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Let’s face it, the days of the whole family sitting down to eat a meal together are barely even depicted on TV anymore – let alone is it something we do regularly in "real" life.
Given today’s more casual lifestyles, many newer homes no longer include dedicated dining rooms, in favor of open floor plans that link a great room or living space with the kitchen area. Even in homes that do feature formal dining rooms, it’s rare that space serves only that purpose, with dining rooms just as likely to function as a part-time kitchen and craft area (think baking with the kids), homework space, or home office.
Another change is that people don’t "entertain" like they used to. Dinner parties have given way to casual gatherings in the backyard by the grill, or a few drinks and appetizers in the living room while watching "the game." Steinhafels hopes our partnership with OnMilwaukee during "Dining Month" helps bring back the idea of entertaining at home. Maybe it’s time to step back and turn off the TV, put the cell phone away, and rebuild those meaningful relationships by getting together to eat a good meal, and have an old-fashioned chat around the dining room table.
One of the keys to entertaining is having a fabulous space. The buyers at Steinhafels are constantly monitoring the latest trends, so the store has the best possible product to offer its customers. Here’s a list of some of the Top Dining Trends on the market right now.
1. Mixed Media
Dining sets aren’t just solid wood any more. Mixing media offers modern and up to date looks. The use of multiple material categories in a single set continues to trend: Metal and wood, metal and glass, wood and tile, metal and bluestone, concrete and wood, zinc and wood.
2. Urban Industrial
Urban industrial lifestyles with solid wood construction, distressing, and an overall casual feel are the "furniture feeling" that many families are going for these days.
3. Open Concepts
Formal dining rooms are less of a need/desire, so more casual looks will continue for the foreseeable future. In addition, we’re seeing bigger dining areas, so people can cook and socialize at the same time.
4. Solid Wood
Solid wood is always popular, but these looks continue to gain momentum because they have style that evokes nostalgia, and a sense of casualness that today’s consumers look for.
5. Distressing/Rustic Elegance
This can also fall into the category of "Reclaimed" furniture, which is really big right now. The reclaiming process gives old furniture new life, and lends history, character, and beauty to your home. The distressing needs to be heavy, random, and authentic.
6. Button Tufting and Pull Through Tufting
This look falls into the mid-century style that has come back. It’s the counterpoint to rustic elegant—refined and modern, and somewhat sleek. Tufting started to come back in leather, then in fabric upholstery. Now it has flowed into dining and is found in chairs on seats and seat backs.
7. Gray, Grayer, Grayest!
Forget the classic brown finish – the exciting dominant finish of the year in dining is gray. A great grey piece of furniture can really bring together an otherwise eclectic room.
Enjoying a meal together makes life richer all the way around, so our design experts say it makes sense to create welcoming spaces that are both casual and beautiful. Keep it simple. The ornate, overwhelming dining spaces of the past are dated, and appear out of place in today’s fast-paced society. However, at the end of the day, design the space in a way that feels right to you. The best thing about these rules is that they can be broken!! If you are completely overwhelmed, no worries. Steinhafels offers an affordable interior design program, called Decorating Solutions. Let our experts help you make the big decisions, while maintaining your individuality and personality.
