Shopping for Dining Room Furniture: What to Consider Before you Start
There’s a lot to think about when you’re shopping for the right dining room furniture to suit your space and interior design style. Scrolling through online furniture websites for hours, or even walking into a furniture store without at least a few ideas in mind first, can feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you want to find dining tables, chairs, and dining storage pieces that look beautiful and fit the size requirements of your dining space, but maybe you’re also hoping to invest in sustainable, heirloom-quality furniture that will last for decades and be a healthier option for your home and the environment. Let our Urban Natural design experts make the job a little easier with some simple dining room shopping tips:
Keep these three things in mind to find a dining table that serves you:
Whether your dining room is a separate room in the house, or a designated area of shared space, it’s a place that needs to accommodate everything from holiday hosting, and celebratory gatherings to everyday meals with ease. Choosing the right dining table should make everyone feel welcomed and comfortable, but also serve your top dining priorities without overwhelming the size of your room. Here are three things to consider before you shop for a dining table:
1. The Number Of Guests You’d Like To Seat
Think about how many people you’d like to seat at your table, both for everyday meals, and for special occasions. Then multiply that number by two (2ft per person), and this is the number in feet of dining space you’ll want around your ideal table. For example, a rectangular table that’s 72 inches long would be able to seat 8 people comfortably (6 feet on each long side = 3 people, and one person at each short end). If you plan to host larger gatherings from time to time, but also want to keep extra space on-hand for more everyday meals, you might opt for an extension table. These can be expanded to seat more people when needed, and minimized when you don’t need the additional dining surface area. Be sure to account for the extended dimensions of any extension table you might shop for, however, since those larger measurements still need to fit within the size requirements of your dining room too.
2. The Size Of Your Dining Space
Now that you have an idea of the number of people you’d like to seat at your table, let’s look at the size of your dining area. Measure both the length and width of your space, and include any other furniture (sideboards or buffets) you might have along the walls of the room too. When you know the measurements of your designated dining space, aim for a table size that ideally allows about three feet of clearance area on ALL sides of it. This will allow your guests to pull out chairs easily, and walk around seated guests without any trouble. If you find you’d still like to squeeze in more people than you have the dining space for, our experts recommend looking at round dining table shapes instead of rectangular ones; these tend to fit a little better in smaller spaces too.
3. Styles And Materials You Prefer
Your dining table isn’t just a functional piece; it can also be a beautiful reflection of your unique style and taste. Why not gather a list of photo inspiration, furniture designers you like, and materials or color palettes you might already have incorporated in your current design? Don’t forget that a new dining table should aesthetically “fit in” with your home and personal taste. A few other things to keep in mind are that rectangular tables can give off a more formal impression, with ample room for tabletop decor, serveware, and table settings; while a round table might offer a more intimate and personal dining experience. Finally, think about whether you prefer a solid wood dining table in a dark or light finish, or perhaps a glass or stone tabletop look. These details are helpful to consider before you start shopping, and you can always be open to new ideas as you go too.
Choose dining seating to suit every experience
,Once you have some tables in mind, it’s time to start coordinating with dining seating. There are a few ways you can personalize this part of the shopping experience: for example, many dining tables offer matching chair options, and some even have different style options to choose from too. Our designers love using upholstered dining chairs with arms for the head and foot of a rectangular table, and side chairs without arms for the longer sides. This can achieve a clean and elegant look, while still leaving enough room for everyone to enjoy meals comfortably. You can also mix and match chair styles for a more unique design, and play with patterned upholstery and pops of color for a few too. In general though, it’s a good idea to look for chairs that feel like they complement your table and one another, whether it’s a similar tone of wood or shades of fabric color. When all of your dining chairs are exactly the same, it can make the interior design feel too intentional, less personal, and much less inspired. Another thoughtful option to have on hand is a dining bench, which can be kept along the wall as a side table when you don’t need it, or pulled up to the table to seat additional guests when you do. Bench seating usually fits more people than dining chairs alone.
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Get creative with dining storage
An often overlooked, but incredibly useful element of any dining space, is multifunctional pieces that can act as additional storage. Dining storage options like sideboards, buffets, and china cabinets are a great way to incorporate expert craftsmanship and design that serve a valuable purpose too. Available in many different shapes and sizes, these pieces can offer an ideal space to set appetizer trays or cocktails, and many come with cabinets or drawers which can be used for storing seasonal dishes and extra cutlery when you’re not using them. Just be mindful of your dining space measurements, and the suggested clearance space around your table and chairs to ensure you have enough room to add more furniture to your dining layout.
At Urban Natural, we love finding new ways to showcase exceptional design and help you bring your own style projects to life. If you’d like more personalized guidance on creating a stylish and functional dining room that suits you and your family best, schedule your complimentary consultation with our design experts today.
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