How to Choose the Right Dining Table

For many of us, the dining room is the heart of the home. It is where we spend time with friends and family eating, talking, playing games, just enjoying one’s company. Because your dining table is so important you want to make sure that you purchase the right one. Here are a few things to consider when making a purchase.

Table Style

Your dining set is the focal point of your dining room so you want to make sure that it works with your current style or décor unless you are planning to overhaul the look of the room. You may consider going with a simple design like the Darrel Leg Table or the Lawson Table, which will allow you to easily blend several styles.

The other style elements that you want to consider is the base configuration. There are 3 main base configurations: leg, single pedestal, double pedestal/trestle. Each style has its pros and cons, so you want to consider them carefully:

• Leg Style: a leg style table is easy to extend and typically can offer the longest extension. The downside is that you can be impeded by the legs at the corners when trying to squeeze a bunch of people around the table.
• Single Pedestal: great for creating a cozy atmosphere because everyone is facing each other, allowing for easier conversation. Typically used in smaller spaces, because you can squeeze more people around, but you can get larger round tables at 54” and 60” diameters. You are limited to how large you can expand the table; typically, most single pedestal tables can only accommodate 2 or maybe 3 leaves.
• Double Pedestal/Trestle: there has been an increase in popularity with this style as it allows for both expansion and good seating capacity. You need to be careful of the size of the base and how it affects how well people can sit. You want to make sure that the top extends over the base enough to make it comfortable to sit at.

Table Size

Getting the right size is important because you want to make sure that your dining table fits in the space as well as the number of people you want on a regular basis. One rule of thumb about spacing is to have about 2.5 – 3 feet of distance between your table and whatever you have by it, whether it be a wall or a piece of furniture. This allows a comfortable amount of space for someone to sit at the table with a little space to move around the table.

The number of people you want to seat will also dictate the size of your table. We typically recommend 24” per person, but in a squeeze, you can do 18-20”. Twenty-four inches allows for sufficient space for a place setting and elbow room.

A major factor in the longevity of your table is the material it is built from. There has an increase in demand for solid wood furniture, because of the durability and longevity it offers. The downside is typically solid wood furniture is quite expensive. Veneers have come a long way in recent years and some stores offer good quality veneer options. When making a decision you want to take into account how much your table will be used, if you have small children, and what your budget it. Consider, spending more now on a good quality table will potentially save you money down the road.[/vc_column_text][dfd_spacer screen_wide_spacer_size=”40″ screen_normal_resolution=”1024″ screen_tablet_resolution=”800″ screen_mobile_resolution=”480″ tutorials=””][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][dfd_spacer screen_wide_spacer_size=”40″ screen_normal_resolution=”1024″ screen_tablet_resolution=”800″ screen_mobile_resolution=”480″ tutorials=””][vc_column_text]Before spending your money, make sure you spend the time researching different styles so that way you really know what you want. At Metropolitan Furniture, we have approximately 5,000 square feet of space dedicated to showcasing dining tables in a variety of sizes and styles. Stop in, browse our selection, and find the table that’s perfect for you!