While the thought of making a major furniture purchase can be almost paralyzing, there are some simple ways to make the decision much less stressful.
One piece of furniture that can inspire fear is the dining room table.
Many people narrow down the choices to either a round dining table or a rectangle table.
A dining room table feels like an investment and it is important to make a wise decision in order for it to be functional for many years.
This purchase will require planning and understanding the space available in the dining room or eating area.
Here are a few tips: oComfort is key The greatest dinner ever will not overcome a dining room table and chairs that are not comfortable.
Guests will want to linger over dessert and coffee, so make sure the chairs and table invite your guests to stay as long as they want.
oSet the stage The dining room table and chairs are setting the stage for many memorable events.
From holiday dinners with family to casual dinners with friends, the table and chairs will be an important part of all of these events.
oReflect the house The dining room should reflect the style and mood in the rest of the house.
When choosing the table and chairs, care should be exercised to make sure it flows with the rest of the house.
A formal dining room suite will appear out of place in a casual environment.
When starting the quest for the right table, answer a few basic questions.
Do you want modern or traditional, formal or informal and what material best fits those requirements.
Again, by looking at the rest of the house, these choices should be fairly obvious.
The next step is to determine how you will use the table.
If you have a large family or entertain a great deal, an extendable table might be the best fit for your needs.
Today even round dining tables are available in extendable styles.
It can be very helpful to draw your dining room to scale to help determine what size table will work best.
Graph paper can make this task much easier.
Drawing your dining room helps you determine the best size and shape table for your space.
Next, cut out different shapes (again to scale) to place in your drawing to see which works best in your space.
There are some basic principles of size and space to consider.
Here are some measurements to take into account before searching for your table: oEach place setting needs 24" along the edge of the table.
oAllot at least 10" in the middle of the table for decorating and side dishes.
oLeave 36" around the perimeter of the table to allow easy access for all guests without bumping into the table or other guests.
After taking all of these suggestions into consideration, a round dining table might be the right choice for you.
Round dining tables give added dimension to a room and encourage conversation.
If Feng Shui is a consideration, round dining tables symbolize a heavenly blessing.
A round dining table can be the key to making a dining room worthy of many special meals.