New Home Trends - Formal Dining Rooms

Are Formal Dining Rooms here to stay, or on their way out?

Have formal dining rooms come to the end of their life span?

Here are some reasons why you may be seeing fewer formal dining rooms in new homes you've been touring.

- Smaller Homes

Today's new home is smaller for the first time in many years. In a smaller home, space must be used in the best way possible.

- Informal Living

Homebuyers are asking for more family-oriented space, and open floor plans.

- Breakfast Nook and Dining Combined

Breakfast nooks tend to be small - hence the term nook. This space is being enlarged to fit full size dining tables and chairs.

*Floorplan copyright Stanton Homes

If there's no formal dining room, what else might you see in your new home?

- First floor office

In the Brogan, a Stanton Homes custom design, the space normally reserved for a formal dining room has been redesigned as a first floor office with double French doors. This space right off the foyer is perfect for anyone working from home who needs to meet occassionally with clients or associates.

- First floor guest suite

Reallocation of limited square footage by eliminating a formal dining room may just enough room for a great first floor guest suite.

- Exercise room or play room

A room can be dedicated to a specific use, not always possible in smaller homes with formal dining rooms.

So should I absolutely eliminate a formal dining room in my new home? Before you decide, consider a few points.

- Entertaining

Are you more of a traditionalist, with formal dining for dinner and casual breakfast seating? Does your dining furniture include a full china cabinet and large captain chairs?

- Resale

Will having a formal dining room help with the future resale of your home? Speak to local real estate agents and get a second opinion.

- Elegant Entries and Decorative Touches

A formal dining room right off the entry of your home can really set the tone, and is often the most "dressed up" room in your home.

During our design/build process, we are seeing more trends towards elimination of formal dining, but only as part of a holistic approach towards open, family-oriented living. Larger homes tend to retain formal dining spaces more often than smaller homes. We'll help you find (or design) just the right layout for your living style in your new Raleigh home.

Custom Building a Home in the Raleigh Area

As a Raleigh custom home builder, we have a unique perspective on the home building process, and are happy to share our expertise.

No matter who you choose to build your new home, we suggest that you make sure to walk through homes by that builder that will be finished at a similar level to the home you've chosen, or have your builder's representative point out any optional features in a model home that you have chosen not to include in your new home.

Check out our series on building a custom home in the Raleigh area, and good luck with your new home!

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