by Call me old fashioned, but I’ve always loved the idea of a formal dining room – probably because my parents used to host glamorous dinner parties in their part back in the 1980s and 1990s. It was all downright theater and camp: the Royal Doulton proudly presented in every setting; the Philips hostess trolley being wheeled in to keep dishes warm; the After Eight being administered before cigarettes and nightcaps.
It’s no surprise that a separate dining room was at the top of my wish list when I moved from London to Surrey on the brink of the pandemic. And I struck gold in the form of an orange extension near the kitchen of the country house my husband and I bought after one look. I always say it’s this space that sells it for us, and as avid foodies and hard-working entertainers, it’s the first room in the house we decorate – long before the bedrooms and bathrooms – because, for us, it’s the heart our part. home
We are not alone in our desire for a separate dining room. Matt Siberry, head of home at social media platform Pinterest UK, says: “In the past, open plan living/kitchen/dining room combinations were considered ideal for hosting dinner parties.
In the last six months, however, people have started looking for ways to bring a ‘special dining room’ to life on Pinterest. Having a dedicated dining room makes mealtimes special. Distractions such as the television or the clattering of pots and pans are no longer in your peripheral vision, and table conversation takes center stage instead.”
Interestingly, searches for “dining room inspiration” increased tenfold on Pinterest between June and November, while searches for “dining room ideas” increased by 40 percent in the same period.
Online interest is also spilling over from social media into the real world. “Open-plan interiors have been popular for many years, but dining rooms are slowly and steadily making a comeback,” said Daniel Copley, consumer expert at property portal Zoopla. “Period properties continue to be in demand because of the character and heritage they can offer, and as a result this often means a return to more traditional living and entertaining spaces.
Thanks to the economic climate, many people are choosing to recreate that restaurant feel at home, rather than spend money eating out, so it’s no surprise that more formal dining spaces are becoming popular again.” Linda Wesson, director for prime country sales at Hamptons, says: “Dedicated dining space has definitely seen a renaissance in recent times, especially when it comes to entertaining guests. There is something so luxurious about it. Imagine a cozy room lit by soft candlelight, cozy firelight and a beautifully dressed table.”
It’s a trend that all the big players are tracking. “The dining room, once considered too formal, is taking on a second life as a space for daily use and gathering with others,” says Lisa White, director of strategic forecasting at trend forecasters WGSN. “Meals shared around the table are more important to people in these troubled times. Our data shows that the dining room has grown the most over the past year in the ‘comfortable living’ conversation on social media.”
For my husband and I, our dining room is a comfortable and calm oasis to retreat to after the day is done, and especially when the weekend begins. A local restaurant where we don’t have to leave the house, if you will. Sunday lunches and weekend papers preceded by Bloody Marys are now proper affairs; and a serious effort is made on Friday night suppers at each end of the table, rather than on the sofa in front of the television. In the depths of winter, it’s where we sip breakfast tea in the morning, the sun streaming through the windows when it’s too cold to go outside.
In decorating it, we took inspiration from traditional British style, with a nod to 1990s chintz in Cole & Son wallpaper, a traditional mahogany dining table with matching chairs, a Soho Home chandelier and leafy houseplants.
If you’re thinking of creating your own, there are some inspiring examples from interior designers such as Anouska Lancaster, whose formal dining room in her Georgian house in Cornwall contrasts heritage elements with contemporary furnishings.
“I’ve noticed a surge in clients wanting a separate dining room to escape to since the pandemic,” she says. “It feels amazing, almost like going out for lunch or dinner, so I took the concept to another level in my own home with a distinctive underwater themed wallpaper. The fireplace is the main focal point, and the Everhot teal stove complements the deep sea colors on the walls beautifully. There is an abundance of joy.”
Evin Rosa Hancock, owner of Orpheus, a manor house in Suffolk available for rent through Unique Homestays, drew on her expertise in bringing life into traditional spaces to design her own. “For us, a separate dining room is the epitome of true family time in a modern world full of distractions,” she says. “It’s a room to talk, reflect and connect over good food and wine with those you love.”
You don’t need a huge dining room to host unforgettable gatherings, either. “Invite as many people as possible and pack them in like sardines,” advises American designer Jonathan Adler.
And so, apparently I’m not so old-fashioned after all. The formal dining room is the hottest reservation in the house right now.
Ten ways to spruce up your dining area…
Bird & Bluebell mural wallpaper
£262 a roll, Little Greene
This elegant mural features birds, bees, butterflies and bluebells, inspired by wallpaper found in Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk at National Trust House.
Rose Garden ruffle-edged tablecloth
from £85, and napkins, £20 for two, Rosanna Falconer
This traditional-with-a-twist design is hand-printed in Jaipur and works beautifully with plain white porcelain.
Stratford elliptical table
£2,450, Neptune
This oval table can seat up to eight people, and thanks to its pedestal design there’s no legroom to get in the way.
Leather dining chair frame
£379, John Lewis
Comfortable chairs will encourage guests to stay longer; where space is available, choose chairs and arms.
Bow candle holders
£30 a pair, Host Town
A fun and festive addition to the table, this clever bow-shaped candle holder comes with a “candle cap” that can be slotted in to ensure it fits slimmer dinner candles.
A measure of Prosecco Poppy
£65, Maison Flaneur
Designed by model Poppy Delevingne, these colored glasses will make a statement on the table, and come with a bottle of Della Vite prosecco to get the party started.
Clara velvet seating in Merlot
£10, Dunelm
Add comfort and color to simple wooden chairs with seat cushions.
Buchanan drinks a trolley
£289, Where do the Saints go?
A drinks trolley station on the side of the room to keep bottles, glasses and ice buckets off the table.
Place mat abaca scalloped
£22, Rebecca Udall
Not just to protect the table, this beautiful place mat adds texture and will work with any color scheme (also available in green or mushroom).
Palazzo Re-Jute rug
from £169, Rugby
With a pattern inspired by the floors in Italian palazzos, this jute look rug is machine washable.
