Ditching the Dining Room: Trendy or a Total Mistake?

When it comes to home design, trends come and go faster than you can say “shiplap.” Every year, articles flood the internet with predictions from design experts and real estate professionals about what’s in and what’s out. One year, it’s all about farmhouse chic; the next, mid-century modern reigns supreme.

Let’s be real, though. Most people don’t pay much attention to any subtle shifts in decor. Who has the time or budget to spend on it year after year?!

But among all the shifting fads 2025 is predicted to bring about, a larger question has surfaced…

Is the dining room—an entire category of space—on the verge of extinction?

While jumping on the bandwagon of most home trends isn’t a big deal, hearing that the formal dining room is on its way out could have a major impact on your decision-making process if you’re a homeowner contemplating renovations or a prospective buyer weighing options in the coming year.

So, should you ditch your dining room? Maybe. Maybe not. The choice is yours, but it’s always better to make it with all the facts on the table—whether that table sits in a dining room or not.

What the Numbers Say (Or Don’t Say) About Dining Rooms

A recent article from the New York Post posed that very question, and while the article didn’t settle the debate one way or the other, they did suggest that they’re on the way out according to real estate experts:

“Realtor.com® analysts noted that only 25% of properties listed in the U.S. have a dining room. However, this number may not actually reflect the true number of houses with dining rooms— only that realtors aren’t highlighting them in the listing.”

There are a number of factors that would impact that percentage, but any real estate agent will tell you dining rooms are alive and well in more than one in four homes on the market. However, calling them a hot commodity might be a stretch.

The way people use their homes has evolved—a shift accelerated by the pandemic. Suddenly, dining rooms became home offices, classrooms, or workout spaces. For some, they’ve never gone back to their original purpose.

Yet, dining rooms aren’t universally unwanted. Just take a quick glance at the online comment section of that article in the Post and you’ll see that people are clearly divided. Some love dining rooms, some don’t, and others just want the option to customize the space. Many buyers still love the idea of a dedicated space for family meals or hosting holiday dinners, while others prefer an open floor plan where dining, living, and kitchen areas blend seamlessly.

Welcome to the world of real estate—where no single design choice pleases everyone.

Technically It’s Something You Can Change…

Real estate agents often advise buyers not to fixate on cosmetic elements that are easily changed about a house, like paint color, light fixtures, kitchen cabinets, or even the layout of a house if it can be renovated to their liking.

So, technically speaking, it’s a changeable feature, but remodeling to add or remove a dining room can be a major undertaking.

Why? Because dining rooms are often tied to the structural layout of a home. Removing one might mean tearing down walls, potentially load-bearing ones, and reworking the flow of adjoining spaces, and probably will entail renovating each of those rooms as well. Adding one could involve a similarly hefty renovation. Neither option is cheap or simple.

So, if you’re considering a renovation, the question isn’t just can you do it, but should you? Will the investment pay off when you sell? Or will it alienate buyers who might have preferred the space’s original use? Real estate is a delicate balancing act, and understanding your market is crucial.

The Risk of Going Rogue With Renovations

One of the biggest mistakes many homeowners make is diving into major renovations without consulting a local real estate agent. Agents have a finger on the pulse of buyer preferences in your area and can provide valuable insights. It’s common for sellers to find that they spent tens of thousands of dollars on a project that didn’t produce a positive return on their investment—or worse, makes their home more difficult to sell.

For example, if most buyers in your market value traditional dining rooms, converting yours into an open concept kitchen / family room area might not go over well. On the flip side, if dining rooms are considered outdated in your area, adding one might not add as much value as you’d hope. The key is to align your renovation plans with what buyers are looking for in your price range and neighborhood.

If you’re planning to stay in your home for years to come, the decision isn’t as critical. Renovate in a way that suits your lifestyle and makes your home more enjoyable for your family. After all, you should enjoy where you live!

However, if there’s a chance you’ll sell in the near future, your choices might need to reflect broader market trends. This is where your agent’s expertise becomes invaluable. They can help you gauge whether buyers in your area prioritize dining rooms or if other features take precedence.

Before choosing to do major renovation, especially if you are altering the way the space is used, it never hurts to speak with your local agent—they can help you make a more informed decision than an article about the latest trends.

The Takeaway:

Are dining rooms becoming a thing of the past? For some, they’re still very much a room they want and expect in a home. For others, they’re a useless room they’d rather convert into something else. As with most real estate questions, the answer isn’t one-size-fits-all.

Before making any major changes to your home—especially those that alter how a space is used—consult a local real estate expert. They can provide the perspective you need to make informed decisions based upon your local area. Understanding what buyers value in your market can save you time, money, and headaches down the road.