At first glance, dining rooms may seem like a one-trick pony. It is in the name, isn’t it? You are there just to dine. More often than not, though, these rooms serve several purposes and can be our home’s central hub or showpiece.
Mistakes to Avoid When Selecting Dining Room Furniture
When designing and furnishing the dining room, it is just as essential to remember precisely what functions it needs to fulfill as it is to have it be a beautiful show-stopper. Making a mistake when selecting a dining room table or chairs can make the room feel unusable.
Here are our top six pitfalls and mistakes to avoid when selecting dining room furniture for your home.
1. Not Paying Attention to Comfort
Finding the perfect dining room chair for your home is a delicate balance of style, durability, and comfort. You need to consider how it fits, quite literally, with your lifestyle.
- When selecting chairs for a dining room table, the worst mistake you can make is not leaving yourself enough room to sit comfortably. Generally speaking, you want to ensure you have about a foot of space between your chair and the closest bit of the table.
- If your dining room is a hub for activity and people constantly move in or out of chairs, you may want to skip armrests entirely. But remember, they make sitting and standing easier for elderly or differently-abled people who need something to brace on.
- Upholstered padding may mean more upkeep, but it will always make being seated for longer periods more comfortable.
Your dining chairs are the best chance to add a unique twist to your room with special finishes and upholstery, but comfort should always come first.
2. Disproportionate Table and Chairs
It may be tempting to go for the biggest table you can reasonably fit into the space, but that can often leave the room overall cramped and unusable for tabletop space you don’t need. Conversely, it may be tempting to use a smaller table for more room. Doing so can leave the room aesthetically unbalanced and empty looking.
If you have a room with aligned doors across a single side, leave that path completely open, especially if you walk through frequently. Measure the length and width available after removing any walking space. You shouldn’t go to the walls, but whichever piece of furniture along any side has the most significant depth. This measurement is the area you have available for your table and chairs.
3. The Wrong Construction Methods
Wood is the standard when it comes to furniture. It is a beautiful and durable material that can add a timeless look to any room. But wood isn’t the only fantastic option available when it comes to tables and chairs.
Don’t be afraid to select a metallic option. Steel furniture bases offer the highest durability and stability you will find. The inherent strength of solid steel construction also means you can get a much sleeker base than wood for larger tables, freeing up legroom and giving the illusion of more space.
4. Shorting Yourself on Storage Space
Serving tables and hutches are as practical an addition to a dining room as they are a style choice. Cabinets, etageres, and serving tables come in a myriad of aesthetics. The key things to remember are what you need to store and what space you have available.
Closed-door styles are a great choice if you need to stow away spare table linens or trays. But if you have dishes or art to display, consider open or glass-doored pieces that keep precious items safe and dust-free.
5. Limiting Your Style Options to a Set
While opting for a matching dining set will give you a guaranteed level of functional and style balance, they limit your ability to set a unique style for the room. Start with picking the table that fits your needs and change it up with non-matched seats.
The little details can sometimes make all the difference. This tip works for upholstered seating options as well as solid ones. Using a different set of chairs is an easy way to implement a color scheme, incorporate new material, or shift a room’s visual weight without adding extra decor.
6. Furniture That Doesn’t Fit You
A formal dining room for entertaining is a different environment than a multi-purpose family room that will see frequent use. And no matter the style you want, you need something that can weather use and cleaning.
By far the most common furniture option, wood, can accommodate a wide range of room styles from classic and traditional dark woods, rustic barn wood for a farmhouse or cottage look, or sleek and natural shades for modern and minimalist styles. Wood is long-lasting and usually easily repairable in the event of any damage.
If your dining room is in an enclosed space, a glass tabletop can help your room feel bigger, even with a large table. Glass toppers are incredibly versatile and can work with just about any room aesthetic, but they are especially at home in modern settings. And can pair easily with a variety of chair styles. Just bear in mind a glass top will require a little more maintenance to keep it looking clean and clear.
Look outside the wood and glass options if you want something truly eye-catching. Metal, ceramic, and stone table tops provide a uniqueness that will make the table the room’s highlight. You also get the benefits of glass and wood with added heat resistance. All three work great in modern and minimalistic settings, with granite pulling in just a little bit of a natural punch to the space.
The inherent strength of solid steel construction also means you can get a much sleeker base than wood for larger tables, freeing up legroom and giving the illusion of more space.
You won’t be stuck with shiny silver, either. Finishes for metal come in any color or texture you can think of. metallic-supported furniture tends to feature wider table surfaces or seating options.
Where Durable Function Meets Inspiring Art
If you keep in mind your room’s space, needed function, and general design, you will surely get a great-looking space that is as useful as it is inviting. For over 40 years, Johnston Casuals has designed and created beautiful and functional furniture. If you have your heart set on a modern dining area, browse our catalog of handmade metal furniture.
Our pieces are made to order by master craftsmen in Wilkesboro, NC. From tables and chairs to shelves, we pride ourselves on furniture that will last a lifetime. We work with dealers throughout the US to deliver the highest quality furniture to the public. Our handmade attention to detail sets us apart from any other designer and manufacturer.
