dining table trends

Although designers agree there is still a demand for a formal dining space in many homes today, they also agree that what constitutes that formal space has changed in the past few years.

“How people live in their homes in general has changed greatly over the years. Dining rooms and formal living rooms have become much more relaxed, multi-purpose rooms,” says Hannah Crowell of Belak & Crowell.

“As the demand for contemporary styles increases, so does the demand for unusual dining tables,” according to Anna Aycock of Designs by Anna Aycock.

Vickie Morehead of VM Designs reports that dining rooms she sees are less formal. “They are more expressive of the homeowners individual lifestyle. Taste and personal expression can determine the style of a dining room,” she says.

“People are still ‘formally' furnishing their dining rooms,”  says Bohnne Jones of Decorating Den Interiors. “I have clients who are using treasured family pieces as well as purchasing new, more contemporary pieces. Most dining rooms will flow with the rest of the house when they are designed in the homeowner’s personal taste.”

Carolyn Campbell of Carolyn Campbell Interiors says, “Round dining tables are very popular. Peripheral leaves make the tables remain round when the size is extended, rather than oval.”  Campbell adds, “Very comfortable chairs covered encourage guests to linger and talk after the meal is served. A custom mural of the night sky on the ceiling adds even more drama to a room I recently designed.”

Belak says, “While we still see a lot of formal dining rooms in our older homes, with new builds there is a trend to incorporate the dining room and kitchen to create a much more familial atmosphere and allows the whole family and guests to be part of the culinary process.

“We have seen a huge trend in using reclaimed materials such as old farmhouse doors recycled into elegant or funky dining room tables and old farmhouse tables,” Belak adds..Homeowners are still investing in their homes, the experts agree, but they want their decorative items and larger furniture pieces to be reflective of their own environmental conscience. Many homeowners are opting for a locally crafted wood dining table.

Tying into the environmental trend, dining tables may express more neutral and earth-tone colors. Formal dining rooms have become much more personalized and expressive.  A merging of the modern and traditional interior decorating rules has led to a very expressive period for all parts of the house, even the dining room!

There are a number of sources for dining room tables including:

Beckwith Interiors
Nashville
615/ 356-0808

Belak & Crowell
Nashville
615/ 627-8989

Carolyn Campbell
Interiors
Nashville
318/ 348-9065

Decorating Den
Nashville
615/ 469-7334

Designs by Anna Aycock
Brentwood
615/ 414-5694
Karmal Skillington
Nashville, Leiper’s Fork
615/ 460-7197

ReCreations
Nashville
615/ 834-0055

Ta Dah Designs
Hendersonville
615/ 824-0888

VM Designs
Nolensville
615/ 714-4590