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A Dining Room Fit For Downton Abbey

Thursday, 23 November 2017 | 0 comments

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Let’s be honest; dining rooms are almost obsolete in modern culture. Instead, our kitchens and living rooms form the focus for our homes. It makes sense; these are the places in which we spend the most time. By comparison, we only venture into the dining room when we have guests round. In fact, dining rooms get so little use that many of us opt instead to turn them into studies and playrooms. After all, none of us have enough space to let a whole room go to waste.

But, a look back through history tells a different dining story. In fact, as little as 100 years ago, dining rooms were the most active place in any household. This was where the family assembled and hosted guests. If you’ve seen Downton Abbey, you’ll have some idea of what a traditional dining space looked like. You’ll also know just how much time was spent there. Not an episode goes by without some dining room drama.

This difference in attitude isn’t surprising when you consider that, before television, living rooms didn’t get much use. And, in grand families, the kitchen would’ve been in servant quarters. But, instead of trying to refresh your dining room to ensure its continued use, it might be worth taking a page out of the history books, and returning to dining tradition. Here’s how you can do it.

It’s all about the furniture

Furniture was, by far, the most impressive thing about Victorian dining. The more imposing the table, the better. In many ways, dining furniture was a status symbol. After all, this was a room which guests were sure to see. As such, it’s worth finding similar pieces for your dining delight. Companies like Dining Rooms Outlet have some amazing furniture to choose from, including the Dresden Collection which is sure to meet your requirements. Or, if you want to get stuck right into tradition, you could head to an auction, and pick up some authentic pieces.

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Think dark colors

Now, many of us turn to bright colors to keep the dining room fresh and appealing. But, Victorian alternatives often involved much darker options. It wasn’t unusual for a dining room to be a deep red color, for example. And, it’s worth turning back to this in your quest. As well as complementing the dark wood of your furniture, a dark color ensures a cozy atmosphere. You never know; it may help you to sit chatting at the table all night.

Use the space

Of course, the main difference between modern and traditional dining rooms is the amount of time spent in them. Lucky for you, this is easier to rectify than the above points. If you’re used to eating at a breakfast bar, or on the go, it may seem strange to sit at the table for each meal. But, once you get into the habit, this will become second nature. Before you know, your dining room could well be the hub of the home once again.

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