6 Expert Tips To Choose A Kitchen And Dining Room Set

The type of material you choose for your kitchen and dining room set will depend on factors such as your budget, the function you want the table to fulfill, as well as the style of your kitchen or dining room.

• Do you prefer dark, woody design elements? => Go for wood.

Wood is the most common choice for dining tables; it's really adaptable and fits well within different environments. You can choose from hardwood, composite wood, or soft wood. Hardwood is the most sturdy and durable option and includes choices like walnut, cherry, and mahogany. Expect to pay more for hardwood than the other wood types.

• Do you have elegant taste? => Go for glass.

Glass dining tables offer a touch of modern elegance. This is an easy-to-clean dining table that adds sophistication to your dining room. If you have a full home and little hands leaving prints everywhere, you may not be able to enjoy the look this table style provides when clean and gleaming.

• Complementing an industrial or contemporary aesthetic? => Go for metal.

Metal is extra durable and sturdy material for dining tables. They offer a sleek, stain resistant surface that looks fantastic in contemporary and industrial homes.

• Living a life of luxury? => Go for marble.

Marble dining tables create a rich, luxurious feel inside your dining room, offering an easy-to-clean beautiful surface. This table type fits perfectly into modern and glam environments, where upscale elements are placed skillfully throughout the home.

• Looking for a durable and versatile material? => Go for laminate.

Laminate is a great material that suits a variety of different interior design styles and can also be extremely cost-effective. This material is sturdy and durable, so you can count on making good use of a laminate dining table for many years to come.

• Looking for a budget-friendly material? => Go for synthetic.

Synthetic dining tables are quite durable and super lightweight. When compared to other materials, you'll find this is a more cost-effective option. Synthetic dining tables are great because they can be crafted to resemble other, more expensive options, like wood.

Oval-shaped tables are very similar to their traditional rectangular counterparts, however, without sharp edges, this dining table style appears to take up less space. If you're working with a small room or a narrow space, an oval table is a great shape to incorporate. If you require additional space for when guests stop by, choose an oval dining table that extends further to increase seating capacity.

Rectangular

This is the standard option and is great for creating division in homes with an open plan. If your heart is set on a traditional aesthetic and you have more space to work with, a rectangular table is an obvious choice.

Square

Square tables are fashionable and fit perfectly into square-sized dining rooms. This style can take up quite a bit of space, and sadly, accommodates only four people. Not a great option for those of you who entertain a lot, unless you go for an extendable model.

Round

Great in old-fashioned settings but takes up a lot of space. Although rectangular dining tables are the most common shape chosen, round tables have their perks. Since round tables don't have corners, there is more space for your family and guests to get around to find their seat. This increases the flow of your dining room. If you have a small dining room, round tables may take considerable space, but they make the best use of your limited square footage.

Oval

Oval tables are invaluable for narrow dining rooms. A practical choice when you want to seat more than four people in a relatively small space.

Freeform

Ideal for eclectic or artsy environments. Add lots of personality to your home. Live edge furniture, especially dining tables, is a hot trend these days.

A good rule of thumb is to go bigger than what you think you need. Even when you don't frequent the dining table as a family or your family size is small, your dining room may be large enough to house a larger table. Therefore, you should be choosing a dining table based on the space available, not necessarily by what you think you need. 

Follow the tips below to choose the right size for your dining table:

• Measure the length and the width of your dining room.
• Create a three-foot clearance on all sides.
• The result of these measurements provides you with the max recommended size for a dining table in your space.

• Want to keep it simple? => Shaker styles are ultra-functional.

When you can do without the frills and just need a simple, functional dining table, you'll find shaker styles provide just that. They're often rectangular and fit well into minimalistic environments.

• Love the unfinished look? => Industrial styles are your go-to.

Expect industrial dining tables to be heavy and sturdy. If you love wood, metal, and recycled materials associated with construction, this style will complement your existing décor beautifully.

• Want to add a little rustic charm? => Farmhouse styles are ideal.

This is an ultra-sturdy dining table style that boasts a natural wood grain, making it perfect for homes with a country flair.

• Need a table with a small footprint? => Pedestal styles are for you.

This dining table style is supported by one central column instead of four legs. The column may have extra support that spreads out near the ground.

If you've found your dream table but don't love the chairs -- or worse -- it doesn't even come with chairs, don't fret! Follow the points below to find the perfect pairing to create your dream dining set:

• Most importantly, make sure the height of the chairs you choose is appropriate for the height of your table. You'll find that a distance of 10 to 12 inches is most comfortable between the seat of the chair and the top of your table.

• If your new chairs have arm rests, make sure those fit comfortably when tucked underneath the table. Otherwise, you risk damaging both the chairs and your table. 

• Finally, the design! Here, you have some freedom as the table and chairs do not need to be an exact match. But to create a cohesive set, you'll need to choose chairs that have at least one common element with the table. Some common elements include:

  • The period - if your table is vintage, choose vintage chairs. 

  • The materials -- if your table is made of wood or metal, choose chairs that are either entirely wood or metal or have accented pieces that include these materials to match your table. 

  • Formality - so, if you've opted for upscale décor, choose a chic chair. 

  • Overall feel - when your style is eclectic (speaking to you, Bohemian décor enthusiasts!), you know anything goes, so long as it warms your heart.