How Do You Choose the Perfect Dining Set for Your Home?
The dining table is often the heart of any home where gatherings and family meals take place. Each dining room is unique, determined by size, design, and your own personal style. A dining room can be dark and formal with heavy wood furniture or light and airy with a dining set of glass and metal – and everything in between. There are dining room sets for small and large dining rooms, for formal and casual dining, and all manner of designs to suit your home’s vibe.
Read on for some tips you can use to choose a dining set that fits your needs, space, and design preferences.
What Should I Consider When Choosing a Dining Table Set?
When shopping for a new dining set, there are a few key factors that can help guide you toward the perfect table and matching chairs. Start with the size and shape of your dining room to explore dining sets that will fit comfortably in the space. Then explore tables that match your personal aesthetic in a material you love.
- Room Size to Table Size: Measure the dining space you will be furnishing. Subtract 6 feet from both the length and width to give plenty of space for chairs and maneuvering. The right size table will allow three feet of clearance on all sides.
- Example: A 6' by 3' table would be a good size for a dining room that is 12' by 9'
- For an open plan or larger dining room, consider tables with extending leaves for large gatherings, as well.
- Table Shape: Explore how round, oval, square, or rectangular tables might fit best into your space and suit your lifestyle.
- Style and Aesthetic: Look for dining sets that align with your own personal style and home decor, from charming rustic tables to sleek modern table sets.
- Material: Consider the ideal materials for your table. Traditional dining tables are generally made of wood, but glass and metal tables offer a stylish, modern look that fits with more contemporary decor.
- Wood dining tables can be formal or more casual. With the right care, they can be the beloved gathering place in your home for years to come.
- Glass-topped dining tables should be easy to clean and can add a dramatic flair to more contemporary homes.
- Mixed materials in your dining table can offer contrasting elements that are a central part of much of the design popular today.
Sizing and Seating Tips
How many people can you seat at your dining room table? That depends on the size of the room and the table combined. Remember that your dining table should have at least three feet of room on each side, therefore it should be six feet smaller in length and width than your dining room space.
Each side of your dining table can accommodate a certain number of chairs. The difference between a dining table set for 4 and a dining table set for 6 is all in the side lengths.
- Dining table lengths vary from one chair to four.
- One chair lengths vary from 38" to 54".
- Two-chair lengths range from 60" to 70"
- Three-chair lengths range from 72" (snug) to 96" (roomy)
- Four-chair lengths (very long tables) range from 96" (snug) to 108" (roomy)
- Dining table widths tend to be one chair wide,
- One chair widths tend to be between 38" and 40".
- You need at least 48" width to seat two chairs at each end, and this is common only with the largest tables.
- Square dining tables tend to seat one on each side, but may be as large as 72" by 72" and tend to seat up to two people on each side, or three very snugly.
- Round dining table sets can seat:
- 4-5 at a 42" diameter
- 4-6 at a 48" diameter
- 5-6 at a 54" diameter
- 6-8 at a 60" diameter
If you sometimes need to seat a large gathering, like on family holidays, look for extendable tables with fold-out or insertable table leaves. Some tables feature designs where the leaf will slide and nest underneath the table when not in use. Leaves can add one to three more seats at each side of the table, depending on the table and your available space. A leaf can also transform a square into a rectangle or a circle into an oval.
Choosing the Right Table for Your Lifestyle (and Budget)
Dining tables also play an important role in the family lifestyle. They are not only the hub of formal gatherings, they are also the spot where so much of life happens – family meals, work and homework, arts and crafts, and many other activities. It's important to choose a dining table that is not just right for meals, but for your entire household style – and one that fits comfortably in your budget.
How do you choose dining furniture on a budget? Explore versatile and durable material options and designs that can help you balance style and affordability. We always recommend choosing pieces that have a look that can transition to work with different decor styles over time, which can help you maximize your dining set's long-term value.
- Families with Children: Wood tables are a great option that offer a comfortable spot, with no sharp edges.
- Frequent Entertainers: Choose a dining set that extends so you can scale your furniture to your guest count - including unexpected plus-ones.
- Small Space Dwellers: Smaller square and circular dining tables fit cozily into small spaces while providing the comfortable elegance you need to enjoy meals.
Why Choose Bush Home for Your Dining Table Set?
Bush Home offers a beautiful selection of dining table set collections, making it easy to furnish your dining room in a stylish and functional way.
The Sterling dining collection features a charming farmhouse-style rectangular trestle table in your choice of a solid light wood tone or a darker wood tone with black accents. This traditional dining set comfortably seats 6 people with comfortable matching cross-backed chairs. Or you pair our Windsor collection spindle chairs in matching black, white, or honey brown with this table.
The West End collection features a charming round table that comfortably seats four and fits into even the coziest dining room spaces. The durable and attractive cross-base style provides room for everyone's knees beneath the table with your choice of cross-backed dining chairs or spindle chairs in black or white. This is an ideal set for a small home, kitchen nooks, and intimate meals.
Explore the collections for yourself on our website to find the perfect set for your space. And when you sign up for our newsletter, you can get even more home styling and furniture tips, delivered right to your inbox.
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