Tips on choosing a dining table

Posted under Indoor Furniture, Interior Design

Size of room:

A large dining area gives you a wide range of choices. If you have the space you can choose a large, substantial, solid wooden rectangle table which can accommodate 8 to 10 seats. Tables with thick table tops and chunky legs can look spectacular in a large room. If you have the space, then why not use it to its full capacity?

If you entertain large groups frequently however have limited space then an extendable dining table style offers the most flexibility as the size can be extended to accommodate your party size. There are huge choices of both wooden and glass
dining tables which offer this function.

For smaller dining spaces a more delicate design with thin but sturdy materials give an illusion of space. Glass and wood with aluminium supports offer the best versatility.

Before you purchase your dining set take measurements of the dining area and consider the width of the table which ideally should be a minimum of 90cm. As a general guide you should aim to have a minimum distance of 120cm between the edge of the table and the wall to allow for enough seating room.

Material:

Should you buy solid wood, glass, veneer wood or a wood aluminium mix; the choice is endless. If on a low budget there are some excellent value wooden veneer tables or a solid pine table. As pine is a softer wood it may mark and scratch easily so this is best avoided if you have children. A wooden table with a veneer layer is the best option if money is tight and you have a large family with children. Veneer wood is tough, hardwearing and can be bought fairly cheaply.
At the high end of the scale a solid, chunky wooden oak table is recommended as it is practical, looks good and will last a lifetime.

Lifestyle:

Again as with the tables there is a choice of veneer, solid wood and upholstery, real or faux leather. Once again veneer chairs are at the lower end of the budget and the price increases if you have real leather seat pads. The top end the budget and the best looking is solid oak chairs with real leather seat pads. The style of the chairs, modern, contemporary and classic is all down to personal taste and the room decoration. There is an abundance of choice so shop around and choose careful before you buy as often the chars are the most expensive part of a dining set.

A family with young children needs a table which is easy to care for and has softer rounded edges. Speaking from personal experience I would advise that if you have young children, avoid upholstery which is easy to stain and choose wipe clean dark coloured leather or faux leather chairs.