There is no proper dining table culture in Kerala and in most middle-class homes the dining room and the costly table are used for storing household items.

There is no proper dining table culture in Kerala and in most middle-class homes the dining room and the costly table are used for storing household items.

There is no proper dining table culture in Kerala and in most middle-class homes the dining room and the costly table are used for storing household items.

It's no surprise that the story of dining tables in most Kerala homes is all set to change. In homes with elderly members, they often eat early and retire. At the most, only four people are likely to be at the dining table simultaneously in these days. An exception exists in households following the joint family system.

In Kerala, the usual practice is men eat first, while women serve them and have food later. Children, meanwhile, grab a bite whenever they can. Unlike Westerners, we lack a proper dining table culture. With families going nuclear, the birth of the thought of downsizing dining spaces was quite natural.

ADVERTISEMENT

A square dining table for four or a round one for five is more than sufficient for an average Malayali family that gathers only for dinner. The round table, especially, offers excellent space optimization. Gradually, this realization is ushering in a change within Kerala homes. This awareness has led to the genesis of what we fondly call the 'breakfast counter' - a smaller dining space within the kitchen.

In most Kerala homes, people don't have breakfast or lunch together. Breakfast, in particular, is a hurried affair. If the female members in the house are working women or students, most likely, there is one home for lunch. In the evenings there might be a maximum of four people together.

ADVERTISEMENT

So, why build enormous dining spaces? Planning for smaller tables leaves the scope for a smaller dining room, saving approximately 50 to 100 square feet. This translates to savings of around Rs 1 lakh to 2 lakh, essentially, ten months' worth of home loan repayments for an average person. It doesn't end there.

The dining hall often serves as a passage to other rooms. A smaller dining area compels the designer to eliminate unnecessary spaces in these areas, leading to further savings. A smaller house doesn't equate to less comfort, just as a bigger house doesn't guarantee it. What we need are smaller homes, rich in comfort, easy on the pocket and environmentally conscious.