|
.
Estimating
Needs
The first step
you should take before you shop for any kind of furniture is
to measure the room it will be placed in. The dimensions of a
dining room should inform not only the size of the table, but
the general shape as well. A dining table doesn't have to be
rectangular. The shape of a table can change the overall impression
of the room size. There are great expandable options in round
and square tables as well. To get an even better idea of how
the space can be laid out, use our online room planner.That way
you can tryout round, oval, square and rectangular tables to
see what will fit best in the room before you go shopping.
Here are a few
rules of thumb to keep in mind when planning your dining room:
* Diners need
18" to 24" of space away from the table to sit down
and pull their chairs up to the table.
* Diners should
have 24" to 30" of space at the table to dine comfortably
without bumping elbows with their neighbor.
* There should
be four to five feet of space between the table and the wall
to allow the host to easily move through the room and be able
to serve the guests.
How many for dinner?
The number of
diners you expect to seat affects the kind of table you get.It's
easy to get extra bodies around a pedestal table, but beware
that a pedestal table can become wobbly and prone to tip when
extended with multiple leaves. Round or rectangular tables with
four legs can make it hard to pull up an extra chair.
A table with
a leaf is a great way to expand your dining area. If you have
the space, you might want to consider keeping the leaf in the
table full time. A leaf in storage will not age the same as the
rest of the table.Coloration may change or the leaf may warp
if stored vertically, instead of horizontally, or if it is kept
in a damp environment. Leaves are usually not an option with
glass-topped tables. Butterfly leaves have become a popular option
in recent years because they store the leaf right under the top
of the table. It is important to try out the leaf mechanism when
you are shopping. It should open and lock into place smoothly
and easily without force. Drop leaf tables can allow you to place
a table right against a wall for day to day use. You can pull
them out from the wall and extend the leaf when you need to seat
more people. A variation of the drop leaf table, gate-leg tables
include a leg that swings out to support the leaf.
Flip top tables
are another great option for expanding seating. A flip top table
is distinguished by a table top that is doubled over on itself.
As it is unfolded it is either rotated or shifted on the table
base for support.In the folded state they can be used as console
tables in the dining room,or behind a sofa in the living room
as a sofa table.
Similar to the
flip top table, a tilt top table can be positioned near a wall
with the table top tilted to a vertical position. When needed
the table is moved away from the wall and the table top is laid
horizontal.
Dining room
furniture is commonly sold in five piece sets. Occasionally retailers
will run promotions that include two arm chairs as well. You
should buy at least two more chairs than you think you will need.
Holiday entertaining and family gatherings can send you scrambling
for seating to accommodate everyone. If you buy the extra chairs
at the outset you can be sure that they fit with the table. The
extra chairs can always be used as accents chairs in other rooms
when you are not entertaining.
Mixing and
Matching
Eclectic looks
are very popular these days, but there are several things you
should think about when purchasing tables and chairs separately:
Will it fit?
If you are buying
chairs to match a table in your home measure the distance from
the floor to the table apron to calculate if a chair will fit.
(The table apron is a rail that runs between the legs to support
the table top.)If you are buying a table to match chairs in your
home, measure from the floor to the seat of the chair and add
eight inches to figure out how much space you need under the
apron. This will ensure that a person sitting in the chair can
actually get their legs under the table. Chairs with arms are
another consideration. If you have a tight space, then you will
probably want the arm chair to tuck all the way under the table,
therefore you will want to make sure that the arm will fit under
the apron, but be careful. If the chair arms regularly make contact
with the table apron, the finish maybe marred. When considering
arm chairs, also look at the distance between the table legs
and the distance between the arms of the chair to ensure they
will fit together easily.
Take a Seat
Sit in the chair
for some time; don't go from one to the other too quickly.You
will want your guests to linger over dinner conversation, so
make sure that the chair is comfortable for a longer period of
time. It should be wide enough for your guests to be comfortable.
The chair should support the back and allow you to keep your
feet on the floor.
Chairs should
not be rickety or wobble. If the chair has a padded seat, the
corners should be reinforced with screwed-in (not glued) corner
blocks.Padded seats should be removable so that the cover can
be changed. Fabric covered chairs may not be appealing if you
have young children who are messy eaters. Leather is a great
option for quick cleanup, as is stain resistant Microfiber upholstery.
Slip covers on Parson's chairs are another easily cleaned option
for the dining room.
Tables
Dining tables
come in a variety of styles, sizes and shapes. Whatever the style
tables should not be rickety or wobble. Leg tables should have
screwed-in corner blocks. Glass-topped tables should come with
silicone pads that go between the glass and the base to keep
the glass from getting scratched.
Pub-height or
counter-height tables have become very popular in recent years.
While they have a youthful image, counter height tables are a
great option for older people who have trouble getting up and
down from low dining room chairs. If your kitchen or dining room
has a window with a great view, a pub height table is a great
way to enjoy. The higher seating can allow for unobstructed sight
lines. The higher levels of these table tops also make them a
great additional work surface in a kitchen with limited counter
space. Keep in mind though; a pub height table may require you
to raise your dining room chandelier.
When you purchase
your dining table, you might want to check into table pads as
well. Table pads are often felt-covered on the back side and
vinyl on the top surface. They are usually covered over with
a table cloth when used. The pads protect the table top from
hot dishes and moisture and can significantly prolong the life
of your dining set.
Whether or not
you opt for table pads, consider a protection plan like Protection
First. Furniture that's worth buying is worth protecting and
such a plan can help you take care of your investment so that
little mishaps don't result in a major eyesore.
Storage and
Serving
Now that you
have tables and chairs you should consider storage and display
for your dining room. Features such as interior cabinet lights,
outlets for plugging in crock pots and extendable serving areas
make entertaining easy and attractive.
|
.