Team KBB

How to design the perfect dining area for your kitchen

Posted on 4th January 2025

Do you want your kitchen to function like a well-oiled machine? Efficient zoning is crucial when looking to achieve a practical space.

The cooking and wet zones should be closely linked, with the island acting as a bridge or additional workspace, while the entertaining and dining areas often sitting adjacent to the main kitchen to foster conversation and convenience.

Open-plan kitchen-diner with green cabinets and gold handles. — If you love entertaining, place your dining table next to the island to allow the conversation to flow. Handmade Shaker kitchen by Olive & Barr. From £10,000.

“The aim is to create a harmonious flow that minimises unnecessary movement while fully maximising space and efficiency,” Nathan Kingsbury, creative director at Nathan Kingsbury Design tells KBB journo Charlotte Luxford.

Ready to discover how to design the social hub in your new kitchen?

Split-level island with stone surfaces and wood dining table. — This island is split into a cooking section (see the waterfall quartz) and a dining area (see the oak bench top). Westlock Kitchen in Portman Oak, from £75,000 without appliances, Humphrey Munson. Photography: Paul Craig.

The dining and entertaining zone

This area doesn’t need to be as practical as the functional cooking space when it comes to material choices, so it’s a great opportunity to set it apart and create a cosier and intimate environment that’s perfect for socialising and relaxing.

Zoning the space with a large rug or warm timber flooring, adding wallpaper or panelling, layered mood lighting, upholstery and soft furnishings will help to create a welcoming atmosphere.

Open-plan kitchen with ambient lighting and comfortable rug. — Zone your open-plan kitchen diner with the help of stylish rugs and runners. Cascada, Wintry Forest Oak Extra Matt hardwood floor, from £70.99 per sq m, Quick-Step.

Smallbone bespoke kitchen, Icarus and Modernist collections, with cabinetry from the Iconic collection.

“When designing an area for entertaining, consider the shape and size of the space and where the main dining table will be, before making any decisions,” says Alex Main, director of The Main Company.

“If your kitchen is smaller, the entertaining zone will also likely be the dining area, so ensure it’s within easy reach of the kitchen so conversation easily carries over. In larger kitchens, you’ll have more choice of entertainment layouts – from banquette seating around a dining table to a specific bar area with cosy armchairs or sofa.”

Multi-functional island with banquette seating and table. — Here, the kitchen is centred around a generous L-shaped island with built-in bench that creates a striking dining area. This design not only draws the eye and creates a focal point, but it allows the cook to socialise with family and guests without them being underfoot in the main cooking zone. New Deco kitchen, hand-painted in Grey Moonstone with Mist Quartz worktops. Martin Moore kitchens start from £55,000.

Functionality

In terms of functionality, features like a home bar, complete with wine fridge, separate sink and cocktail station add a bit of pizazz o your kitchen-diner and allow guests to help themselves.

A convenient breakfast cupboard stocked with tea and coffee facilities and morning staples at the end of a kitchen run near the dining table saves on leg work and keeps most of the family out of the kitchen on busy mornings.

Drinks dresser with drinks and liquor bottles. — If you like to host, move your bar area or coffee station away from the main kitchen run so as to not interrupt the chef. Here, you can see a bespoke pantry by Paul Alexander Kitchens, offering plenty of storage as well as letting the homeowners’ personalities coming through.

Wood cabinetry in a bright and modern kitchen. — Place a breakfast cupboard or larder at the end of a kitchen run, near the dining table or island, to take the practicality factor of your space to the next level. Himalaya Crystal by Neolith, price on application.

A nearby dresser or sideboard stocked with cutlery, crockery and glassware can be a handy addition, as well as providing an extra surface for easy meal service.

Lastly, choose a dining table that fits the space and accommodates your usual number of diners – nothing too cramped or too vast. Ideally a connection to the outside should be considered when designing the dining and entertaining areas, allowing guests to drift freely between spaces, as well as providing the ability to open up the space on warmer days to create that alfresco feel.