What Qualifies As A Formal Dining Room

The furniture found in a formal dining room includes a dining table and upright dining chairs

A formal dining room is a room separate from the kitchen, whose sole purpose is for eating in. Containing a dining table and a number of dining chairs, a formal dining room is the perfect place for special occasion meals, dinner parties and formal dinner events.

History

The modern formal dining room evolved from the great halls of the European gentry in the Middle Ages. Usually on a separate floor from the kitchen, the hall would include a raised rostrum for the family to sit on, with the rest of the household sitting at trestle tables in the body of the hall. Due to the dangers of communal eating, such as plague and being overheard talking politics, these great halls evolved into parlors more suited for private conversation -- what we now call a formal dining room.

Purpose

A formal dining room tends to be used for special occasions, where the meal is the main focus of the event. As the formal dining room is separate from the kitchen and meant only for dining, it has a luxurious feel. This often means it's used for dinner parties or religious occasions like Christmas when a number of people get together to eat and drink.

Furniture

A formal dining room will always have a dining table and dining chairs, often a more expensive or decorative suite than in a kitchen. Also common are a cabinet to display fine china and a sideboard for storing glass and tableware. A chandelier or two may be hung over the table, whch is usually covered with a fine tablecloth and laid with silver cutlery, the best china and glassware.

Decoration

Traditionally, after dinner, the men would remain in the dining room, while the ladies retired to the drawing room. This has meant that formal dining rooms tend to have a more masculine decor. To create an intimate atmosphere, formal dining rooms are often painted warm colors like deep red. Chairs will usually be upholstered, for comfort and to add luxury. Occasionally chairs will be completely covered in a heavy-weight fabric in a complementary tone to the room's color scheme. The table and chairs may be placed on a large area rug.

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