Page 159 - South Mississippi Living - May, 2021

avors, and we are going back to the basics in the kitchen.
Sales of healthier, fresher foods have gone up dramatically and families have gotten back into the pattern of sharing meals. And we are more than ready to reconnect to extended family. So maybe it is time to revive the dining room!
If you still have a dedicated dining room, you have probably appreciated it more over the past year than ever before. It provided the extra space your family needed while everyone was home. More of us needed o ce space, classroom space, and just get away from one another space. We have a whole new understanding of the need for private and public spaces in our homes. The dining room has become a multiple purpose space that o ered some privacy. If your dining area is part of a larger space, it is probably used for multiple purposes throughout the day. Today’s dining spaces are all about versatility.
Many young people think of a dining room as a room with lots of brown furniture. They aren’t interested in inheriting family pieces. They want spaces that establish their own design style, and the dining room is the perfect spot to do that. So, whether you are starting from scratch or just doing a facelift, give your dining spaces energy and purpose.
Take a new look at your furnishings. Does your table give you the surface space you need? Are the chairs comfortable
for eating a meal and having
a conversation? If you have a
small space, you might opt for a round table or two. Get rid of sharp corners and add comfortable chairs that will do double duty for work or relaxation. If you need to seat more people, a rectangular table or two square tables might o er more options for dining and working. Banquette seating along one wall allows you to seat more people and introduce color and texture into your space. Swap out a mirror for art and update the light xture. Keep it light and airy. Let your décor create a space that inspires conversation and celebration.
Everyone is ready to eat out and see family and friends around a meal we do not have to cook. But family mealtime at home is still the best way to stay in touch with those we love. Push back from the kitchen counter, get away from the television, and shut out the noise of everyday life by sitting down with your family over a home cooked meal. Keep it a priority as life slowly returns to normal. Look at one another, share something that made
your day special and what you hope tomorrow will bring. The pandemic has taken so much from so many, dining together can be a time to re ect on how lucky we are to be surrounded by the kinfolk we often take for granted.
Holly Harrison has been a licensed interior designer for over 35 years. Shannon Stage has spent nearly 20 years in the giftware industry. Together they own Sassy Bird Interiors in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
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