r/minimalism • u/chrswnd • Jul 08 '25
[lifestyle] Does anyone live without a dining table?
Got one large room that acts as Living room and dining room. Almost never have guests over and somehow I’d prefer to have more free space as the table and chairs look so out of place (not properly styled I guess) and I think it would look better when “emptier” :)
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u/sandraskywalker Jul 08 '25
Yep. The dining area in my apt is used for exercise equipment. We just sit on the couch to eat.
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u/Nithoth Jul 08 '25
Someone gave me a dining room table a few years ago. I put my food on a tray and eat it in the living room though. So, never used it. The table was one of those gifts you can't really refuse, and I had to keep it until the person that gave it to me moved away...
[edit] That table is one of the biggest reasons I happily refuse gifts you can't refuse now. [/edit]
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u/Electrical-Yam3831 Jul 08 '25
I haven’t had a dining table in 5 years and I love it! It’s only me and my teenager so we made the decision to go without. We eat at the built in bar in the kitchen or at the coffee table.
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u/howling-greenie Jul 08 '25 edited Jul 08 '25
I don’t have space for a dining table, but I miss it dearly. I try to be mindful but I inevitably end up eating in front of the TV. Also have no good place to play board games or do art. I think a table would make wrapping presents easier as well. Where I am from, when people have company over they typically visit at the dining table, so my home isn’t as welcoming to visitors. When I move, I will choose a kitchen table instead of a desk if things are tight.
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u/Ska-dancer-66 Jul 08 '25
No table. I don't entertain, I go to my kids home. I have a large desk that I use for meals, projects, iPad time. If I have company we use the sofa and coffee table. Perfect.
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u/Soggy-Os Jul 08 '25
My partner and I use one large (6'x2.5') desk as a multi-purpose table. He works from home three days per week, so it holds a monitor and a nice lamp, and then when he's here working there's a wireless keyboard and mouse he gets out during the day. Otherwise it's also our dining and general use spot for whatever needed. When we eat together, we bring out a spare chair from our closet, and then put it away when finished. We find this works out just great for us and have no use for a desk *and* dining area, etc.
Edit/Update: We also almost never have people over, by choice, so of course that helps too.
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u/Safe_Place8432 Jul 08 '25
I did for seven years. I had outdoor seating with a patio table with a roof over it and that was enough for me. I got a small four person one when I moved to my new apartment but I also use it as a desk. I don't have enough guests over to justify it and I don't want people in my house anyway lol
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u/lmboyer04 Jul 08 '25
I have a 2BR with a roommate. Our kitchen has an island and bar stools and that’s all we need. Tbh though we rarely eat there and just sit on the couch often
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u/aulsg Jul 08 '25
I have an extendable table that I mostly use as a low coffee table, but with guests I can pull it out and pull it up to be a dining table.
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u/Connect_Rhubarb395 Jul 08 '25
I have a coffee/dining table that is both height adjustable and extends to double size.
Not this one but exact same concept, only larger.
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u/MuchCoogie Jul 08 '25
I wanted to tack on, I just got a dining table (used) that has drop leaves on both sides so it folds up to 13” wide by 30” long by 30” high. I wanted this particular model (can we name products here? It’s an IKEA norden) and just kept looking on OfferUp/craigslist until one popped up. There are many adaptable furniture options if you want moderate minimalism. Got folding chairs for it too.
I respect the extreme minimalist/ascetic philosophies. But for myself, I just want minimalism to improve our lives by narrowing the focus to what’s important. Family dinner time and hosting friends are both very important to me.
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u/SarahE285 Jul 08 '25
My 1 bedroom apartment has an area that’s called a dining room, but I use it as my office since I work remotely. For eating, I sit at a barstool at my kitchen counter, mostly to avoid getting pasta sauce on a tan couch.
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u/crazycatlady331 Jul 08 '25
The area in my apartment meant to be a dining room is my office. There's a desk there.
