Homeowners’ Guide to Planning (and Nailing) Your Dining Area Design

Don’t overlook this area!

For a space that’s largely furnished by several chairs and a table, dining areas are surprisingly tricky to plan.

It’s not just about choosing a nice-looking table; rather, there are also things like space dimensions, layout flow, and all that fun (read: practical) stuff to think about. So, to help you out, here’s a detailed guide to help you design a dining area that’s both comfortable and visually appealing.

Dining area dimensions

Many homeowners plan their dining area around the table, but you should actually take a look at the space before buying a dining table.

By knowing the dimensions you’re working with beforehand, you can establish how much usable space you have before fitting in a table. This way, you’ll avoid common problems like cramped spaces, tight walkways, and the like.

Here are the key space dimensions to keep in mind:

Tip: you can measure and mark out these dimensions using tape. What you’re left with is the amount of space you’re left with to fit in a dining table.

Dining area layouts and movement flow

In Singapore, dining rooms often share the space with kitchens and/or living rooms – and this overlap means that layouts and movement flow become even more important.

A freestanding dining table

The traditional loose dining table is as classic as it gets. As it’s a standalone piece, it can be shifted around depending on existing lifestyle needs, which makes it a great choice for almost any household.

Typically, it can only seat a fixed number of people depending on its size. But these days, many dining tables now come with an extendable surface that can be pulled out to accommodate a bigger group, thus allowing you to remain flexible.

Ideal for: homeowners who foresee future lifestyle changes (e.g. having a kid), or those who like the freedom of shifting things around as they see fit

Peninsula extensions (or an island-dining table combination)

In homes where the dining room is adjacent to the kitchen, a popular choice we’ve seen in recent years is a kitchen peninsula extension.

Instead of a standalone dining table, the peninsula countertop simply extends into a dining surface, which makes the entire space feel more cohesive. It also doubles as extra countertop space that allows homeowners to serve food with way more ease.

Ideal for: homeowners who host often, or those keen on merging their kitchen and dining area to create one seamless, open space

Banquette seating

Rather than your regular dining chairs, banquette seating is a built-in bench placed along the wall. Paired with a dining table, you get a cosy dining nook that makes full use of tight corners while saving space.

Ideal for: for smaller homes or those with awkward corners

Turning a spare room into a dedicated dining room

If you’ve got an unused room to spare, why not convert it into a proper dining room? This way, you get way more space without it eating into other rooms in the house.

Alternatively, if you’re blessed with a balcony, you can also set up your dining area there for a true indoor-outdoor experience!

Dining area features

Rectangle or round dining table?

The default choice for most homes, rectangular dining tables offer maximum seating capacity and are easier to flush to the side. Additionally, it’s the best option for multifunction usage – you could be having a meal in one corner while someone else could be using their laptop on the other.

Round tables, on the other hand, encourage conversation and promote smoother movement flow, especially in tight spaces. In Chinese culture, they’re also a symbol of unity and equality, and are ideal choices for family gatherings and reunion dinners (especially with a lazy Susan in the middle).

Recommendations:

• Choose a rectangular dining table if you want to maximise seating capacity, or need a table that doubles up as a workspace
• Choose a round dining table if you want conversations to feel more fluid, or frequently serve dishes that are shared with multiple people

Bench or dining chairs?

Benches are becoming increasingly popular in homes, and we can see why. For one, they offer a clean, streamlined look that ensures an airiness to the space. For another, they’re flexible enough to accommodate 1 or 2 extra people when needed.

In contrast, loose dining chairs tend to be more comfortable since everyone has their personal seat – meaning no awkward shuffling whenever someone needs to get up. They’re also easier to rearrange or swap out if you’re itching to change up the space.

Recommendations:

• Choose benches if you frequently host gatherings
• Choose loose dining chairs if you prefer having a personal seat, or if you’re the type to swap out furniture pieces every few years or so

You can also get the best of both worlds by using benches and loose dining chairs – they’re getting increasingly common in homes for a reason!

Fan placement in the dining area

Having proper air circulation is almost a necessity in Singapore’s perpetually humid climate, but where you put your fan can affect your comfort level more than you think.

Ceiling fans above the dining table

This seems like the most straightforward choice, but this usually generates a fair amount of discourse when asked on social media.

While some are fine with it, others are hesitant since ceiling fans will circulate dust directly into your food. Others also point out that the fan will also cause hot food to cool down rapidly, which isn’t ideal if you’re trying to enjoy a warm bowl of soup.

If you agree, a better alternative is a wall or corner fan:

Wall and corner fans

Since these fans are typically mounted on a wall to the side, they don’t cause the same issues as ceiling fans. Additionally, they can be swivelled to face different directions, thus giving you control over the airflow direction.

Bonus: compared to a ceiling fan, wall and corner variants take up way less space; when positioned properly, they can look inconspicuous and blend right into the overall look.

Dining area lighting options

No one likes eating in a dimly-lit space that prevents them from properly seeing their food. But neither do they want to be in a space that is so brightly lit it feels like a hospital ward.

The key is balance and proper placement. Here are some lighting options to consider:

Pendant lights

Ah, the classic dining room lighting choice. Suspended directly above the table, they create a focused pool of light that illuminates the area and visually anchors the space. The latter reason is precisely why many homeowners opt for statement pieces that double as a design feature.

Just remember to give it a good wipe down every now and then, and ensure proper clearance of at least 75cm above the table, as mentioned above!

Surface-mounted lights

If you’re not a fan of pendant lights, surface-mounted (or flush-mount) ceiling lights are a perfectly viable option.

Since they’re flush against the ceiling, they provide more general illumination instead of simply drawing attention to the dining area. They’re a good choice for smaller homes or open-concept spaces where different zones flow seamlessly into one another.

Recessed or track lights

For the minimalists, recessed and track lights offer a clean, sleek profile that doesn’t draw attention to the fitting. The result: a clutter-free look that keeps the space airy and spacious.

Design a dining area that fits your lifestyle needs

We get it – there are a lot of things you need to think about when you’re carving out a proper dining area in your home. So why not consult an expert in the field to help you out?

At Qanvast, we connect you to reliable interior designers that fit your budget and design preferences. Simply fill out the form below to share more, and we’ll connect you with 3-5 interior designers – free of charge!