Not all cuisines lend themselves to convivial meals. In addition, not all homes have a separate dining room. For some, it is therefore advisable to create a dining area in the living room. Is this your case? Because it is not that simple. How to create a virtual border, a kind of visual separation that works? All of this is tricky. Here are some tips on how to best define a dining area in your large living room.
Tip #1: think about all situations
In other words, plan as much as possible. Admittedly, on a daily basis you eat as a family and know the exact number of people around the table. But you can receive family or friends. Then see the place you need and the layout that suits you. Because the main element is obviously the table and chair set. In a sense, tables and chairs are a second focal point in your living room. See how much space you have. See if you’re investing in gear that you only release occasionally. These take up little space and can easily expand your dining room on occasion.
Tip n°2: imagine flexible solutions
This is the same logic as before. When designing your dining area in the living room, be flexible. A priori, your living room is large enough. But even more if it has little space, see who is using the place. If your dining room is only used by a few people in everyday life, you can push the table and chairs against the wall. Whereas if you have visitors, you can shift everything to the middle. Perhaps you can consider a folding table and chairs?
Tip #3: Decorate your living room with shelves and occasional furniture
As you know, in a dining room, it must be possible to store crockery, napkins, placemats, etc. All the storage spaces near the dining table are useful. If it is quickly full, opt for occasional furniture or shelves that will save you space and allow you to declutter the furniture on which you eat.
Tip #4: Make sure you have adequate lighting
Who says dining area within your living room says two central spaces which do not have the same requirements in terms of light. Therefore, it is not recommended to use only one light source. Pendant lights are ideal for a dining table, for example. In the living area, on the other hand, floor and table lamps make more sense. It’s an extra effort to make but it’s worth it because several bright spots will bring you a better quality of life.
Tip #5: plan a dining area near the kitchen
The dining area of a living room should always be as close to the kitchen as possible. This way, all your food and drinks don’t have to go through your whole living room. You don’t want to dirty your sofa or damage your television? It therefore makes sense that your dining table should be placed on the side closest to the kitchen.
Tip #6: Pay attention to the view
If you think that a living room is for relaxing, that you envision it as a place to be quiet away from the eyes of your neighbors, then place your dining area just behind the window and dedicate the space more away, more intimate to your seating area. While eating, you have a view of your exterior and your living room.
Tip #7: Use furniture to separate the room
If you want to clearly mark the separation between your lounge area and your dining area, opt for a piece of furniture. Even if it is always preferable to design open spaces, it can sometimes be interesting to cut the space in two with a sofa for example. And if the back of it is not very pretty to look at, you can add a console or a shelf. This gives you more space: ideal for dishes and everything you need for your meals.
Tip #8: Use flooring to visually separate your spaces
It doesn’t always make sense to use furniture to separate rooms. Different floor coverings can be a good alternative. Area rugs in particular are ideal for creating visual separation. Even a single large rug in the living room can create a dividing effect in your room.
Tip #9: Create a second level
In order to visually create a second space, create a level. Add a step. And lift the second part of your living room. Of course, make sure that this level change is visible, otherwise your guests may easily trip.
Tip n°10: mark the two areas with distinct colors
To clearly delineate two functional areas, a contrasting design makes sense. One possibility would be, for example, to design your dining area in white and your living area in black.