Monday, July 11, 2011

Multipurpose Dining Room Ideas

Multipurpose dining rooms pose specific design challenges.


Having a formal dining room is not always an option. Sometimes you need to delineate your space to make room for not only a dining room but also for any other number of purposes, such as an office or a child's play area. If this is the case, decorating these rooms might seem like a challenge. However, with the right planning and the right pieces to bring it all together, you can make this room work for your needs.


Table


In a multipurpose dining room, the furniture has to work overtime. The primary piece of furniture in this room is always a table. This surface can double as a work surface or a children's arts and crafts area. Look for a collapsible table that can be folded up and pushed to the side, if necessary, to clear space for other uses. Tables with removable leaves are also helpful in adjusting the table for multipurpose use.


Other Furniture


Think economically in terms of space when choosing other furniture for the space. In a traditional dining room, a large china cabinet is common. This piece can also be used to store a variety of items, from table linens to office supplies, depending on your needs. The fewer furniture pieces you need to use to store items, the easier it is to free up your room for a variety of purposes. Be mindful of leaving adequate space between furnishings to get around; otherwise this room will be difficult to use.


Organization


When you organize this type of room, be mindful of vertical space. You might have a limited amount of furniture and surface area, so start building upward to provide a place for everything to be kept. For example, if your dining area doubles as an office, install shelving on the wall to house paperwork and supplies. Look for tall pieces of furniture with open shelving or drawers for storing items so they do not clutter your table surface.








Delineating Spaces


Because this dining room has to fit a lot of needs, space is likely the issue. Delineating the room into its various purposes will help establish best use the space. For example, if the room is a dining room and a crafts area, dedicate one wall to a piece of furniture that houses craft supplies. Choose dining chairs with casters so that you can slide easily from area to area in the room. Room dividers, such as folding screens and curtains, can further help delineate this space for your various purposes while still being decorative.

Tags: dining room, this room, crafts area, piece furniture, room always