Agent Laura Stankorb of Cincinnati, OH, asks in Zillow Advice:
Does losing a formal dining room for a WOW kitchen affect resale?
Good question (as I am contemplating the same decision), and there’s a good return of interesting answers. What do you think? Is a house without a formal dining room a no-no?
No one really uses formal dining rooms anymore. A Wow Kitchen is so much more functional. I say go for it.
I don’t even know what is formal dining room. Only available in the US? 
Formal dining rooms don’t matter much, unless the architectural style of the house (Say a Boston or New York Townhouse) suggests them. Even then, there are other options, especially when a larger house is being converted to apartments. On the whole, wide open views within a home suggest more space and such floorplans are more useable today. I recently removed the formal dining room from my apartment in Florida and combined the kitchen, new dining area and the living area and the effect is amazing. Also, the apartment holds more guests and is easier to entertain in.
I think it’s a matter of individual choice, and people mostly prefer modern interior solutions nowadays, therefore the absence of a formal dining room surely isn’t a problem. So my answer to the question is – yes, it might affect resale, and most probably in a positive way.
I think it is up to the buyer! I have a pool table in my formal dining room! I would much rather have an oversized breakfast area.
From what we have seen on our listings that were missing a formal dining, all that mattered was that there was an area that you could at least have a full size table in. People enjoy more the modern layout of having the kitchen opened to a den/hang out area. So at least create enough room to get a table setup, because if you don’t it does limit the amount of interest buyers in the future for the home.
Everyone has their own opinion and when all is said and done, it is the buyer’s choice. However, what I have noticed is as long as there is one open area for a table most people can do without a formal dining room. Others that do have formal dining rooms sometimes don’t even use them for dining. A pool table or arcade games replace the formal table and room. Again, at the end of the day it’s the buyer’s choice.
Hmm formal dining room is awesome. Its really really good nice ambiance, not really heavy to look somewhere you know what I mean.
I think so a formal dining room looks so nice and attractive though we may not use it that often but it adds beauty to the place.
that really depends upon the family who gonna stay.
Formal dining room is essential if you or your family are the type who loves to cook and often have guests over. It gives a better atmosphere and adds to the delight when having a fine meal.
On the contrary not having a fine dining room does free up plenty of space for other furnitures which makes the space more roomier which some people prefer.
It won’t be a problem for me, personally. But that’s just me.
In my experience, the larger homes usually have more formal amenities basically just due to the size of the property. Buyers who are looking for larger homes are going to want the formal dining and living space.
For those who are in the market for smaller homes, usually a formal dining area is not that important. Sometimes they don’t even have the furniture to fill it and it would just be wasted space. These buyers typically want more space in the areas they spend most of their time in.
I definitely want a formal dining room in my next house but its impossible to find them anymore. I don’t want everyone sitting my kitchen when we are eating the turkey. I feel like sitting at the kids table.
Interesting thoughts and comments – personally, in the ever-increasing, miniature-sized condo market in downtown Toronto, there is hardly a living room, never mind a dining room! The modern 2-bed 2-bath condos are between 800-900sq.ft. so they usually have just one big room with a kitchen against one wall, making the room function as the kitchen/dining/living/eating/relaxing area. Lots of people are doing it, though it’s not ideal. It’s just becoming the new standard.
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