5 Ways to Combine Your Dining Room and Kitchen
Because open floor plans are always popular, it’s more important now than ever that you design your kitchen and dining room to flow together seamlessly. If they clash, there are no walls to hide behind or doors to close. Thankfully, it isn’t hard. It just takes a little bit of planning. From using shelf brackets for creative storage to matching palettes, here are five tips to help you.
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The Placement of Your Dining Table Is Key
The key to any dining room and kitchen combination is the placement of your dining table.
If it’s too far away, they feel like separate rooms. But if it’s too close, your kitchen feels crowded. You have to find a happy medium.
You can put smaller tables up against the closest window or flush against the kitchen island for a cozy breakfast nook. It’s perfect for 1-2 people households and makes for intimate, comfortable meals.
For larger tables, keep it only a few steps from where you prepare your meals. If you have an island or a bar, keep them parallel or in line with one another for a room that fits together nicely.
Complement Your Flooring, Doors, and Furniture Throughout
For a cohesive look, you should stick to a general theme, style, and color palette throughout your kitchen and dining spaces. If you’re going for a rustic look, a table of reclaimed wood, metal fixtures, and a sliding barn interior door can create a showcase-worthy room.
On the flip side, if you’re going for bright and loud, painting your cabinets, island, and dining table the same bright hue makes a statement. Add a vase of flowers to your counters and table, and you’ve got a unified look that combines cooking and eating in style.
Figure Out Creative Storage Solutions
Kitchens and dining rooms that flow together don’t usually have walls separating them. Fewer walls mean less cupboards, less pantry space, and potentially less counter space. So, it’s crucial that you figure out creative storage solutions. Here are a few ideas:
• Shelf brackets and wood shelves for open-faced kitchen gadget storage
• Hanging storage for pots and pans above the island
• Pegs on the wall to hold mugs
• A butler’s pantry for all your kitchen tools and cooking supplies
• Cupboards underneath your bar
These are just some of the ways that you can maximize storage and help your dining and kitchen areas flow together better without a wall separating them.
Install Bench Seating
Not only is bench seating a unique addition to your home that people will gush over, but it can help combine your dining table with the kitchen.
There are a few different spots you can put the bench. It looks great up against the long side of an island, with a table and then chairs on the other side. You can also install a long bench along one of the walls of your kitchen so it morphs seamlessly into a long dining area perfect for entertaining as well as family meals.
Flow Is Everything
The point of this whole combination is to create a space that flows. Just like you effortlessly combine ingredients for a delicious meal, going from kitchen to dining room should feel like a breeze. If you ever find yourself awkwardly reaching for something you can’t grab or walking through what feels like a maze, it’s time to adjust. You should flow from one space to the other like a cloud in a gentle breeze. That’s what makes a cohesive dining room and kitchen.
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Get all the supplies you need to tie your kitchen and dining areas together at https://www.menards.com/