Answer:
THE LAYOUT: While the other two options are meant to give additional utility to your dining room, this layout is a way to maximize your living/dining options in a space-challenged home.
THE TABLE: For a smaller space with an open dining area, Sara likes to turn the dining table into “an everyday comfort space. It’s really nice because the majority of the time you’re not using it for eating. Choose a pretty table that can be used as a desk or as a serving place for appetizers.”
THE CHAIRS: Go with chairs that are portable and provide a good deal of versatility. That way, you can easily move them to the living room for extra seating as needed.
THE EXTRAS: In the living area, a sofa with end tables makes a cozy place from which to watch the TV placed on a console across the room. A club chair and a coffee table create a conversation area. A second club chair and an ottoman, placed between the console and the door, provide a great place to read or nap. It’s all about flexibility and lots of seating options.
SOFA TIP: Look for a midsize sofa (about 72 inches wide), which is a good jumping-off point for small spaces.
Explanation:
Whether you use your dining area for meals every day, only on special occasions, or hardly at all, the room can be so much more than simply a place to dine.
We asked designer Sara Gilbane—known for her rich and layered interiors—for expert tips and ideas for layouts that help maximize the often underutilized space. “We treat the dining room as a multipurpose space, especially in smaller homes. But even in larger apartments and houses, it doesn’t get enough airtime.”
Here, Sara breaks down three ways to get more out of your dining room layout.