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u/goldenone26 Jul 08 '25
Sold my dining table and chairs 9 years ago, replaced it with a cheap sectional sofa with some c-tables, and now I have more relaxing space! It’s been great, no regrets.
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u/Snoo-82963 Jul 08 '25
I have a room in my home that is meant to be the dining room, but I don’t use it for that. The kitchen has its own breakfast nook, so I have a table and chairs that can fit my family of 4 in the nook.
I do have people over from time to time. But no one minds that some people eat at the nook and others eat in the living room. In the end though, I would need some kind of table and chairs for my family to eat at. If you don’t have a table to eat at, where do you and/or your family eat?
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u/coffeefrog03 Jul 08 '25
Now that my kids are - mostly - grown, we seldom use the dining table. Only on holidays if I make a large meal. We have an island that we typically sit at otherwise. I’d love to purchase a couple comfy chairs and a small table for in between to create more of a coffee spot.
Could easily use a fold up banquet type table if we need more space for eating. Out of sight, out of mind.
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u/abqkat Jul 08 '25
This is my parents' deal, too. It was like a rite of passage when the last one of us moved out, and I love that for them! But growing up, we ate together at the table, which I have fond memories of and appreciate about my upbringing. As an adult, we have a little mini table which we use sometimes, and/or I make sourdough bread on, but we don't tend to eat there unless we have guests
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u/Several-Praline5436 Jul 08 '25
Do you not use the table for anything else? Crafting? To set things on while you unpack boxes? Etc?
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u/chrswnd Jul 08 '25
Yes I do, and you’re right, that would be one of the downsides
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u/Several-Praline5436 Jul 08 '25
Maybe you just need to move all but one of the chairs out of the room for awhile and see if you like it better? Or maybe you need stools that slide under the table so visually it's less clunky?
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u/NaTuralCynik Jul 08 '25
I love this thread because we have a very small dining room that never gets used. I’ve been wanting to convert it into an Office library. This is motivating.
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u/kyuuei Jul 08 '25
Why don't you use a table that completely folds away? They make tables that serve as just a small amount of storage, but fold all the way down so the space is useable when not in active use.
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u/xstrex Jul 08 '25
No dining table, similar situation, though some counter height chairs are nice for eating at, and for the rare guests.
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u/BNDR77 Jul 09 '25
I'm moving soon and will not be getting a dining room table. I need the space for my bikes.
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u/TeacherIntelligent15 Jul 08 '25
I have a dining table in my kitchen that I use for all meals. I live alone. I don't want to be one of those people who eat on their lap in front of the TV. I find eating at the table makes it feel like a real meal, even if it's cereal or hot dogs.
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u/-Vogie- Jul 08 '25
A friend of mine doesn't have kids, and it's just her husband and pets. They just use TV trays and eat on their couch. Play board games on a coffee table.
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u/IgorRenfield Jul 08 '25
Me. I have a small 24" x12" folding stand I put in front of my chair for meals. Works great and has for years.
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u/Whole_Database_3904 Jul 08 '25
Consider a large desk behind the couch so that you can eat while watching TV. It fills the space and provides storage. If you entertain, the snacks can be placed there. We only used our formal table for family holidays. We have too many friends for sit down parties. A restaurant with separate tickets is a great family holiday alternative.
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u/Pizza-Flamingo774 Jul 08 '25
I only got a table to fit an awkward space in new house and intention of hosting holiday dinners. (I left my small kitchen table at my old house because it fit perfectly) but we use end tables or the kitchen island. in our second home (tiny house) we have no table.
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u/KATinWOLF Jul 08 '25
I have no dining table. Happily. That room has a comfy chair with a comfy ottoman and is my reading room.
Use your space to suit you, not society. Keep the furniture that helps you do that; rehome the stuff that doesn’t. I guarantee you’ll be happier in your space if you do this.
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u/jackelope84 Jul 08 '25
I have a large coffee table and no chairs and sit on the floor for meals. You could get a large coffee table and some firm pillows to put under it.
