The dining room lies at the heart of your house. It is a place where the family gathers after a long day to share a hearty meal, and where they relax and spend quality time together on a warm evening.
It is therefore crucial that the dining room is an appealing space, somewhere that accurately symbolises the deep connections and individual personality quirks of every family member. But sprucing up a dining room goes beyond just buying a few chairs and a table.
Creating an alluring space requires the inculcation of a few essential elements. In particular, dining table, dining chairs, and tableware are all requisites of a proper dining room, where friends and family can come together for a good time.
Dining Table
Selecting the dining table is crucial, given how often it is used, and the visual impact it has on any space.
It is not just somewhere to sit down and eat, but also a place to forge deeper relationships with friends and family over delicious food and drinks. For those who work primarily from home, the dining area can also double up as a home office.
Before deciding on your dining table, you want to take into account how well its size, shape, and style match your individual usage requirements.
- Size
Dining tables are available in a range of sizes, from a small rectangular table for a family of two to a larger centrepiece that seats the entire extended family. With that in mind, you want to consider how many people are in your household and how likely you are to have guests over. A two-seater dining table is perfect for a singleton, while a six- to eight-seater dining table is ideal for a larger family. But what happens if you are without space to seat your guests?
In this situation, an expandable dining table makes room for your guests in a pinch and is perfect for those who do not need a bigger table on a daily basis. That way, you maintain a decent-sized table for your dining area while still being able to host all your guests comfortably.
A guideline for comfortable seating is to maintain 24 to 28 inches of table area per seat. This translates to 60 inches across four seats on a round table and 36 to 42 inches wide and 6 feet long for six to eight people on a rectangular table.
- Shape
The next consideration for your dining table is its shape. While rectangular dining tables are the traditional choice, softer edges are known to lend a more modernist feel.
Square or rectangular-shaped tables usually hold symmetrical chair arrangements with the same number of chairs on each opposing side. This balance can be affected when an extra chair is added for guests or when a space is left empty. To this end, round tables can be incredibly versatile, allowing you to alter the number of seats around the table with minimal impact on the overall aesthetics. The only difference is more or less the space between the chairs. That said, angular shapes are the conventional option for a reason. Square dining tables are ideal if you have a small space, whereas larger, more open dining rooms often boast a rectangular dining table to fill the space.
In terms of comfort, they also offer added arm support in comparison to roundish shapes, so preferably you want a square or rectangular dining table if you are using it as a work desk.
- Style
The final aspect to consider when deciding on a dining table to purchase is style. This refers to how well the potential furniture fits in with your existing furniture and overall décor.
Traditional, modern, and rustic are perhaps the most common styles when it comes to a dining table.
Traditional-style dining tables feature engraved wood, precise textures, and rich materials. They establish a bold statement that instantly catches the eye and exudes a timeless appeal, making them highly appropriate for most household themes and settings.
For those who favour a minimalist interior, contemporary dining furniture spotlights sleek lines and sharp angles made predominantly from wood with an occasional metallic tinge to create a modern-looking dining room. This table brings a vibrant, uplifting quality to any room.
Rustic-style dining tables generally utilise unpainted wood with strategically located metal accents for a more natural, simplistic aesthetic. They work best in a barn-style interior for countryside charm.
Overall, each style is imbued with a unique character and appeal that makes it well-suited for a specific décor type. The style you choose ultimately comes down to your lifestyle and how well it complements the overarching design of your humble abode.
Dining Chairs
A good dining set comes complete with aesthetic and functional dining chairs that complement the table. Unfortunately, not every chair in a dining set is built with comfort in mind. Many are designed with aesthetics in mind first, so they look better than they feel.
For those who regularly host guests or eat together as a family every night, comfortable dining chairs are essential investments. When sourcing for the perfect dining chairs, there are several specifications you want to take note of.
This could be the presence of arms and how high you want them to be, how much back support you want, the ideal height required to sit everyone comfortably, or anything else that matters to you. Also, consider how formal you want the dining area to be.
If you prefer a more toned-down setting, consider using dining benches instead of standard chairs. Versatile benches have the added bonus of being the more flexible sitting arrangement, as you can easily squeeze in a few more people without having to fit in any additional chairs.
Alternatively, dining armchairs are perfect if you have the privilege of space, as they let you curl up in peak comfort while you eat your dinner. In terms of style and appearance, the most common materials used for dining chairs are wood, rattan, and metal.
Wood is arguably the most popular furniture material. Hand-crafted wooden dining chairs, in particular, offer a unique elegance for those who welcome a bucolic ambiance in their space. At times, wood is also infused with metal accents for a comfy, industrial fit-out.
Bohemian or beachside-style homes often feature the relaxed and laid-back qualities of rattan. The palm-based material is very lightweight while also boasting incredible structural integrity. In the end, because comfort can vary between individuals, you cannot determine whether a chair fits you until you try it out.
Bar Stools
If dining chairs do not match your expectations or fit into your dining room layout, stools and bar stools are a good alternative to create a relaxed, informal atmosphere in your home.
Typically placed around the kitchen island or an elevated platform, bar stools imbue an exquisite sense of style to any dining area, making the place exceptionally engaging to carry out a multitude of activities apart from having your meals.
Choosing the right bar stool can be challenging. Beyond a stool that fits your dining room décor and the physical space, you also need to find one that is comfortable to sit on. Like most furniture, bar stools come in a range of material types for you to cherry pick according to your comfort and aesthetic preferences.
Wooden bar stools provide flexibility and fit perfectly with many kitchen styles, while industrial-style bar stools are the ideal choice for modernist homes, and pair perfectly with a classy granite bench top to complement the general interior of your house.
But as with any piece of furniture that you sit on, comfort is always a crucial concern. If the bar stools are used only occasionally, a simple wood or metal seat will provide ample support while also maintaining a minimalistic form factor. However, if they are used more regularly for work purposes, you want something with additional cushioning, such as a covered piece with either linen or leather upholstery.
Leather requires more maintenance but provides unrivalled comfort and an understated, classy debonair. A leatherette or faux-leather stool is good if you want something easy to clean while retaining the appearance of genuine leather, although it may not be as comfy.
Tableware
Your crockery, cutlery, and glassware essentially serve as the cherry on top in your dining area. The right tableware can elevate the dining experience by enhancing the visual elements of the food, which makes for a more appetising meal.
In the event that the knives and forks do not match or the colour of the tableware is too jarring or dull, you run the risk of ruining a good meal.
For this reason, you want to have at least one matching set of tableware, including plates, bowls, glasses and cutlery. This keeps everything well-coordinated and in place for the perfect dining experience.
FAQs
What are some essential elements to consider when designing a dining area?- When designing a dining area, it's essential to consider elements such as the size and shape of the dining table, the style and comfort of dining chairs, and the coordination of tableware to create a cohesive and inviting space.
How do I choose the right dining table for my dining area?
- Consider factors like your household size, frequency of guests, available space, and personal style preferences when selecting a dining table. Additionally, consider whether you need an expandable table for occasional use and how the table's shape will impact the overall aesthetics and functionality of the dining area.
- Dining chairs come in various styles, materials, and configurations. Depending on your dining room design, you might opt for traditional wooden chairs for a classic look, modern metal or upholstered chairs for a contemporary feel, or even benches or armchairs for added versatility and comfort.