Formal vs Functional Dining Room

Usually, when shopping for dining room sets, you will see that any online furniture store has a vast variety of the two main groups – formal and casual dining rooms (and the FurnitureCart is no exception). But what are the differences between them? Functional dining rooms are considered casual, while formal dining rooms are way fancier. Furniture, table settings, as well as accessories, decor, and lighting define the space and differ with these two types of eating places. Let’s look closer!

Function

Before choosing the set that will be right for you and your dining space, you should analyze how you plan to use this space: do you plan to host black-tie dinners or share a pizza with your friends and family? Do you plan to place this set separately in a dining room, or will it be a part of the eat-in kitchen? With modern families’ busy lifestyles, more people prefer having casual eating sets. The formal ones appear rare in homes for the last decade because of their debatable practicality.

Location

Location within your home, by the way, is one of the key differences between formal and casual dining rooms. While formal dining rooms tend to be completely separate spaces with solid doors, the casual dining table, and dining chairs are placed in a wide-open space and often share space with the kitchen or living room.

Purpose

The purpose of a formal dining room is for elegant dinners, meals with proper etiquette, and classy gatherings. A casual dining room has multiple functions, even go beyond the eating situations. Functional dining rooms often serve dual purposes, such as a homework area for the kids, a gaming table for family night, and a bar spot for Fridays with friends (especially if a counter height dining room set).

Maintenance

A casual dining room contains tables and chairs that hold up to everyday use and require minimal maintenance. Formal dining room furniture is meant to be admired and handled with care, as it is designed and produced of woods that need constant protection. Though, undoubtedly, the beauty and charm of such dining rooms are worth the effort.