Inspiring Idea: Multi-Purpose Dining Room May 5, 2008
I’ve always been intrigued with the idea of making a room functional beyond its obvious intention. For instance, I’ve always loved library/dining rooms. You can use the room to dine and entertain in, but you can also line the walls with library shelves to house books or create a home office. One room, multiple purposes.
Well, here is another clever use of space. I’m sure this is not a cheap table, but check this out. It is a custom made dining table that opens up to reveal a pool table! You can have a family meal, then take the lid off the table and the space becomes a game room. While the table probably costs a pretty penny, imagine the cost of a whole separate pool table room.
If you are trying to make the most out of a small house, consider ways to double a room’s usefulness! We don’t always need MORE room, we just need to be more clever with the space we have!
Country Homes & Interiors Feb 2005 via House to Home
Custom Made Pool Table by Sir William Bentley Billiards
Related Post:
Room Design: Where to Begin
OMG Melissa you are a genius! I am one of these people who has a smaller house and use my rooms for many functions. For instance, I have an open plan living/dining room that gets used as living, dining, home office, and play room. It can be a pain trying to keep it organised and tidy and ultimately I will have an extra family room by christmas. I’d never thought of the pool table idea. That is brilliant. I’ve always dreamed of having a pool table but with the construction of my family room I can’t afford an extra games room. Combining the two just might do the trick! Thank you for the inspiration as always dear friend.
Anna
Pretty cool, but I can’t help but be reminded of the Beverly Hillbillys who used their pool table for a dining table and passed the kettle of possum with the pool cues. lol, sorry, just a twisted little memory from the past:>
I don’t have the fancy pool table….just a cheap sentimental inherited one. However, It gets a plywood top and a table cloth when I need extra table space. It also makes a great cutting table for large sewing projects!
Rosie
great idea,like your others ideas,I have just two rooms,with this clever ideas i can make something out of it
I invite you to my spring new posts.
Hi Melissa - so true! When we have a lot of people over in the winter time, we transform our garage (heated) for the kids to eat in. We’ve even turned our ping pong table into a dining table!
Happy Monday!
That is so true! We live in a teeny house and it is always a challenge to try and find ways to multipurpose spaces. I am always looking for new and clever ways to either stach things or make more out of our space. Great post! Jen R
Hi! I read your interview in all things bright and beautiful, it was really interesting to read and I love your style!
You are so right! So many of our first thoughts is that we need more room. I love this pool table/dining room table! What a great idea. That rocking horse in the background is so sweet looking
I had one when I was a wee one 
Love that dining room! I agree completely! I have a bedroom in my house that I think would make a perfect dining room/library/office. However, all the bedrooms are being taken up by children right now. Very inconvenient for my decorating plans!
Very clever…inspiring photograph!
Fantastic idea. My neighbor is looking to rid herself of her pool table now. I will suggest that she rethink potential uses.
hmmm….. as someone who is considering downsizing to a condo… this just might have some merit for me. Thanks for the idea!
Well now, that’s a great idea!
Pat
Hello Melissa! Such a wonderful idea! Hope you had a really fantastic weekend and managed a little time to relax, even if only for a bit
What a perfect post! So glad I’ve stumbled upon your blog…Cheers to you, Melissa!
I really enjoyed your interview and blog tips over at All Things Bright and Beautiful….I’m new on here and the tips were quite helpful.
Also, love this idea.. I’ve been trying to convince my husband to turn our dining room into a play room so this pic. totally caught my eye
*Trina
What a cool and inventive idea!!!
Mari-Nanci
Smilnsigh
Photos-City-Mine
Loved your interview!
And what a lovely blog hers is. Oh my! Just what I need. Another addition to my huge list of “Pretty Blog Land” blogs. Eeeeek…
Mari-Nanci
Smilnsigh
Photos-City-Mine
always inspired by you my bff!!! missing you too! hope you are doing great and filled with HIS love
today!
GOD BLESS YOU MELISSA!
hugs
shelbi
Yay,
I get to leave a comment again! That makes me so very happy.
Do you realize how much you brighten people’s days? I mean, really, you bring so much sunshine into the lives of so many.
You are a BFF of the heart, and that means so much. We are kindred spirits, but you are the one with the awesome taste!
Hugs,
Deb
I love this idea, we are lucky enough to have a rumpus room which is big enough to fit a pool table (which is in the shed at the moment) but when we entertain we like to have a large table for the food to be placed on, I wonder if my wonderful husband can come up with a way of making a top, must get him to check it out.
Cheers Linda
Just read your interview over at All things Bright and Beautiful! Wonderful!
Sandra Evertson
P.S. Love the cartoon you and pup!
Melissa - this is a great idea! Especially the way we seem to use our formal dining rooms so little these days…it’s a shame to have that much precious square footage get so little use…so these are good solutions. I too, loved your interview at All things Bright and Beautiful! You are just soooo nice!
Loving the practical solution for limited space but not abandoning style! By the way don’t you just love that rustic looking rocking horse.
Melissa:
First let me say, loved your interview with felicity and I am going to grab your idea from there–line up some filler posts! :0)
This table is a great idea! I know they do this a lot in NYC where apartment space can be at a premium. People have attachements made to the sides of their diningroom table so the kids can do table tennis on them! Isn’t that clever?
Have a great day!
:0)
Tara
Isn’t that a clever table!
I have always loved the idea of library shelves in a dining room.
My house is pretty tiny, so its all about multi-tasking. Of course, some of the rooms are barely big enough for a single task. LOL
Kimberly
Being more clever with the space we have, that is just so true! I must remember that….
Hi Melissa! You should see my office (and hubby’s)….which was NOT photographed for an upcoming home feature in R.C. mag. It’s also our workout room, a den, a guest room and a storage facility. I really need to spiff it up a bit….
See now thats where I need help!! I have this teeny tiny room for all my material and such and half of its in the dining room and half of its in the living room etc etc…
Love the dining room/pool table idea.. clever!
HUGS
JO
I wouldn’t dare show this photo to my husband..he would be all over the dining room/pool hall idea.
AWW, I just love love coming here, dear. You never cease to amaze me!
Great idea! I have always wanted a library, and I am trying to decide when I finally do it if I want to use my guest room or dining room. The guest room gets used about 4-5 times a year. I was thinking of a Murphy Bed and the rest of the walls books shelves. Add a nice cozy chair….And I like the fact that the guest room is not in the middle of the house, like the dining room is…Quieter to read by. This post is making me want to start working on it right now!
Hugs,
Penny
Wow, so funny that I made a comment on my latest post about pool tables in California dining rooms. I had not seen this post first, I promise!
Great post! Your blog is always so inspiring!
Melissa
My friend’s formal dining room doubles as her office. It’s really pretty, with built in bookshelves and great chandelier.
Ah! A pool table in the dining room - this is something I know my husband would surely love!
Dear Melissa - I agree with Deb W up there