Angie Hicks
Ask Angi
A formal dining room is not a requirement for homeowners nowadays, so you may be wondering how you can use your formal dining room for something other than dining.
Here are seven ways that you can convert your dining room to make it more functional for your home.
Playroom
If you have kids and don’t use your formal dining space, consider transforming the room into a playroom. By filling the room with a fun carpet, bookshelves, and toys, it’s an easy and quick way to switch up the room. This helps give you some quiet time and concentrate the inevitable messes into one place.Office
Another easy transition for your dining room is to turn it into an office. A bonus is that you can use unused stools and chairs from your dining set to help furnish the office. Depending on the size of the space, you can customize your room with cabinets, a printer, lamps, and so forth.Hobby Room
If you’re an aspiring artist, another great option for a dining room transformation is a hobby or craft room. If you play music, you could add a piano or hang guitars on the wall. If you like to paint you can set up an easel and use the walls to hang your newly created artwork. When you assemble a dedicated hobby room, you can install shelves and storage for specific purposes, whether it’s an easel, pottery wheel, or pens and paper.Game Room
A game room is a great use of the formal dining room space and adds some fun and whimsy to your home. Billiards, pool tables, arcade games, darts, and tables for board games can create a nice space that the whole family can enjoy together.Reading Room
If books are overflowing around your home, you can turn your dining room into a reading room. You can line the walls with your books, add in some comfy seating, and you’ve totally transformed the space into both an ideal storage area for books and a serene oasis to get away from it all with some light reading.Home Gym
Whether you’re training for that local half-marathon or just want to improve your workouts, an empty dining room can be a great space for a home gym. Consider hiring a personal trainer to help you decide what’s best for you and your space. Even a single session with a personal trainer can help guide you toward the equipment that will help you reach your goals.Indoor Garden
In recent years, indoor greenhouses have become more popular. They help freshen up your home’s interior and can kick off a whole new hobby. Plus, plants can even improve your air quality. Make sure to read up on the sunlight needed by your plants, and arrange your space accordingly.Copyright 2025 Ask Angi. Visit at angi.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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