A dining table is not just a piece of furniture, in the minds of many people it is a symbol of a large comfortable home, family lunches and dinners, so its choice should be very deliberate.
How to choose a dining table: highlights
Before you buy a dining table, you need to answer three questions:
- Will the size of the room allow for a large table?
- What is the budget for the purchase?
- How many people do you plan to seat for it?
The answers to these questions will allow you to limit your search. If you have a small kitchen and a family of only three people, then you need a table as compact as possible. If you are the owner of a kitchen-living room or a spacious kitchen where you plan to gather guests several times a year, then look towards the round sliding table. For those with a large spacious dining area and a hefty budget, consider a large wooden oval or rectangular dining table.
Table sizes: how to choose
To choose a table at which it will be comfortable for all family members to eat at the same time, and not in turn, consider an important rule - one person needs to have 60 centimeterswidth and 40 centimeters of table depth for a comfortable fit. It will be nice if there is also a place for serving - put salad bowls or a common dish between the plates.
Thus, the minimum width of the table should be 80 centimeters. Choose the length depending on the number of people. For example, for four people: a meter by 80 centimeters is an ideal dining table in size. Table dimensions of 2 meters per meter are suitable for a company of 8 people, and for 12 people, a table length of more than 3 meters will be required.
As for round tables, here you need to look at its diameter. For 4 people, the diameter of the table must be at least 1 meter, 130 centimeters for 6 people, 150 for 8 people, and so on.
It is important not only to choose the size for the number of people, but also to take into account the area of the room and the presence of other furniture. It is important that the chair can be pushed back and sit comfortably, and not squeezed to the table. Therefore, it is better to keep the distance from the table to the wall or other furniture at least 100 centimeters.
To save space, you can order a custom-sized dining table that fits perfectly into the geometry of the space. Also, the table can be moved to the window or wall, especially if all family members eat at different times. And for family feasts, the table can be moved to the middle of the room.
Shape choice - rectangular and square dining table
The dimensions of the table are certainly important, but you should also carefully consider the choice of the shape of the table. Square and Rectanglethe most convenient, as they take up less space. A small square table can be placed in a corner or against a wall, then it will free up space in the room, but it will still comfortably fit 2 people behind it.
The rectangular table can be placed against the wall with a narrow or wide edge, thereby changing the amount of free space and the number of seats, which is very convenient when the need for both is constantly changing.
However, with small children, such a table can be a dangerous threat - it is better to close its sharp corners with special protective overlays.
Dining table - round or oval
Perhaps, it is the round table that is the very symbol of family feasts and home comfort. Therefore, the choice of this particular form is preferable for the dining room. A round table is also good because more people can comfortably fit behind it than a square table of the same size.
However, there is a downside - a round table takes up more space, so it can only be placed in a spacious kitchen or dining room.
A round dining table can stand on 4 legs, but often such tables are made on one massive underframe. It can be carved or figured and perform a decorative function.
An oval table is the perfect compromise for a spacious kitchen - it's as elegant and unusual as a round table, but has more usable area, like a rectangular one. It is also more suitable for rectangular elongatedrooms, which are often kitchens in typical homes. In them, as a rule, kitchen furniture is placed along one wall, and an oval dining table is placed along the opposite wall, the dimensions of which leave free space and allow people to sit comfortably.
Choose the material of the table
Modern dining tables are made from a variety of materials, but wood dining tables have been and remain the most popular. They are beautiful, reliable, practical and durable. However, they are also expensive, and besides, a table made of natural wood is inappropriate in a small kitchen. For her, you can choose a lighter and more budgetary option from chipboard. Laminated tables made of this material are not afraid of moisture and are easy to clean.
Glass tables are also very popular. They look light and weightless - what you need for small spaces. However, get ready for careful care - all stains, crumbs and fingerprints are visible on the glass. In addition, you should always put a napkin or mat under the dishes so as not to create loud sounds and not scratch the glass.
Dining table folding, sliding and folding - multifunctional options
Sliding tables are ideal for fairly spacious kitchens and dining rooms - when folded, this is a compact dining table that can accommodate up to 4 people, and for receiving guests it can expand up to 3 meters and accommodate up to 10 guests. Moreover, sliding tables can be of any shape - round or square, they can turn into a rectangular oroval or keep its shape depending on the unfolding mechanism.
Flip-down tables for small spaces are also very popular. So, one half of the tabletop can be folded at a square table, which makes its increase or decrease accessible even for a child. You can look for a similar table and a round shape, then when you recline one half you get a semicircular tabletop, which is perfect for a very small but elegant kitchen.
You can also purchase a folding dining table, which is called a pencil case. Such pencil cases fold completely and take up a space of about 50 centimeters wide. Such a table can be removed completely for a while when it is not in use or put against the wall and used as a decorative shelf.
