A dining room is not solely a place to dine. It is a gathering spot where we go about our lives, together or en solo. If it is not the heart of our homes, it does, at least, extend its beat. And when it comes to sustainability ? Sustainable dining rooms will even go a step further…

Sustainability At Work.

Dining rooms are a great place to start to introduce sustainable habits into our everyday. And like everything when it comes to sustainability, in order to be successful, it has to reflect us. To work for us, to make sense. Sustainable dining rooms have to be an extension of who we are.

So let’s make it personal ! All around the room, we should display lively art and personalized objects that make us feel good, feel at home. And invite us to share a meal. Share a moment. An authentic table to center the space. Sensory tableware to ground it.

Coloring Happiness.

We should make sure the colors on the walls are inspiring and work towards the ambiance. Not against it. Some colors are just terrible to get in the mood of appreciating such a sensory item as food. It is important to find a good balance to incite both conversation and enjoyment of the experience itself. Especially in our era where it is already so hard to find the time to properly sit down for enough time to call it a meal.

We should pick organic paints. Sustainable options that work well for dining rooms. Eco-friendly products that have a low impact on the environment but are all the same resistant enough and easy to apply. Easy to clean too, for daily maintenance. Of course !

Art Gallery Diner.

Introducing artisan made and unique pieces will turn our space into design elements. So let’s get ready to display craftsmanship all around our home. Especially in the dining room.

Yes, everyday items can be purchased in big department stores for a low price. But if we consider how much we will use those silly daily items, we really should think about splurging on it once and actually enjoy using them everyday. And let’s not forget that happiness lies within life little pleasures. So why not introduce unique and statement pieces even for the mere utilities?

Shedding Light.

Lighting plays an important role in food experience as well. A poorly lit table will not put our meal as appetizing as it may be. And a space that is too bright will ruin all the ambiance. We need just the right balance that works for our space. And for our comfort so that the time shared at the table is the most enjoyable.

We can tweak a piece we already have on hand. Or totally reinvent lighting from one room to another to clearly separate spaces. And then again, we should make sure we switch our bulbs for LED in order to improve power usage. So when installing new systems, it is important to make sure the light we choose can handle our new energy efficient bulbs. Some systems simply cannot handle those newest versions and then we would be setting the perfect conditions to put the house on fire… Not exactly what we had in mind when we talked about sharing a hot meal tonight…

Scaling Down.

Finally, we should give ourselves a chance to be realistic. And remember that no matter how much we would like to have the perfect spot to call our dining room, sometimes all we can have in our tiny interior is a narrow counter space or a tiny corner table. One that will serve many functions all at once. And this is perfectly fine ! Didn’t the best parties happen leaning on a counter in a tiny old fashioned kitchen ? If all we have is a countertop, we can set it up so that it serves the purpose of sharing a meal and then reshape it for its other uses. A space can be made practical with a few clever accessories that will transport us from one purpose to the other, while keeping the same footprint.

A comfortable home is not about the size. It is about the way it is thought and arranged so that it works for us. For our lifestyle. For our habits and needs. So let’s make sure our eating space is inviting and social. That we feel welcome and cozy in the space, to mingle and eat comfortably. Let’s make our space reflect our personality and bring happiness home, sustainably.