The Decline of the Dining Room

Where have dining rooms gone and why are the rarely used when they are included in a house? These rooms that were historically once rooms of terrific grandeur are now rarely used. In fact many modern houses are built without a room that is clearly defined as a dining room. In the Middle Ages all meals in Briton were eaten in a dining room. The dining room was an ostentatious room that often featured a raised platform on which the table was held. The family ate on this platform and those who joined them for the meal dined at separate tables. The tables closest to the residents of the household featured their closest friends and family members and as the tables radiated outward the relationship to the family became increasingly faint. In dining rooms of these times, each meal was viewed as a feast and the family lingered over the meal in their beautifully appointed dining room. Modern times though couldn't be further from this traditional picture. The modern dining room is barely used with the exception of major holidays.

In modern society, the majority of meals are grabbed on the run or eaten quickly in the kitchen. Today very few people really use their dining room on a regular basis. When they have friends and family members visiting, it is not uncommon for them to serve an elegant meal in the dining room but on a regular basis, it is quite uncommon to see a family dining in their dining room. It seems that somewhere along the line, families began to stop using their dining rooms and lost sight of the intended purpose of the room. This loss of vision has contributed to the decline of the modern dining room.

Another factor that has influenced the decline of the dining room is the propensity to furnish this room with elegant and expensive yet uncomfortable furniture. Doing this has the effect of making the room seem off limits. Many homeowners make the unfortunate mistake of investing a great deal of money in dining room furniture. The problem that this creates is that many homeowners feel as though the quality of their furniture should not be compromised by using the room regularly and contributing to the wear of the furniture. This tendency to decorate the dining room too elegantly contributes to the misconception that a dining room should only be used for the most elegant occasions.

Finally another factor that has made the dining room almost obsolete is the idea that they are not suitable for common meals. Many people believe that only elaborate and elegant meals are suitable for a dining room but this is simply not the case. A dining room is the perfect location for family members to get together and enjoy a simple meal. The focus should be on the company that you share and not the amount of preparation that went into the meal. Even the simplest meal can be served in a dining room to make the meal feel more special.

Many families spend a great deal of time together in the living room or family room but these rooms usually feature a television set and other entertainment equipment that does not promote interaction among the family members. Reintroducing the dining room as a staple in modern times can help to bring families closer together. The dining room invokes a sense of intimacy that promotes conversation and interaction. Serving meals in the dining room on a regular basis can result in families becoming closer as they take time from their busy lives to enjoy a meal together.

About The Author:
Jason Petrina is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit - www.articleclick.com

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Title:	The Decline of the Dining Room
Author:	Jason Petrina
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The Decline of the Dining Room