Skip to main content

Device-free dinner made easy with these 4 ideas

A dinner sans phones, tablets and devices? It’s possible. Hopefully, without a lot of kicking and screaming.

We’re spending more and more time on our devices, scrolling, browsing and socialising. Even at dinner time, when families gather around the table.

What if there’s a spot for everyone to check-in their devices before they come for dinner? Here are 4 ways to set up for a device-free dinner.

device free dinner picture

Photo: SimpleGesturesStudio | Get this on Etsy

#1 Hang it up

Rachel’s family does not eat with their phones on the table. She used the FJANTIG towel hooks, and now everyone hang their phones before dinner.

device free dinner hooks
#2 Time to recharge

While you rest from your phone, it’s also time for it to recharge. Dock and charge up at the same time. There are lots of ways to hack a simple and economical charging station using IKEA items.

One of my favourites is the OSTBIT plate holder. Combined with a KVISSLE cable management box or any other box, it’s a versatile charging station with slots for all sorts of devices — phones, tablets and powerbanks. See the tutorial.

charging station
#3 Make it a display

We seem to adore our phones, so why not put it on show?

The IKEA picture ledges are ideal for this. Install the ledges on a suitable nook and place artwork, magazines and your devices to complete the set up.

Bonus! Add powerpoints to charge them up.

picture ledges

Photo: D2 Interieurs on HGTV

#4 Box it

Some restaurants practise this. They provide a pretty box for you to stash your phone for a no-phone-distraction-free meal. Why not do this at home too?

device free dinner box

Photo: Mark Love | Buy on Etsy

You can do the same with an IKEA box such as the MALLGRODA round box with lid, DRAGAN bamboo boxes, GLIS boxes or LUSTIGKURRE bamboo baskets with lid. Check the sizes of your phones and get the right sized box, either to store multiple phones in one box or individual phones.

IKEA boxes

Photo: IKEA.com

What other great ideas do you have for a device-free dinner? Share with us in the comments below.

The post Device-free dinner made easy with these 4 ideas appeared first on IKEA Hackers.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

SKÅDIS: 5 ways to make the IKEA pegboard even better

IKEA introduced its own pegboard system, SKÅDIS, two years ago and I’d say it’s one of the best systems IKEA launched in recent years. I love how super customisable it is, with a growing range of accessories that help keep things organized. It works everywhere, in your wardrobe to bathroom . Probably anywhere you have a flat surface to hang it up. Photo: IKEA.com SKÅDIS pegboard system See it on IKEA.com But no matter how perfect a system, you can trust IKEA hackers to improve on the SKÅDIS. And they’ve settle these 5 issues you may have faced with the handy IKEA pegboard. Read on for their fixes. 5 IKEA SKÅDIS issues and fixes #1 Expensive hooks? You’ll need quite a number of hooks and accessories to fill up the SKÅDIS pegboard, and Kenyer was shocked at how quickly they all added up. So he figured he could make his own hooks to save cost. Photo: Kenyer Over at Instructables , he shows us how to twist copper wires into the SKÅDIS hook shape. It works s...

Enjoy Sweet Dreams With These DIY Headboard Ideas

A headboard is one of the last things you see before you fall asleep and one of the first things you see when you wake up. Demonstrate your unique design style by creating your own. Below are some ideas and tips to get you started. Do you think the formula for sleep is on this London bedroom’s headboard? Image: Clifton Interiors Ltd Chalk headboard Create this look with a can of black chalkboard paint. Almost any type of wall – drywall, plaster, wood, brick or concrete – will work, as long is it is properly prepped. Chalkboard paint is easy to apply, dries fast and can be cleaned with soap and water. But you’re not limited to the color black – chalkboard paint comes in just about every color. If you don’t want to use paint, consider chalkboard contact paper – and yes, you can use chalk on it. An Edmonton hockey-themed room. Image: Cameron Homes Hockey goal headboard For the ultimate hockey fan, nothing beats a hockey goal headboard. Complete the scene with a team blank...

Sliding Bookcase Doors KALLAX hack to divide your rooms

I replaced single-glazed sliding doors that divided the sitting room and dining room with a sliding KALLAX bookcase. For one “door”, I used two 2×2 cubes and one 2×1 unit. As we already owned 4 separate KALLAX 2×2 cubes and they seemed to be exactly the same width as the internal doors, we thought it might be possible to stack them. With one additional 2×1 KALLAX they almost matched the height of the internal doors. Sliding KALLAX bookcase doors in closed position First, still a work in progress but let us show you how it looks from the dining room, when the units are pushed together to close up the doorway. And the units pushed apart to enter the living room. We can access the storage cubes from both sides — from the dining or living room — which is so very useful. What I like most is, when viewed from the living room, when closed, it looks almost like a built-in unit. IKEA item used: 2×2 KALLAX units x 4 1×2 KALLAX units x 2 Other materials: 3M mounting tape...