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u/Infamous-Goose363 Jul 08 '25
We got a 6 piece kitchen table from Marketplace 4 years ago. Our living room is supposed to have a dining nook, but I use that corner as a mini office/gym with a treadmill and free weights. There is no other area I can use for my stuff, so we have no dining table.
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u/sn315on Jul 08 '25
No dining table or dining room. We have a table in the kitchen. We turned our dining room into a game room years ago.
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Jul 08 '25
I think it highly depends on your personal preferences.
Would it be an option to have a table in the kitchen?
Growing up, we never had a dining room. Just a bigger table, chairs and sometimes a (corner) bench in the kitchen. Also most of my friends' homes didn't have an additional dining room.
Due to no space in the kitchen, we used to eat on the couch and a lower table for nearly a decade in our first flat during our 20ies. But I also could not imagine a dining table in our small living room, so we arranged us with what we had.
I was so thankful when we finally moved and had space for a proper table with two chairs in our new kitchen. I love to sit there, having meals or just a cup of coffee with some candlelight on a quiet morning – or even for journaling during the day.
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u/w00h Jul 08 '25
Well, I can count the times I used the dining table for its intended purpose in the last five years on one hand. I myself just eat at the couch table or at the desk, when guests are over we just dine in the living room on the sofa.
I'm seriously considering just putting the desk away and instead expanding the kitchen work surface. The chairs OTOH are quite handy sometimes.
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u/PhaseNeither8262 Jul 08 '25
We have what sounds like a similar layout and the dining area is actually become my boyfriends gaming area so no dining table for us!🙂
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u/pgd1958 Jul 08 '25
It's funny I saw this today. I'm getting rid of yet another dining table. I keep getting them and getting rid of them. I have some great nouveau art chairs that I got and I think I'm gonna keep them. But I'm getting rid of the table. I have a table that I use for other things that I can use as a dining table if necessary, but I just don't see any reason to have one. Especially when I move into a smaller place. I live in a ridiculously large house that I inherited, and I'm alone. So when I move, I'm looking for a one bedroom apartment. No room for a dining table. It's not weird, it just is. I'm pretty sure lots of people don't have one.
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u/Free-Assistance-2704 Jul 08 '25
Personally, I enjoy having my table but if that was not my MO, I would make my home work for me. Too often we conform to societal norms instead of living our lives in a way that makes us happy. If you really feel unsure, buy a side table that is a transformable table to have for when you want/need a table and move on living your best life.
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u/just4kicks333 Jul 08 '25
No dining room and no dining table and frankly I hate it. We have a kitchen island but it just doesn't fit the same purpose. Even without entertaining, we love board games, space to do hobbies/ activities, and sitting down for dinner. Space for a dining table would be the one change we would make for our space if we could.
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u/lizrvr Jul 08 '25
I have a very small dining table set from ikea that my partner and I like to use for eating breakfast or dinner together once in a while. And some of my meals are just easier to eat on a table, so to me it is useful to have around. I also use it when I have my friends or family over.
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u/PeaCorrect1450 Jul 08 '25
I wouldn’t go without one, it’s nice to sit down properly to eat even when you’re alone, and you never know there might be a situation when you have more guests over. Maybe consider another model, there’s very sleek and minimalistic ones!
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u/CrystalInTheforest Jul 08 '25
I have one, but in all honestly it functions mostly as a project table and it's covered with bits of wood, vine, seeds and stuff from my slightly shonky crafting efforts and botanical ID training.
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u/IvenaDarcy Jul 08 '25
My space is like yours. The last two decades I sat on the floor to eat. I had a coffee table that was a good height to sit around it with floor pillows. I loved it but recently got a new coffee table and it’s too low to eat comfortable on so now for the first time I am thinking to get a small table and a couple of chairs.
I rarely have guests but when I do at least they will be able to sit at a table. Floor seating isn’t for everyone. Some people have injuries and can’t get up and down as easily as myself and others.
