Over the past several years, it seems that formal dining rooms have become a trend of the past… Or, have they? 

Today, most families use their formal dining room maybe once a year. Hence, many new home owners are ditching the formal dining room and putting that space to better use. However, that doesn’t mean normal dining rooms no longer have a place in new homes.

If you’re building a new home or remodeling your current one, you’re probably wondering if a formal dining room is worth it to you and your family. Here are 3 questions to consider when making such a big decision:

  1. How often do you host gatherings, holidays, or events? If you’re the “hostess with the mostess,” you might consider keeping the formal dining room. When large gatherings take place in your home, it’s the perfect place to break bread around a large table and spend time together.
  2. Are you limited by square footage? When building new or remodeling, you might be confined to a specific square footage based on your lot or current home. Sometimes, you can’t fit it all. If this is your case, count the formal dining room out.
  3. Can you utilize that space for other purposes? If don’t enjoy hosting at your home, but still have plenty of space available, can you utilize the formal dining space in better ways? Alternatively, formal dining room spaces can be used as a study/home office, kid’s play room, media room, home gym, or…? The options are endless, How can you make the most of the space?

When it comes to the formal dining area, there is no right or wrong answer. It boils down to personal preference. At the end of the day, you have to determine how you and your family will get the most use of that space.

So, what do you say? Will you keep the formal dining room alive?