The era of open-concept brought an end to most formal dining room ideas. Without walls to set the tone, an inherent casualness took over the way we dined. But then there was Covid, where rooms were required to host more than one endeavor at once, plus a pendulum swing back towards more cozy, personal spaces — leaving designers questioning the role formal dining rooms have today.
While, at one time, we'd have definitely said that formal dining rooms were falling out of fashion, today it feels like they're making a quiet resurgence. "As open-plan living reaches its peak, many homeowners are seeking quieter, more formal zones that offer a sense of intimacy and distinction," explains interior designer Caroline Milns, head of interior design at Zulufish. "This evolution allows for a more elevated dining experience — removed from the kitchen's everyday clutter and noise — where meals feel more intentional, glamorous, and immersive."
