3 Ways to Create a Casual Dining Room

The dining room is one of the most multi-functional rooms in your home. In the space, the family comes together to share meals and interact with each other on a daily basis. It's where you eat, entertain, and maybe even work. It's also a space where guests are welcomed.

Do People Still Use Dining Rooms?

These days, many people are wondering if they still need a formal dining room in their home. Just as food and fashion go in and out of style, so has where and how we dine. With people eating out more and more, the usefulness of a formal dining room may be in question.

While formal dining rooms may be increasingly hard to find, we still love to break bread together as a family and throw dinner parties for our friends. For these reasons, and more, your dining room furniture should reflect the perfect mix of warmth, welcoming, and practicality. When designing your dining room, consider how you use the space and what you really want to achieve.

Yet a dining room doesn't have to be a fancy, formal space. Check out these casual dining rooms to see how your dining room furniture can create a casual, comfortable area for everyone in your home.

Comfortably Casual Cottage Charm

Convey casual feel in a dining room with cottage style. Wood floors paired with the Panama Jack by Pametto Home Millbrook 7 Piece Dining Set fills the room with cottage charm, while a cage chandelier adds a modern flair. Natural lighting adds to the cheerful, comfortable feel of the room. It invites you to relax and enjoy life's simple pleasures.

This dining set reflects your laid-back sense of style. The buttermilk finish exudes casual coastal style, underlined by the shapely X stretchers. The Sand finish of the side and armchairs work perfectly with the table to complete the beachy two-tone look.

Casual Elegance with Statement Statement Table

The East Hampton Transitional 5 Piece Dining Set from Bernhardt leans toward the elegant side, while the casual accents and details make it great for a transitional style home. Gentle curves and sweeping lines combined with the Cerused linen finish help this collection deliver a warm, welcoming, and homey feel to your dining room. It's perfect if you have an eye for more traditional design elements but want to put a more modern twist on it. The neutral palette gives the room a light, airy feel and keeps the tone casual.

Show Off Your Collection with Simplified Sophistication

In this dining room, the Bali Hai Tropical 7 Piece, Single Pedestal Dining Set from Tommy Bahama gives you more space in the dining room. The light streaming in from the tall French doors draw the eye upward, making the room seem even larger. This set gives the room a deep, rich look adding to its cozy and casual feel. The woven inset top and leather-wrapped rattan base evoke the feeling a beach-side cabana. The table's round shape keeps it casual while the finishes keep it elegant.

Add a Gallery Wall

If you have an extensive collection of art, the dining room is a great place to show it off. Make it casual with family photos, or photos you've taken yourself. You can mix and match frame colors and finishes, sizes of art or photos to give a more relaxed feel. You can even add some unusual objects like mirrors or small shelves of collectibles to personalize the space in a fun way. Getting the spacing right can be tricky, so plot out the entire wall before you start hammering.

It's not an easy task to put together a dining space that feels special enough for formal occasions while still being casual and functional enough for everyday life. But with a little ingenuity and planning, you can do it. Use these ideas as a starting point to achieving the dining room with the right blend of comfort, elegance, and sophistication.

If you are searching for the perfect look for your dining room furniture, stop by the Baer's Furniture showroom near you and take a look around. Speak to one of our in-house design professionals and take advantage of our complimentary design service.