There was a time when I loved the idea of having a formal dining room. A beautiful table, matching chairs, everything in its place, it felt like something every home should have. And for a while, I tried to make it work.
But the truth is… we never used it.
Most nights, B and I were eating at the kitchen island or sitting in the living room, catching up on the news of the day. The dining room, as pretty as it was, felt more like a space we walked past than one we actually lived in. And because the room itself is on the smaller side, our larger vintage table and chairs made it feel even more cramped.
Eventually, I started asking myself a simple question: What if this room worked for us instead of the other way around?
Making the Change
Instead of trying to force the space into something it wasn’t, I decided to simplify.
I brought in a round pedestal table that we originally bought for our beach house. Right away, the room felt more open and easier to move around in.
From there, I added a set of salvaged chairs that B pulled out of a dumpster a couple of years ago, and dressed them with thrifted slipcovers from Pottery Barn. They’re not perfect, and they don’t match in a traditional sense—but they feel relaxed, comfortable, and much more “us.”
And just like that, the room started to shift.
The Unexpected Addition
The biggest change, though, wasn’t the table.
With the extra space we gained, I was able to add a chair, a matching ottoman, and a small side table with a lamp. It created a quiet little corner that didn’t exist before, and now, it’s where I spend time every single day.
Most afternoons, I’ll eat my lunch at the table while reading, then move over to the chair for a few minutes to finish another chapter or two, before heading back to work. Ozzy is almost always right there with me.
It’s simple. It’s nothing fancy. But it completely changed how we use the space. B and I don’t eat at the table every day for dinner, but we’ve used it more than we ever did before, and that’s saying something. The room feels much more approachable and relaxed now.
It’s Not Finished (And That’s Okay)
This room is far from “done,” and I’m okay with that.
I’ve learned that I don’t enjoy rushing into a full room makeover just to check a box. I’d rather live with a space, see how it functions, and let it evolve over time. I know I want to repaint the walls and add new hardware to the cabinets, but I’m not settled on the exact direction, and I don’t want to rush.
Some of my favorite changes in our home have come from slowing down and paying attention to what actually works, not what I think should work.
A Different Way to Think About Decorating
If there’s one thing this space has reminded me, it’s this: Your home doesn’t need to look a certain way to be right. It just needs to support your life.
Whether you have a formal dining room, a small apartment, or anything in between, what matters most is that your home feels comfortable, usable, and personal to you.
For us, that meant letting go of the idea of a formal dining room… and creating something we actually use instead.
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