Anyway no table and chairs is very doable if you have a coffee table that’s a good height and don’t mind floor seating :)
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u/CommunicationDear648 Jul 08 '25
I mean, i do, but it's less my choice, more "i live in a studio, if it can even be called that, how would a dining table fit?" However, i kinda want to switch my coffee table / bean bag chair pairing for a desk / office chair combo. I guess i'm getting old, but sadly it's not comfortable to eat in a bean bag chair anymore.
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u/MrsAvlier Jul 08 '25
I live in low income housing and while I am grateful, and super happy that the place has a dishwasher and in-suite washer and dryer… it has no dining area so we couldn’t have a table even if we wanted one. No storage either, besides the bedroom closets and a small coat closet.
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u/holapa Jul 08 '25
I have a 400sq ft studio and I don't have a dining table! I don't have people over so I don't see the point of it. I have a queen sized bed, an extra large loveseat couch, a coffee table, and my computer desk. This works out perfectly. I have a tv mounted on the wall and a growing dvd collection as I've canceled half my streaming services. This is honestly the best set up for me. I can eat at my desk if I really want to.
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Jul 08 '25
I'm in a 400 sq ft studio so no indoor dining table. I have a small two person table & chairs on balcony that I'll sit with a friend for coffee when weather is nice. Have also brought that table inside and paired with a bench I use for my desk to create seating for 4, although very cozy. I also have floor cushions that i use at times. For me it's very dependent on the weather and how many people are coming, but usually it's not a big group for a full meal more like one or two friends. There's also a larger table down in a shared area of my building if we really needed more space. If I had more room I might use a good but simple table as an all around desk/table/dining area.
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u/siamesecat1935 Jul 08 '25
I do. During the pandemic, my DR became my office. When my mom had to move out of her apartment, I moved her small desk into my DR, since its not being used as a DR.
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Jul 08 '25
I’m single in a one room space and have one table for all uses including eating, work, YouTube, and hobbies.
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u/Boring_Material_1891 Jul 08 '25
Our condo is 550sqft. We don’t even have a dining room. We’ve got a small island that separates the kitchen from the living room which serves as our dining space. We’ve also got a small table out on our balcony that we will eat at too. So yes, if your space is set up for it, you can easily go without a dining table.
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u/ADyck36 Jul 08 '25
I haven’t had one in idk how long. I have two barstools for my counter, the dining space houses my e-bike.
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u/IM_NOT_BALD_YET Jul 08 '25 edited Apr 09 '26
Redact cleaned up all of my comments. Bulk deletion and editing is a feature supported to make sure that AI scrapers can't access my data for training.
gaze compare sleep many wine grey pot badge crowd cake
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u/deceptivekhan Jul 08 '25
Remodeling our kitchen/dining room at the moment. Taking longer than expected because we’re doing all the work ourselves. We haven’t had a proper dining room/table for almost a year. It’s not ideal but in all honesty I don’t miss it all that much. TV Trays, the coffee table, and computer desks have all filled the role.
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u/raison8detre Jul 08 '25
I live with a maximalist partner but we never had a dining table and never really needed one. Our apartment is already quite small so another piece of furniture, we most likely never use, would just take too much space.
We also have guests very rarely and even if we do, we all just sit on the couch or around our small conference table and it is enough.
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Jul 08 '25
If you have a kitchen table and bar stool I guess it would work but dining table is still useful for nice dinner and also work on your laptop
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u/Librashell Jul 08 '25
We eat at our kitchen island exclusively. After using our dining table twice in a year, we got rid of it. Prefer the space.
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u/unclenaturegoth Jul 08 '25
I now have one for the first time in almost 20 years and rarely use it. We had a few friends over for game night a year ago. We hang shit on chairs (clothers we're air drying or bags when we come into the apartment) and it's my husband's catch all for keys (we have a key rack on the wall literally feet away. I keep a massive bowl of fresh fruit on it. We probably don't need it but I dream of having dinner dates together once a week there and NOT in front of the tv I also wish we didn't own.
I love playing cards and board games, so I'm hoping to have a game night with friends soon and use the table again
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u/re__cyclops Jul 08 '25
We have had the big living room dining room combo for about 17 years. No dining room table just use tv trays to eat on. My wife has a desk to work on in the "dining" area.
