniture in the room.) In general, I've seen guidelines of 30" to 48" from table edge to wall, with 30" being the minimum and more being better. Horizontally at least 24" per person with more at the ends (for leg room), and possibly more depending on the size of your chairs and your guests. Create a layout drawn to scale, with your table drawn to scale in it.
...See More
How do I enhance the arrangement of our living room?
Q
Comments (0)
Help with living room decoration
...See More

Related Stories

MORE ROOMS How to Arrange Your Room for TV and People, Too

By Laura Heller

Get ideas for creating a great space for lounging, entertaining and enjoying the show

DINING ROOMS How to Organize and Style Your China Hutch

By Laura Gaskill

Whether you reserve your cabinet for your good china or stock it with everyday tableware, here are ideas for arranging it

MORE ROOMS Go Rogue for Effective Furniture Arrangements

Why stick with a traditional setup that just doesn't cut it? The most advantageous arrangement may be the least obvious

KITCHEN APPLIANCES Find the Right Oven Arrangement for Your Kitchen

By KitchenLab Interiors

Have all the options for ovens, with or without cooktops and drawers, left you steamed? This guide will help you simmer down

KITCHEN DESIGN How to Arrange Open Shelves in the Kitchen

By Becky Harris

Keep items organized, attractive and within easy reach with these tips

MORE ROOMS How to Arrange Your Room for Entertaining

By KitchenLab Interiors

Design the perfect party space with multiple seating areas that encourage conversation and flow

FURNITURE How to Arrange Furniture in Long, Narrow Spaces

By Pangaea Interior Design, Portland, OR

7 ways to arrange your living-room furniture to avoid that bowling-alley look

DECORATING GUIDES How to Get Your Furniture Arrangement Right

Follow these 10 basic layout rules for a polished, pulled-together look in any room

KITCHEN OF THE WEEK Smart Cabinet Arrangement Opens Up a Narrow London Kitchen

By Amanda Pollard

Elegant design and space-saving ideas transform an awkward space into a beautiful galley kitchen and utility room

DINING ROOMS How to Seat Your Dinner Guests in Comfort

By Elements of Style

Instead of reaching for pillows and footstools when you dine, settle in with dining tables and chairs that fit the room and body

Sponsored

More Discussions

need a loveseat, lighting, coffee table? Rugs?

10

Thoughts on a white Roof?

6

Thoughts on Pottery Barn handwoven wool togs?

0

A Bathroom LIght/Mirror Question

2

solid wood walnut table

1