The room we use as our formal dining room was used by previous owners as either a "sun room" or "family room". I chose to use it as our formal dining room because I thought that would keep the left side of the house "formal" and the right half "useable". (It also keeps the T.V. noise on the opposite end of the house from where I like to read at night, which is right behind the wall with the blue couch against it.)