10 ideas for arranging the dining area in the kitchen © SoCoo’c
The dining area is reinvented and adapts to all kitchens, but above all to all desires. From the large family table to the bar installed on the central island, via the bench or the small snack area, here are 10 ways to set up a practical and friendly dining area.
Having become a real living room, the kitchen is the place where we like to meet to eat of course, but not only. If we still cook there, and even more and more, we also settle there to work, do homework, exchange time to prepare dinner… Family and friends like to invite themselves there to share a good time. A pleasant kitchen therefore goes through a friendly dining area, whether you have a large or a small kitchen. And if our habits have evolved, the cuisine has also adapted to meet our needs but also our desires. In recent years, the traditional table has thus given way to other arrangements that appeal with their less formal spirit. The dining area is thus more easily installed in the extension of the work plan to create a user-friendly whole, and has the advantage of being suitable for large kitchens as well as very small. In the open kitchens, the bar plan installed on the central island is also popular, while the kitchenettes rely on tailor-made or modular solutions. Round or rectangular table, generous bar, snack corner to eat on the go, bench … There is no shortage of ideas for creating a welcoming and practical dining area. Here are some thoughtful examples to inspire you.
A large table for the whole family
A large table for the whole family © But
A staple in the kitchen, the family table is ideal for bringing everyone together for a meal. If you have enough space, opt for a large rectangular table, which also leaves room for last-minute guests.
The good idea in addition: chairs deliberately mismatched to give a little character to the whole.
A large table for the whole family
A small round table for a convivial kitchen
A small round table for a convivial kitchen © Cuisinella
In a small kitchen, small-format furniture is essential if you want to create a real dining area that is as practical as it is pleasant. We therefore take care of the dimensions of the table but we offer ourselves real seats for more comfort.
The good idea in addition: a round shape, more user-friendly than a square table or a bar counter.
A small round table for a convivial kitchen
An extra dining area to go quickly
An extra dining area to go quickly © Leroy Merlin
This small extra dining area is ideal for those who want to go quickly in the morning, install the children for a snack, or sit down in small groups for dinner. Accessible from both sides, it remains user-friendly, and can even be used as a worktop if necessary.
The good idea in addition: it is the perfect complement to a traditional table for times when you are in a bit more of a hurry, and when the whole family is not there.
An extra dining area to go quickly
A dining area with bench
A dining area with bench © Castorama
A comfortable alternative to traditional chairs, the bench is on the rise in the kitchen. Its linear format slides easily into a corner of the room or along a wall and saves space, and its original seat appeals to children.
The good idea in addition: provide a trunk system under the bench to be able to store everything that you do not want to see lying around or things that you do not use less often.
A dining area with bench
A small snack-style dining area
A small snack-style dining area © SoCoo’c
Arranged in the style of a bar, this clever little snack area allows you to have a dining area even in a small kitchen, or in a long room. Its shallow depth does not encroach too much on the circulation space and offers enough space to sit there for two.
The good idea in addition: transform it into a breakfast area, with coffee maker, kettle, toaster … at hand to save time in the morning.
A small snack-style dining area
A bar area on the central island
A bar area on the central island © Cuisinella
Very trendy, the bar plan directly arranged on the central island seduces by its practical side, but also by its user-friendliness. This type of arrangement makes it possible to switch immediately from cooking to tasting, but also to meet in the kitchen to discuss while preparing the meal.
The good idea in addition: a slightly raised shelf to clearly define the dining area and the work surface.
A bar area on the central island
A dining area inspired by a bar
A dining area inspired by a bar © Cuisine Plus
Also arranged in the extension of the central island, we appreciate this dining area bar style but at table height. We enjoy the same advantages, but those who do not like to sit on a stool or a high chair have the comfort of a traditional seat.
The good idea in addition: an L-shaped bar plan, more user-friendly than a rectilinear tablet.
A dining area inspired by a bar
A multifunctional family dining area
A multifunctional family dining area © Schmidt
Halfway between the bar and the traditional table, this dining area offers a friendly and multifunctional space. Located in the extension of the work plan, it allows to take advantage of an additional surface to prepare the meal and, once cleared, a generous space to sit down with family, but also to do homework, to play …
The good idea in addition: its U-shape also makes it possible to clearly delimit the kitchen space, a good idea in a kitchen open to the living room.
A multifunctional family dining area
A retractable dining area
A retractable dining area © Scavolini
Designed for small kitchens or studios, this clever dining area, 100% modular, disappears in the blink of an eye when folded up. The room thus finds a completely clear circulation space.
The good idea in addition: an extension system to comfortably install two, three or four.
A retractable dining area
