Don't downsize fun in the dining room
One scary thing about downsizing is the worry over how to entertain. A much smaller house means a smaller dining table.
How can you give up those holiday dinners? Will you be sorry to eliminate an enjoyable part of your life?
I've been mulling over turning part of our home into an apartment to be rented out as an alternative to a hotel room. It's legal in our town as long as you pay hotel taxes to the city. That way, if we need the space for our family, we'll have it, and if I need the extra income, I'll have that, too.
There is plenty of room under roof, but my plan would mean my huge dining room that seats 14 will be repurposed as a home office for two. The new dining area would only seat eight at most, and I'm worried.
Since I preach loudly about flexibility, I've been trying to visualize my own rooms differently. Deep down, there is a part of me that doesn't want to acknowledge that my lifestyle might change in retirement.
That's the part of downsizing that is a drag: The acceptance that life has or will have to change. Let's look at different ideas for downsizing the dining room that feel good.
One is to take that dining space and make it into a more charming space. Time was when the classic 1950s ranch had a small dining room open to the living room. It worked for generations. You might apply wall paper or a large mirror to the section of the room that hosts the table.
Look for a table that is the perfect size for your space. Obviously, if you get an extension table, you can serve a few more guests. I have a too-large, 54-inch diameter table at the end of our living/dining great space. However, I had it made from wonderful wormy Chestnut boards that came from an old barn in Pennsylvania, and I won't give it up!
If your table is special, like mine is to me, you will be delighted to serve those six or eight people. Dinner parties of more than six are tough to put together anyway. Remind yourself, as I did today, the most critical aspect of breaking bread together is to keep things joyful and celebratory. Relaxed guests are happy guests.
If the example in this photo were your available dining space, you could easily add in a few sophisticated folding chairs and you'd have a table setting for six.
Maybe it is better to focus on fun place settings, colorful dinner napkins and tablecloths. There are dozens of creative ways to make your table festive and fresh each time you entertain.
I have used unique table runners made of ethnic weavings or folded pieces of interesting fabric. If you don't sew, use fabric glue to finish the edges neatly.
You can buy a host of place mats and napkins at stores such as Big Lots, Tuesday Morning, T.J. Maxx, Ross and HomeGoods. You might visit thrift shops for gently used items that will help to create special themes.
Yesterday I found eight tangerine woven vinyl place mats for my outdoor dining table, and today I bought a $3 scarf that is a blend of lime green, orange and yellow to serve as a table runner. Along with my lime green and hot pink Margarita glasses, I'm ready for a Mexican fiesta this spring.
• Christine Brun is a San Diego-based interior designer and the author of “Small Space Living.” Send questions and comments to her by email at christinebrun@sbcglobal.net.
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