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 the central hub or the showpiece of our homes.
That is why it is vital to give their design proper thought and care. And the central pillar of any dining room design is the table.
Which Size and Style of Dining Table Is Best for You?
No matter if you are upgrading from an existing set or buying your first dining room table, the sheer amount of options available on the market can be overwhelming. You can find any size or style, from large reclaimed barn wood banquet tables to petite metal and glass selections.
Luckily you don’t need to be a professional home decorator to get the perfect dining room. Before you head out to the furniture store or antique mall, take a moment to look at the space you already have.
How to Determine the Right Size for the Space
First and foremost, take a look at your dining room floor plan. You want to find the amount of space available for placing a table, taking into account any needed paths for walking, chair movement, and side tables and cabinets in the room. You are going to need to grab a tape measure for this step.
If you have a room with aligned doors across a single side, you may want to leave that path completely open, especially if you walk through frequently. Measure the length and width available after removing that walking space.
You won’t go to the walls, but whichever piece of furniture along any side has the most significant depth should be your starting point. This measurement is the area you have available for moving around and both your table and chairs.
Take that table set area and subtract 6 feet from both numbers to get your ideal table dimensions. While it may be tempting to go with a smaller table to have more room, doing so can leave the room aesthetically unbalanced and empty looking. You still want to leave space, but you won’t need more than three feet on your table sides to move chairs easily or maneuver around seated individuals.
On the topic of seating, you may be wondering exactly how many people your final dimensions will accommodate. You can generally expect the following comfortable seating by the length of the dining table:
- 4 feet: Seats four people
- 5-6 feet: Seats six people
- 8 feet: Seats eight people
- 10 feet: Seats ten people
If you find yourself short on space within the room, certain style options can help you make up the difference. Round and oval-shaped tables can give you comparable seating capacity in a much more compact size. This compactness makes them ideal for those looking to put a dining table in a breakfast nook, or houses that lack a defined dining room.
Selecting a Table That Fits Your Style
If you have gotten to this point, you may have an idea of your perfect dining room design. Dining rooms with open or semi-open floor plans tend to draw design inspiration from the room around them. Modern, industrial aesthetics will look sharply out of place if dropped into a farmhouse atmosphere. In these cases, use subtle design shifts in decor to make the space seem separate and unique.
For entirely self-contained rooms, well, the sky’s the limit. Unlike the kitchen and living rooms, the dining room doesn’t need electronics or appliances that might limit design choices.
1. Tackling the Table Top
The top of the dining room table is the star of the show and will be the most obvious style choice you will need to make when choosing your new table. When deciding on the material you want the table made out of, take into consideration not only the room aesthetic you are going for but also the function you want it to serve.
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.
- Wood: By far the most common tabletop option you will find, 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, in the event of any damage, usually easily repairable.
- Glass: 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 extremely versatile and can work with just about any room aesthetic, but are especially at home in modern settings. Just bear in mind a glass top will require a little more maintenance to keep it looking clean and clear.
- Metal, Ceramics, and More: If you are looking for something truly eye-catching, look outside the wood and glass options. Metal, ceramic, and stone tops provide a uniqueness that will definitely make the table the highlight of the room. 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.
2. Style From the Ground Up
You may see the tabletop the most, but that doesn’t mean the table base doesn’t have its own impact on the table style. Whether it is ornately carved wood or a sleek and simple set of metal aprons and legs, the table base impacts the visual weight of the table in the room.
The weight and proportion of furniture can be used to balance a space visually. If you have a lot of bulky furniture on the edges of the dining space, opt for a simple base, and vice versa. There are two general styles of bases to shoes from.
- Pedestal: Featuring a single-column design down the middle, pedestal bases allow the widest amount of legroom, and can help make a dining room feel more open. Paired with a glass top, pedestal bases can easily become style showcases that are practically works of art.
- Legged: The type of table design you see most often, four-legged tables offer the best stability and can help a room feel more grounded.
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.
Don’t be afraid to select a metallic option for the table’s legs and apron. Steel furniture bases offer the highest durability and stability you will find, especially good for those with children or pets. 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 tables tend to feature a wider option of table surfaces and can potentially give you the option of swapping out the tabletop without buying a new base. This means you can update your style later, going from a glass top to wood with ease.
3. Pulling It All Together
If you are buying a dining set, your chairs will match perfectly. But if you are replacing an existing table or already have a set of chairs in mind, make sure to get a table that fits.
Most dining tables have a standard height of around 30 inches, but some come in counter height options that rise a bit higher at 36 inches. Whether the table or chairs come first, it is ideal to have about a foot of space from the chair seat to the apron or underside of the tabletop.
Rich woods can give a traditional formal feel to the room, while metal-based designs with glass and ceramic tops fit best in clean, modern designs.
And you don’t need to limit yourself to using a wooden table, even if you have existing chairs that are wood. Mixing different materials, textures, and colors can enhance the visual appearance of a room and allow it to feel more organic and naturally put together than pulled out of a catalog.
Where Function Meets Art
If you keep in mind your room’s space, needed function, and general design, you are sure to get a great-looking dining 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 all over 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 around.
If you are a business or interior designer looking for a truly custom project, contact our design team to get started today.
