Hot Tips on buying a dining table and chairs

They say a dining table is at the heart of the home. It’s a place where friends and family can come together, sit down and enjoy some tasty food. So if you feel like your dining room needs a bit of a makeover or deserves some TLC, you’ve come to the right place! Here are some top tips for the things you should consider…

Be careful about trends. A good table should last at least five to 10 years. If you get something too funky, wild, with too many weird details, one day you may wake up and wonder what on earth you were thinking?!?!. Do think about the daily practice use of the table. Keep it simple, durable and sturdy.

Along with affordability and a timeless style, stability and construction are important to look for when inspecting tables at furniture stores. Try and sit on these chairs when you go to a showroom or a shop. Touch the table and chairs. Think about how it feels to sit at one of those tables, whether it will be comfortable for long periods and examine floor models for signs of wear.  Look for nicks and scratches that may indicate how the tables would endure through serious use at home.

Use your measuring tape. Your dining table has to fit your dining area! But a dining table is a deceptively large piece of furniture and you need to account for space around it, too.

You want the table to be three feet of breathing room on all sides. More is better to comfortably sit in a chair and move around the space. So whether it’s part of a multi use space or a separate dining room, start by measuring the length and width of the area you can dedicate to the dining table. Then subtract about six feet from those two measurements to get a target dining table length and width.

Next, think about how you’re going to use the table. The visual weight of a piece of furniture can really influence how big it feels in a room. It may technically fit, but it’ll seem huge if it’s a dark or bulky piece or if it’s too close to other furniture.

Table Shapes

Square and rectangular tables are the most popular shapes, so you’ll find the greater number of choices there with styles, sizes and extendable options. But a round or oval table can give you a little more space to move around since it cuts off the corners but still has a good surface area. A square or round dining table will create a more intimate dining setting as everyone will be sat equally apart, making it a great choice for sociable dining. It can be great for parties and conversation because there’s no head of the table. In terms of squeezing people in, you’re only limited by the perimeter of the table but you can lose a little space for serving pieces once you have all your place settings at a round or oval table.

Choosing the material for your dining table can be difficult. You have to balance price, ease of care, and your personal style to choose the right one, and a table that’s not a good fit on any of those could mean a buying decision you regret later. Here are the most common materials, and what to consider for each:

Wood

Solid wood is a classic material because it is durable and easy to repair. Pine, acacia, mango and teak are popular, less expensive options. Solid wood is the most popular, though it’s often the most expensive. Wood expands and contracts with heat and humidity and can show scratches and wear, but is fairly easy to repair.

Wood veneer is often a more affordable alternative to solid wood. Here a very thin layer of solid wood (or material printed to look like wood) is glued to a plywood or other wood core. To identify good veneer, look for tables with clearly-labelled core interiors, like kiln-dried hardwood. One way to spot cheaper veneers is to look underneath the table at the store. If just the outside is finished, but the underneath looks like a different material, the manufacturer is cutting costs

Stone

Stone tabletops can include marble, quartz composite or cast stone (like cement). Stone is durable but can be porous and can absorb stains easily. Depending on how it’s made, it can chip or crack and once that happens, it can be tough or impossible to repair. They can also be quite heavy. The price of stone can really vary from thousands of pounds…

Glass

Glass tabletops can include clear, frosted or tinted versions. They’re relatively inexpensive and “can create a feeling of space and openness. It can also make a room look bigger if you in a flat/apartment. Though glass isn’t susceptible to moisture, it can chip, scratch or crack from heat. It also shows every fingerprint. A good glass tabletop can last decades if you’re not too clumsy, but it will start to look bad quickly if you’re prone to chipping the edges or scratching the tabletop. 

Metal

Including stainless steel, brass, zinc and lacquered or painted versions of these, is used more frequently for table bases than tops. Metal is durable and not easily damaged because of its higher-shine, it shows every fingerprint and can require special cleaning tools. Also, painted metals can be hard to repair. These can be less expensive than wood tables, though it’s rare to find an all-metal dining table beyond utility tables.

Plastic and Laminates

Man-made materials, either moulded into a shape or glued onto plywood or another core, are an inexpensive option. They can last a long time. A glossy or matt table finish will instantly create a clean-lined a crisp look. These materials tend to resist staining and require little upkeep, but sometimes they can look cheap.

Finally…

A good dining table will be sturdy and well-made with a finish that withstands heavy use and shows little obvious wear and tear. The material is a major part of good construction, check carefully how the base and tabletop fit together. The more solid this is, the longer the table will last. Wood joined directly with wood is very strong; too many attachments and hooks can weaken the construction. A rule of thumb, simpler is better. Look at the connection points where the legs meet the tabletops and at the corners. If the pieces are starting to separate, you see gaps at the corners, or it’s wobbly when you move it, it’s not well constructed.

It’s rare that when buying dining chairs, you’ll buy just one. It is not necessary to always buy tables and chairs as a set. If you are starting from scratch and buying online, feel free to mix and match. In a small space in a small house, flat or apartment, buying extra chairs and using them in other rooms when you don’t need them at the table is a great way to save space. 

Buying a set of dining chairs should always reflect how you use your dining room on a daily basis, including the number of people and the types of meals enjoyed there. You may have kids and eat every meal at the table. Therefore, an upholstered fabric might prove impractical for cleaning up spillages. On the other hand, you might like to entertain and host dinner parties for your adult friends. If that’s the case, an upholstered set may be a more comfortable and stylish option.

Make sure you use placemats and coasters each mealtime if you want to protect your table surface and keep it looking its best for longer.

Furniture stores and online are renowned for constantly having sales and clearances. Always make sure you know to check back on your favourite dining table and chairs several times before buying! When investing in furniture, you’re probably going to be spending a lot of money. So, it makes sense to research around the prices you’re paying. 

Keep a bookmark of any table and chairs you’re interested in and check before actually hitting buy. It’s also worth looking out for tables that come with a set of dining chairs, you can kill two birds with one stone or not! Most importantly, you have to make sure the style of table and chairs is correct for your dining room interior and that you are happy.

Remember: When purchasing your dining room furniture, don’t compromise on quality. Cheaper is not always better!