Recently, a friend of mine asked me how to plan furniture for an dining area that is open to her living room. She isn't going to use it as a formal dining, which is typical to have only 1 dining and it's usually next to the kitchen (what used to be called the breakfast room). So what do you do with this awkward space. It's usually a small room open on 2 sides adjacent to the living room.
 |
| My friend's Dining Room |
 |
| View from entry - Dining on the right and Living on the left |
I see so many houses where this is set up as a dining room but it is rarely used. Why waste space on a room you only may use 3 times a year? My advice to my friend and you is to use this space as an office, library, game room, music room, sitting room or a combination of these.
Here's some ideas...
Office
 |
| A simple desk, chair and picture can fill the space nicely |
 |
| Office and seating mixed |
 |
| Great office idea that looks good enough to be in your living room |
 |
| a floating desk |
Library
 |
| Build-in shelves and add seating |
 |
| shelves and lounge chairs are a great look |
 |
| library table |
 |
| The perfect reading area |
 |
| Love how light and airy this feels |
You don't have to have a lot of books or built-in shelves to call it a library.
Gaming
 |
| Love this small game table (add a bar too!) |
 |
| You can take advantage of the chandelier that is wired in the room for your game table. |
 |
| Love the leaning art! |
 |
| Large art can help fill the space too! |
Music Room
 |
| Re-purposed Formal Living Room |
This is a formal living room we designed to be the music room for our clients boys.
 |
| Love the hanging guitars |
 |
| All you need is a piano! |
 |
| Instruments and add some seating |
This is a bit too sparse for me, I would have added a rug but you get the point!
Sitting Room
 |
| 4 Chairs and a table or ottoman (notice the piano) |
 |
Love this !!!
 |
| Make sure you use a small settee or chairs so this area doesn't compete with the living room |
 |
| A cozy chair, lamp, art and table is all need |
|
I would avoid a playroom, craft room or any room that will get junked up. You want your living room to be comfortable and presentable to guests without too much effort. ~Brandy
