Dining Tables

Size
Before choosing a dining room table, measure your dining room. Remember that you will need space to walk around the table and pull out the chairs. Try to leave 48 inches between the edge of the table and the wall or closest piece of furniture.

When you are considering size, think about how many people will usually be sitting at your table. If you have a small family, a large dining table would feel impersonal. Most dining tables are 36 to 42 inches wide to accommodate food and place settings. Adjustable tables such as drop-leaf tables give you the option of expanding the length when necessary.

Style
Next, think about the overall feel you want the room to have. To give your home a cohesive feel, choose dining room furniture which reflects the architecture of your house and the style of other rooms in your house. A mahogany table may feel formal, but an oak dining table or pine dining table will feel casual, even though they are also made out of wood. The table legs can also change the style. When you think of a metal table, it's often very modern and sleek, but if the legs are curved, it can feel more elegant.

Dining Table Care
When choosing your table, consider the care that you are willing to put into it. Many wood dining tables are durable and may need only occasional furniture polish, but softer woods may be more susceptible to scratches and could benefit from use of a tablecloth. Glass dining tables may not scratch or stain, but fingerprints show up easily. Generally, any window cleaner can be used to clean glass dining tables.

Dining Chairs
If you purchase your dining chairs separately from your dining table, be sure the sizes work together. Most dining tables are 29 to 30 inches tall, and you want about 12 inches from seat to the top of the table. Remember to think about who will be sitting in your dining chairs. A narrow chair with a low back won't work if your family or guests are very tall. Heavy dining room chairs will be frustrating for children to pull out from the table.

Dining Chair Care
Many dining chairs come with upholstered seats, which are comfortable, but are also likely to be spilled on eventually. If you want a material that can be cleaned easily, consider buying upholstered dining chairs in fabrics such as leather, microfiber, or cotton. Heavier fabrics like velvet look and feel luxurious, but will require more work to clean. Wood chairs can usually be cleaned with commercial furniture polish.

Filling Your Dining Room with Furniture
Once you've chosen your dining table and chairs, you can sit down and eat in your dining room. But don't stop there! Including other furniture in the room will make it feel complete. If you are limited on space or want to add a small table to another room in your house, consider using bar furniture. Although smaller, bar tables are still functional, and they take up much less space. Remember to buy bar stools that fit the height of the table by following the twelve-inch rule: twelve inches between the table top and the chair's seat.

Are you looking for a kitchen table and chairs? Follow the same suggestions regarding size, but feel free to choose a kitchen set that is more casual than a dining set. If you have a collection of china dishware, show it off in a china cabinet. Choose one in a coordinating material to your dining table. In addition to your dishes, you can also use your cabinet to display figurines or other collectibles.

Adding a wine rack to your dining room can be elegant--not to mention convenient when you are entertaining. Storage of your wine collection can be a decorative element in a wood wine rack or an iron wine rack. Wine racks come in many different styles: some hang on the wall, some are integrated into pieces of furniture, others sit on the table. A buffet, also known as a sideboard, is a great place to set your wine rack.