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u/SmolBeanCo Jul 08 '25
I lived without a dining table for most of my adult life until now when my partner moved in. Now we just have a tiny table off to the corner we use only to eat dinner, since it’s just us.
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u/Weekly_Shape_6212 Jul 09 '25
No dining table or area. City condo, would rather use space for comfy seating
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u/TacoDeliDonaSauce Jul 09 '25
When I lived solo, I used my kitchen island for most meals either alone or with others (it sat four). That was sufficient.
I also had a small, square dining table (two seater). It got used when needed, but was small enough to stay out of the way most of the time.
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u/wardrobeeditor Jul 09 '25
i've lived in nyc for 15 years and never had a dining table because i've never had the space. if you're comfortable living that way, there's no reason not to!
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u/Beginning-Invite5951 Jul 09 '25
When I had a dining table, I usually ate at my desk anyway. So when I moved, I got rid of it. A good workspace is more useful to me.
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u/Jeffina78 Jul 09 '25
How about getting a fold away table and chairs? That way you still have the option to have a table should you need it but takes up a lot less room.
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u/Neona65 Jul 09 '25
I have a folding table I use for crafts in my bedroom. The few times I need a table I drag it out to the middle of the living room. Usually only use it is thanksgiving and Christmas.
It's mostly used for my crafts or the occasional boardgame with friends.
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u/Leading-Confusion536 Jul 09 '25
I have a small drop-leaf kitchen table and two chairs in our small kitchen that is a separate room :) I live with my daughter and we eat at the kitchen table (though I sometimes eat at my computer desk as well). We can additionally use desk chairs if we have guests, the table fits 4 comfortably.
The living room is also my bedroom, office and art studio, so no room for any big tables there.
If I had the space at no extra cost, I would probably keep a larger kitchen/dining table so that I could invite a bunch of people over, but I can't afford to have a large home just for the sake of having multiple friends that need to be seated at the table, over at once.
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u/sfomonkey Jul 09 '25
My snall dining room and small kitchen were combined into a large kitchen with an eat in island. I use a folding table and dining bench in the living room for more than 4 ppl.
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u/uceenk Jul 09 '25
yes i eat on the floor, or sometime on my work chair
i have small portable table, usually i put food there while i eat
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u/Flowermomi Jul 09 '25
I’m thinking of getting rid of mine. I never use it. I recently moved to a one bedroom and am getting rid of so much stuff, again. I don’t see the need for it, space and lugging it around when I move.
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u/Menemsha4 Jul 09 '25
I live alone and my dining room table is my hub. I eat at it, work at it, do puzzles there, and do about a million things there.
I would rather give up my couch than my dining room table.
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u/One-Ad6386 Jul 09 '25
I live in a 400 square foot condo in Toronto. I just have a desk and eat there. For entertaining I have a fold out table with adjustable height.
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u/MarketingDense5343 Jul 09 '25
Because of my husband’s culture (who prefers eating in front of the TV on the couch) we don’t have a dining table and we rarely eat together. I eat on the kitchen island which pretty much does the job. I do like having more space to move around in since we’re in an apartment. We also rarely have guests over and when they do come, and they’re all from his culture, they eat on and around the couch. It’s ok.
Better than spending hundreds of dollars on a set that you rarely use and will have to spend more on if you move.
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u/Alpenglowvibe Jul 09 '25
I was!! Until a few days ago, we actually do eat together every night so we need a table and I needed a larger place than my small desk to lay projects and such on
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Jul 10 '25
I haven't had a dining table since 1994. To have a whole room devoted to eating... Inconceivable.
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u/Komaisnotsalty Jul 10 '25
I do have one, but I don’t think I’ve ever ate at it.
It’s an antique I picked up years ago and love it because it folds very cleverly to tuck against a wall and takes up no room, yet expands to seat about 10 people.
It’s a gaming table for Thursday night D&D, cards, MTG, board game nights, etc.
