The Unused Dining Room Dilemma

Dealing with an unused dining room? We'll show you better ways to use this space because everyone wants more storage, a quiet retreat or a bedroom for guests & hobbies. So maybe it's time to rethink how you're using your dining room … as step one to any updates.

You needn’t preserve this space for the rare occasion when you might use it for a family meal. It’s in a handy spot, and it’s usually large enough to entertain several ideas. If you already use the dining room for a different purpose, such as a makeshift home office, you already have an angle. If not, think about all the ways you can use this room to improve your quality of life.

You can even keep the dining room for meals. It's not difficult to partition part of a dining room for a sitting area, wine closet, or if the room is large enough, a tiny guest bedroom.  It’s your home so check out these 5 ideas to find a better way to use this space.

You can get even more ideas on our Pinterest board with multi-function dining rooms.

Turn an Unused Dining Room Into a Home Office

Many dining rooms have at least one large window, so natural light is a big plus. You might not want to take over the whole dining room if you only work at home once in a while. But if you telecommute, or regularly work from home, you’ll have a roomy, comfortable space to stay focused.

A full home office transformation can give you lots of square footage to spread out. There might even be enough room for a comfy chair when you want to get away from your desk to relax or think through a problem or business opportunity.

But if you’d rather contain the office in part of the room and leave the rest for a small dining table, glass panel walls can make a small office space feel roomier and bright.

Create A Play Room From Your Unused Dining Room

Because of the location of most dining rooms, they’re great candidates for a playroom conversion. Kids can play with toys and games, watch movies, and have pillow fights, all near enough for you to keep an eye on them. 

You don’t have to paint the walls in a bright, colorful shade to make the space inviting. In this playroom, splashes of color are found in the rug, pillows, and other easily changeable elements. With cubbies, a bench, and a kid-size entertainment center, there’s plenty of storage to keep the room tidy.

Free Your Creativity with a Craft and Hobby Room

Every crafter knows that a dedicated hobby room is a dream come true. Replace carpeting with an easy-clean, hard-surface floor, add some storage and work stations, and bring in a sturdy table and seating. Don’t forget to upgrade the lighting.

This hobby room is simple and functional. The table is large enough for art projects, sewing, and just about anything else you like to do. With a stainless steel top, paint and glue will wash off without ruining the furniture. Storage cabinets can be used to keep supplies handy and out of sight.

A Library or Quiet Room Gives You a Place to Relax

Looking for a little peace and relaxation? Why not convert your unused dining room to a small library and quiet room? You might consider adding a door to the room, so reading is less apt to be interrupted.

With oversize, comfy chairs, you can also use the room for entertaining a friend. This room is designed for only a couple of people to use at a time. Minimizing seating to one or two chairs will discourage large, noisy gatherings in your “quiet place.”

Think of the square footage you’ll gain by repurposing an unused dining room, in whole or in part, for something different. If you’ve ever thought, “I’d love to have …” but didn’t follow through for lack of space, this room might be exactly where you’ll find the extra space you want.

Builder Alternatives to the Unused Dining Room

If you like visiting model homes, take time to check out floor plan alternatives. Builders get feedback from many home buyers and do their best to give them what they want. The unused dining room is one of those challenges that they're addressing in two ways.

• Open floor plans surrounding the kitchen give homeowners flexibility in how to use the space.
• Builders are offering alternative floor plans. Here is Richmond American Homes' Rushmore model, has three options which you can experiment with using their interactive floor plan (see a snapshot below).
  • For homeowners who entertain a lot, a dining room and butler's pantry is the perfect way to serve your guests.
  • Maybe you've got lots of guests (your parents or a college graduate) and a separate bedroom suite is the perfect solution to making your home inviting.
  • Spending more time working from home? A study or home office separated from the rest of the house might be the ideal solution.

Have you transformed your dining room into something else?
We’d love to hear your stories!