Family dinner time is an essential part of maintaining a healthy family dynamic, but as per recent data from Mintel, families are increasingly eating apart. Recent data from a market research company has found that more families are eating apart at different times in the evening. Back in 2016, it was found that 78% of families ate together, quickly dropping to 68% in 2022.
It used to be that families would sit together and catch up at dinnertime, but based on current trends, it won’t be long until this is a thing of the past. It can be argued that the 2020 COVID pandemic caused an upheaval in family routines, which caused a change in eating patterns.
What can be done to combat this? We will look at three design ideas that could help convince your family to eat together, and we will also look at what experts think could help!
Implement Space Saving Dining Tables
Firstly, It could be that the available space within your living room feels too small to accommodate everyone, so people are against coming together at dinner time to eat together.
To try and correct this potential issue, you could implement space saving dining tables from Furniture Village that aims to make the most of the available space. Be conscious of this and help accommodate everyone in the living room or dining area.
Consider purchasing smaller tables that fit better in the available space or opting for convertible tables that can be expanded when needed.
Dining expert Tom St Quintin from Furniture Village suggests: “Everyone’s family dynamic is completely different when it comes to mealtimes, and it’s important to understand what works best for you and your family.
“Understanding your own family dynamics and routines can help you when it comes to furnishing your homes. Maybe a smaller kitchen or dining table would better suit your space if your family ate at different times.
“Alternatively, if you often eat dinner on the sofa, could a coffee table help to provide additional surfaces for you to use within the room? Understanding your family routines and designing your home around them is important, rather than designing your home around what is perceived as the norm.”
So, it could be a case of finding out what your family wants from dinner time. Find out what sort of furniture they would all enjoy.
Sofas Around the Table
Ready for something unconventional? Why not try placing sofas around a low table? Think about it; many families are already going into the living room to sit on sofas and eat, so why not bring this to the dining room?
You could place sofas around a table for a slightly more relaxed dining setting. This could help convince your family to join you, as they may feel more at ease. Of course, you may choose a sofa that is easy to clean or covered with something that can be removed.
This can also help create a cosy environment where everyone is comfortable being around the table. It may not be conventional to eat on a sofa in the living room, but if it helps keep everyone together, it can create a relaxed dining setting which might just be what is needed to help get your family to come together at dinner time.
Family Artwork
Lastly, why not make the dining room feel more connected to your family? Your family may not want to join you in the dining room as it feels isolated and separate from the rest of your home. You may make it feel more connected by putting up some family artwork.
This could involve creating a gallery wall that lists all the best memories of you all together; this could be a nice way to get you all sitting down and talking. At the very least, it can be a conversation starter for you all. It can help make everyone feel connected as a family and to the area itself, as it contains personal touches that hold sentimental value.
For example, displaying photographs of family members on the walls or setting the dining table with dishes or centerpeices passed down through generations can create a sense of family history and tradition.
Final Thought
You could also incorporate elements that reflect your family’s interests or hobbies, such as books or decorative objects.
Experts recommend understanding your family dynamics and routines when designing your home rather than designing your home around what is perceived as the norm.
If you want to prioritize family dinner time, a welcoming dining area can make all the difference. Consider incorporating some dining space ideas to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere that will bring your loved ones together for shared meals and meaningful conversations.
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