An indispensable part of any dining room, a dining table is much more than just a practical piece of wood where you eat. Your dining table says a lot about you and your lifestyle, and the decor of your home will be greatly influenced by the shape, color, and style of your dining table, so it is good to find one that matches your design sensibilities. This guide will help you determine what dining table is right for you.
Dining Table Shapes
Rectangular Dining Tables
It is hard to go wrong with a rectangular dining table. A tried and true classic, the shape provides plenty of elbow room for you and your guests, allowing you to crowd lots of people around it. The angled features of a rectangular table complement contemporary and traditional decors alike, making it a versatile option.
Round Dining Tables
Ideal for use in intimate or cramped settings like apartments and breakfast nooks, round dining tables make excellent use of limited space without rigidly defining where people should sit like square and rectangular dining tables do. Many round dining tables are built with hinged edges or leaf inserts, allowing you to choose exactly how wide they are depending on your needs.
Square Dining Tables
Another excellent choice for small apartments and homes, square dining tables are straightforward and usually less obtrusive than rectangular ones. Square dining tables come in several sizes, but the smaller the square, the more intimate the effect will be. Rectangular tables are often better for hosting very large parties.
Oval Dining Tables
Combining the best elements of round and rectangular dining tables, an oval dining table can be generously sized but also provide intimacy. The elegant curves of an oval-shaped table are a stylish accent to both contemporary and rustic decors, and those with a more narrow shape can give a room a unique look.
Dining Table Materials
Wood
Beautified by the natural lines and curves of woodgrain, wooden dining tables always provide sophistication paired with stability. The color of wood varies depending on the type of tree it was harvested from, and a nearly unlimited variety of finishes and varnishes can emphasize or reimagine the natural color. Whatever color is right for your decor, a wooden dining table will always feel like a classy and lavish addition to a home.
Glass
A glass tabletop brings an element of clear and free sobriety to a home’s style. Many table’s feature glass inserts in the tabletop, while other tabletops are made entirely from glass. Either one accentuates the beauty and shape of the table’s base and interior, meaning that it is usually important to find a table with a chic base.
Marble
A material most often used for kitchen counters, marble can also be used for tabletops to gorgeous effect. The naturally irregular patterns found in the sediment of marble bring an element of authentic beauty to a room, and marble comes in an enormous range of wondrous colors. Marble tabletops can often be found with wooden bases, utilizing the lovely contrast between woodgrain and sediment.
Metal
Straightforward and highly durable, a metal dining table promotes contemporary appeal. More than marble and wood, a metal tabletop appeals to an industrial sensibility. The finish is also a key element in a metal dining table. Chromed tabletops are more reflective, which can be useful for certain styles, but a more matte brushed finish could also be what you need.
Dining Table Styles
Traditional
Homey and timeless, a dining table with a traditional design utilizes refined embellishments like extravagantly lathed legs and molded edging, but also places a lot of value on stability and reliability. Traditional dining tables are perfect for any home that values constancy and comfort.
Contemporary
Futuristic and unorthodox, a contemporary-styled dining table can be either minimalist or ornate as long as it is unexpected. Many contemporary dining tables look like they could be found in a modern art museum, making them perfect for an eclectic home that values bold and unconventional flair.
Rustic
Styled like the furniture in farmhouses and cottages, a rustic dining table will often appear worn and home-made. Rustic dining tables are most often used for decors that value the simple and the authentic, and will therefore not feature a lot of embellishment or extravagance.
Industrial
Chunky and bold, a dining table with industrial style should look like it belongs in a carpenter’s workshop or a factory. Industrial dining tables don’t incorporate obvious adornment, but will instead be angular and larger than life with straight lines and thick tabletops.
How High Should I Hang a Chandelier Over a Dining Table?
When hanging a chandelier above an Paramus Mega Furniture dining table, make sure that it is the proper size – this is key when adding chandeliers to any space. If your chandelier is too small it will throw off the scale of your room and if it’s too large it will overpower your table. Once you nail down the size, you can then hang your chandelier 30-34 inches above your table.
How to Set a Dining Room Table?
There are three types of table settings. The first is a basic setting, which is used during everyday dinners, weekend brunches, and casual events. To use this setting, you arrange a placemat on the table and top it off with a dinner plate right in the center. A napkin is then placed to the left of the plate with a fork set right on top. To the right of the plate, from closest to furthest, are the knife and the spoon. You then place a water glass above the plate and utensils. The second type of table setting style is the casual table setting. This is very similar to the basic place setting but with the inclusion of a salad plate and a soup bowl on top of the dinner plate. This setting also replaces a regular spoon with a soup spoon and adds a wine glass to the mix. The last and most complicated place setting is the formal table. You can follow countless styles of formal table settings depending on the occasion, your sensibilities or your traditions. Once you have your table setting style nailed down, you can then decorate your table with fun centerpieces like florals, vases, and candles and candle holders.
