HOT PROPERTY

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GOODBYE TO THE FORMAL DINING ROOM

In some homes, this under-used room has come to life with new personality and purpose.

When people started staying home when the pandemic hit in March 2020,some looked around their space and came to asurprising conclusion: Their dining room was being wasted. “It tends to be the least-used room in the home,”saysinteriordesignerand stager Susan CorvoofSusan CorvoRedesign, in Fairfield, Connecticut. It turns out that it’s“somewhat easy to convert to another use likeahome office,”she says.

Check out some dining room alternatives that maybeabetter fitfor your lifestyle.

Home Office – One of the most popular makeover options, a home office makes life easier, especially if you previously had a long commute. Out went the china cabinet and table for 12 and in came a desk, ergonomic chair, and filing cabinet or wall shelving unit. Good lighting became more important than ever.

Gym – Rethink the basement as your go-to spotfor lunges and shoulder presses.Move the treadmill, mats,and all your other exerciseequipment upstairs to what is probably aroom filled with morelight than your dark and dingysubterranean spot.

Library–Howawesome would it be to have all your belovedbooks on shelvesinone place?You don’tneed to go all DeweyDecimal System and catalogthem (unless youwant to!) but justhaving your books organized and in one room will makereading even moreenjoyable. Aplush sofa, good reading lights,and a small table arethe onlyother thingsyou need.

GuestRoom – One of the challenges in converting adining room into aguestroom is that the space has no closet.But as Corvo points out, “It doesn’tnecessarilyneed a closet if it is justaguestroom.You can usean armoirefor aguest’sclothes.” As for the lack of adoor,consider folding doors or curtains in the doorwayfor guestprivacy.

Media Room – Corvo’spicks for outfitting this fun space:“DefinitelyaTV,ideally mounted on the wall, decent speakers for surround sound, and comfortable chairs or movie chairs,” she says.” If the room is large enough, she suggestsinstalling cabinets and a small fridge. “Usuallymedia rooms have some sort of soundproofing too.”

Playroom – If your whole houseseemslike one giant kids’ toyroom, turning the dining room into aplayroom will be asanity saver. A soft rug, achild’ssize table and chairs,plenty of storage, and afirm rule that everything needs to be put away at the end of the dayare must-haves.

–CTW Features

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With numerous alternatives, your dining room can be repurposed to better fit your lifestyle. Photo courtesy of Content That Works