Planning

Put the focus on function to dine in style

- Sophie Baylis

1 It’s tempting to concentrate on just the look when you’re creating a dining room from scratch. However, if you don’t factor in function, you may find that space doesn’t work for you. ‘Is it a dining area for a couple that often hosts dinner parties? Or is it for a family with kids of different ages? You’ll need to organize the space to meet individual needs,’ says Clotilde Passalacqua, interior design manager at Ikea UK and Ireland.

2 The next step is the furniture. To determine the right table size, think about the number of guests you’re likely to have, then allow a minimum width of 60-75cm – which includes wiggle room – for each diner. ‘Remember to allow space behind to slide chairs out,’ advises Wendy Clark, creative director at Houseology.