Dining Room Revival: The Return of Intentional Design
Dining rooms are making a comeback, but not the formal, special-occasion rooms of the past. Today's dining room is an intentional, comfortable space made for everyday living.
For decades, open floor plans were a top design choice for new builds and renovations alike. Walls came down and spaces became multi-use hubs. Kitchens flowed into dining areas and family rooms, and the formal dining room was often the first space to go.
Lately, though, dining rooms are coming back. This doesn't mean the end of the open floor plan. It does point to a shift away from "everything in one room."
“The dining room is back because the definition of formal has changed—it no longer means reserved for special occasions, but rather a space worthy of every meal.”— Lucas Goldbach, partner and design director at En Masse Architecture and Design, in Elle Decor
For more ways to give a room depth and personality, see our Let's Learn post on the art of layering.
At a glance: what's driving the dining room revival
Several shifts are bringing the dining room back. Here's the short version before we go deeper.
Defined spaces
Homeowners want areas with clear purposes within a larger, open layout.
Everyday use
Today's dining room is designed for daily meals, not just holidays.
"Soft formal" style
Mixed furniture, comfortable seating, and layered lighting replace the matching dining set.
A place to gather
A dedicated table encourages shared meals and time away from screens.
Buyer demand
National survey data shows many buyers still want a dining room.
How are homeowners defining space in open floor plans?
Homeowners are creating distinct areas within larger spaces, a hybrid between open-concept layouts and the compartmentalized floor plans of the past. Openness and flow are still part of the plan, but each area has a clearly defined purpose.
Today's dining room might sit next to the kitchen, separated by an architectural feature instead of a wall. Whether you're building new or renovating, there are several ways to create this look.
Architectural ways to define a dining room
- A framed archway or wide cased opening: a visual transition between dining room and kitchen that keeps the connection
- A pocket door or interior glass opening: open to the kitchen or closed off when you want
- A bay or alcove: a natural setting for a table
- Built-in bookcases or shelving: a sense of separation that also adds storage and display space (see our tips on shelf styling)
- Steel-framed partitions: a modern way to define a space
- A partial-height wall or generous pass-through
Pro tip: If your home leans toward a true open-concept plan, you can still create a defined dining area. A statement light fixture, a ceiling treatment overhead, or furniture placed to set boundaries all give the space a clear purpose.
What does a modern dining room look like?
Today's dining rooms are built for comfortable family meals, not matching sets and formal china cabinets. Shelley Rodner, owner and principal designer of Shelley Rodner Design/Decorating Den Interiors in Bethany Beach, Delaware, calls this approach "soft formal." As she described it to House Beautiful, the space is dedicated to sit-down meals, but the decor feels more casual.
Ways to create a "soft formal" dining room
- Skip the matching dining set.
- Mix old and new furniture.
- Consider a round table.
- Coordinate the chairs instead of matching them.
- Choose upholstered seating in performance fabrics so everyday gathering is comfortable.
- Save space with built-in banquettes and bench seating.
- Layer your lighting for comfortable dining.
- Add convenience with a built-in bar or beverage station.
- Show your personality with wallpaper or artwork that sparks conversation.
Why are dining rooms coming back?
A dedicated dining space gives households a place to sit down together, slow down, and take a break from devices. Several factors are behind the shift.
- Home cooking during the pandemic. Some design professionals point to the pandemic, when cooking at home and sharing meals became a bigger part of daily life.
- Open-plan trade-offs. Others point to the downsides of an open floor plan, where the kitchen, the television, and the general activity of daily life all share one backdrop.
- Multigenerational living. According to Pew Research Center, the number of people living in multigenerational households quadrupled between 1971 and 2021, from 14.5 million to 59.7 million.
Melanie Hönig, co-founder of the home decor brand SmithHönig, lives in a multigenerational home. She explained the dining room's value to Realtor.com: “We want family to be able to age in place in the most joyful way possible. The dining room is an important part of that.”
Why do dining rooms matter in real estate?
National survey data shows buyers still want dining space, even with open-concept living so common. According to the National Association of Home Builders' 2021 edition of What Home Buyers Really Want, 70% of buyers surveyed rated a dining room as either "essential/must have" or "desirable." Thirty-two percent considered it essential or a must-have, and another 38% considered it desirable, placing dining rooms among the study's "Top 5 Most Wanted Specialty Rooms."
NAHB's 2024 edition, based on a survey of more than 3,000 recent and prospective buyers, adds context on size. Among buyers willing to accept a smaller home, 52% said the dining room was an area that could be reduced. Together, the two findings point to continued interest in dining space, with flexibility on how large it needs to be.
Here in Newport County, many older homes (like the Victorians, capes, and colonials in Newport's Fifth Ward) were built before open floor plans became common, and many still have a separate dining room.
The dining room may be returning, but not as the dining rooms of the past. The shift is toward livable homes that balance openness with spaces that have a purpose. Whether it's a separate room or a defined area within an open floor plan, today's dining space is less about formality and more about function, comfort, and connection.
Frequently asked questions
Are dining rooms coming back?
Yes. Designers and buyer surveys both point to renewed interest in dining rooms. Today's version is designed for everyday meals rather than special occasions, and it's often a defined area next to the kitchen instead of a fully separate room.
How can I create a dining area in an open floor plan?
Use a statement light fixture, a ceiling treatment, or furniture placement to mark the dining zone. For a more architectural approach, a cased opening, pocket door, interior glass partition, built-in shelving, or partial-height wall can separate the space while keeping a connection to the kitchen.
What is a "soft formal" dining room?
It's a dining room dedicated to sit-down meals, with a more casual feel in its decor. Instead of a matching set, it mixes old and new furniture, pairs coordinated (not identical) chairs, uses comfortable upholstered seating in performance fabrics, and layers lighting for everyday meals.
Do home buyers still want a dining room?
Many do. In the National Association of Home Builders' 2021 edition of What Home Buyers Really Want, 70% of buyers rated a dining room as essential or desirable. NAHB's 2024 edition found that among buyers willing to accept a smaller home, 52% said the dining room could be reduced in size.
See your home's potential
Whether you're getting ready to list or touring homes and picturing how you'd live in them, a well-defined dining space can change how a home feels.
At Homes By Connect, we help sellers prepare their homes to make a strong first impression, and we help buyers see the possibilities in a space before they make it their own. Contact us today and let's talk about your next move.