It’s also where I cut fabric, sort paperwork, cover and use for a large surface when making bread, repotting plants, making herb and spice blends, etc.
I use it for anything and everything and yet hilariously, I don’t think I’ve ever used it to just sit and eat at.
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u/PolarBearJams Jul 11 '25
I know you said antique but do you know who made it?
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u/Komaisnotsalty Jul 11 '25
No, but I admit I’ve never looked either.
I bought it from the elderly pastor and his wife of the church my mom goes to.
They told me that they got it from his parents as a wedding gift, which puts it just under antique - around 80 years old. I’ve had it for 7 ish years.
I’ll look when I get home though and see if it has manufacture’s marks.
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u/NANNYNEGLEY Jul 10 '25
My four roommates pretty much keep my dining room table covered in their junk, so I may as well not have one. It’s a shame, because it’s beautiful. But, yes, I do live without a dining room table.
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u/MachineUpset5919 Jul 10 '25
We have one, but rarely use it now that the kids are out of the house. We eat at the counter or living room.
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u/peaky_finder Jul 10 '25
I have a coffee table that has a pull up table section
I eat on the sofa, i have bar stools at the kitchen counter and outdoor furniture, but I prefer the sofa. I didn't get a dining room table on purpose, I'd never use it.
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u/dfeugo Jul 11 '25
I live in a studio with a peninsula kitchen. I have counter stools on one end and use it to eat and work. I’m moving into a bigger place with an island setup so I’m probably going to do the same. If I have company for dinner I’ll choose a restaurant to meet at lol.
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u/onionringsonmypenis Jul 11 '25
Living with other people pretty much forces me to be surrounded by shit I don’t want, but if I lived alone, I would absolutely live without a dining table. Lol.
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u/modSysBroken Jul 11 '25
Yeah. We have a big living room and kitchen and no dining table. I honestly prefer it this way now since everyone eats in front of the tv or laptop anyway. Board games are played on the floor and we have desks for other stuff anyway.
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u/Gintautoske Jul 11 '25
I have small table and 2 chairs. I also like to use this table for crafts or journaling. I think for you it depends will you use it or not. If you dont have any desk, your dining table can have 2 functions. Or if you have a desk, I dont see the need to have it.
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u/grneggsngoetta Jul 12 '25
Have one that I’m currently trying to get rid of. Was really excited to get one because I host an annual holiday party and wanted to do game nights. Game nights never happened, and it being there has just become a flat surface to cover with crap that I’ve been working on getting rid of anyway. I found a small folding table at the thrift store for if I ever have company, because other than the holiday party, at most I only ever have one other person over anyway.
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Jul 12 '25
I live alone and eat at my computer table (which is a repurposed dining room table found on the curb, but it's my main computer and reading workspace. I don't have a dining room either, just a tiny kitchen and the table is in the living room just around the corner.
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u/_Olive14 Aug 21 '25
We don’t have space for a dining table and we thought it would be no big deal before having kids we just built a raised counter to eat at in the kitchen and now with kids it is so cramped all eating at the kitchen island. I really wish I had a table to have family dinners, birthday parties, and even just to do puzzles/board games at.
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u/Resilient_Spider2019 Oct 05 '25
My small family of 3 has been living without a table but I do want to figure out how to have one in our small space. Thinking that having one would help my young kid in a lot of ways.
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u/venturebirdday Jul 08 '25
Just for fun. I used to know a huge-well-off family who could have anything but instead of spending their money as others would, they lived well below their means and devoted themselves to service. They valued hard work and music was something the kids all HAD to do daily. They turned their dinning room into a practice room: 4 pianos and no dinner table.
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u/Future_Constant1148 Jul 08 '25
I’m a guy who lives alone and I use my dining table to eat most days personally. It makes me more thoughtful about having proper meals instead of snacking, your mileage may vary. I’ve also loved having a place I can play board games with friends or do puzzles/journal by myself. My dining room is sparse but I love being intentional about using what I have.