Dining room

Dining Room

A dining room is a room used for consuming food. In modern times it is usually adjacent to the kitchen for convenience in serving, although in medieval times it was often on an entirely different floor level. Historically, the dining room is furnished with a rather large dining table and a number of dining chairs; the most common shape is generally rectangular with two armed end chairs and an even number of un-armed side chairs along the long sides.

History

In the Middle Ages, upper class Britons and other European nobility in castles or large manor houses dined in the great hall. This was a large multi-function room capable of seating the bulk of the population of the house. The family would sit at the head table on a raised dais, with the rest of the population arranged in order of diminishing rank away from them. Tables in the great hall would tend to be long trestle tables with benches. The sheer number of people in a Great Hall meant it would probably have had a busy, bustling atmosphere.

Modern Usage

In the 21st century, many families have chosen to dine in the kitchen, and use the dining room for special occasions. However, some families continue to prefer to eat in the dining room, to maintain the tradition of family meals, particularly if the kitchen is small. In these cases, the dining room is often decorated with comfortable and welcoming features.

Furniture

The main piece of furniture in a dining room is the dining table. The shape and size of the table can vary, but it is generally large enough to accommodate all members of the household. Dining chairs are also an important element of the dining room. They are usually chosen to match or complement the table.

See Also

• Dining table
• Dining chair
• Kitchen
• Great hall