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In France, between 15 percent and 38 percent of nursing home residents are malnourished. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the physical layout of the dining area on the food intake of residents living in nursing homes, as well as on their social interactions and eating enjoyment. This study was a controlled trial involving two situations: a control situation in which the dining room environment was not modified (N=7), and an experimental situation in which the environment was modified (N=9). The intervention consisted in modifying the dining room environment to make it more convivial (i.e., decoration, music, etc.) two days a week for four weeks (eight sessions in total). Results show that residents whose dining environment had been modified had a more important food intake, took greater enjoyment in eating, and had more social interactions (among residents and between residents and caregivers) than those whose environment had not been modified. Given the prevalence of malnutrition in nursing homes, this study suggests a promising and low-cost approach to improving eating enjoyment and food intake among older adults.