How To Choose A Kitchen And Dining Room Set

Summary

• Choose the right material for your kitchen and dining room set. Wood is the most timeless and versatile choice, even more durable when you go for solid options (whereas wood-looking laminate is a cheaper alternative). Glass can add a modern or contemporary touch, but it requires more wiping and could result in accidents if you have young kids running around. You could also experiment with sturdy metal or luxurious marble

• Consider your needs and room when choosing the right shape: square and rectangular tables work best for large households and settings, whereas round and oval ones can look more traditional

• Find the right decorative style that matches the rest of your interiors. Some popular options are pedestal tables that allow for more legroom, rustic farmhouse sets for large settings, streamlined shaker-style models that enhance their hardwood construction without stealing the scene, and industrial sets consisting of a simple wooden tabletop with raw metal legs

• It's not compulsory to choose a table and chairs that match, but you should do so if you prefer a more consistent feel

• Another great option is to go for chairs with complementary features as long as they share one common element

What is the Best Material for a Dining Table?

There are plenty of dining table materials to choose from but it's best to look at durable materials if you are planning on using your dining table for many years to come. Dolores Suarez, a founder of Dekar Design, says: "Most people don't change their dining chairs very often, so the durability of the materials and quality of construction are very important".  Bearingthis tip in mind, let's dive in.

Wood

Wood kitchen and dining room sets are by far the most popular choice. Whether they're stained or painted, wood has structural integrity and durability. It's timeless, it fits with many different types of decor, and it's elegant.

Solid wood is often more expensive than composite wood or other materials, but if you take care of it like you should, it will last for a long time. It could even last for generations, making a great family heirloom. Mahogany, maple, oak, and walnut are some of your best choices.

Glass

Glass is modern and futuristic. It fits well with a modern or industrial style dining room. Glass is easy to clean, but it can be fragile, so it's not the best choice for homes with rowdy kids or pets.

While this type of table can look very sophisticated, it's important to remember that it's a long term investment that may require extra maintenance because it shows fingerprints and dust more prominently that others.

Remember to always go for tempered glass. As far as thickness is concerned, 1/2 and 3/8 inch options are considered the most durable.

Metal

Metal is very sturdy and durable. It's an awesome choice for industrial or contemporary spaces with cool design features. It's stain resistant, which makes it a great choice for high traffic rooms or homes with kids.

The downside of metal is that it tends to be heavy, which might be a nuisance for buyers who are constantly on the move or those who will, for whatever reason, need to change the table's location around the house.

Marble

Traditionally thought of as a kitchen countertop material, marble can be a great choice for dining room sets as well. It's a timeless showstopper that leaves nobody indifferent. But luxury comes at a price. Also, marble has two serious drawbacks - it's terribly heavy and may crack or stain when not taken care of properly. For a more budget-friendly option that is equally attractive, you could also opt for other stone table tops like onyx or granite.

Laminate

Laminate can be made to look like wood grain through a printed process, but let's not fool ourselves - it will almost always look manufactured. This is not to say, however, that laminate is a bad choice. Quite the contrary, it's affordable, heat and scratch resistant, easy to clean and comes in a multitude of options. But… it's not wood. If you want to find a middle ground between real wood and laminate, veneer will be your best bet.

What is the Best Dining Table Shape?

The shape of your dining table largely depends on your preferences and the size of your room.

Circle or oval kitchen and dining tables have a more conventional feel and look great in farmhouse kitchens or any other more traditional space. They also make your room feel larger, so if you have a smaller eating space, choose a table with soft edges.

Square and rectangular tables have a more modern feel and look better in contemporary or industrial spaces. They also tend to take up more room than their circular counterparts, so they look better in larger spaces.

If you have a large family, it's likely best to choose a square or rectangle table. A round table that seats six is slightly smaller than a rectangle table that seats six, so every person will have a bit more room and you'll be able to accommodate a larger meal on a rectangle table.

Nevertheless, when it comes to socializing rather than eating, your needs may be slightly different and you may want to consider the following advice: "Small round tables are optimal for conversation and flexibility in number of guests," adds Barbara Eberlein, president and creative director of Eberlein Design. "Long, narrow rectangular tables maximize the number of guests along the perimeter but create a very different conversation pattern. Consider the type of environment you'd like to create."

How to Select the Style of a Dining Room Set?

Aside from material and shape, there are a lot of styles to choose from that go with different decorating schemes:

Pedestal

Pedestal tables have one bulky column in the center of the table top. The bottom of the column has a larger base to help support the table. It's a great solution for a room with limited space.

Farmhouse

This style features heavy, distressed wood construction and is an excellent choice for large, epic spaces that accommodate heavy country dinners. The legs are thick and sturdy, and these tables often seat eight or more.

Rustic

Similar to the farmhouse style, the rustic style features a wood table top that's often unpainted and distressed. However, many rustic styles will also incorporate modern flair in the form of metal legs or other modern features.

Shaker

Shaker style kitchen and dining room sets are very simple and functional. They lack ornamental designs or intricate carvings. Defined by their sturdy hardwood construction, simple lines and classic tapered legs. Shaker dining sets are an easy fit in nearly any interior where the dining area is not supposed to be a focal point as they do not draw much attention.

Industrial

These kitchen and dining room sets are typically large, heavy, and impressive. They very often feature heavy wood tabletops, which look fabulous paired with the geometric lines of raw metal legs.

Should Dining Chairs Match Your Table?

Dining chairs don't necessarily have to match the table exactly, although this is the safest way to go if don't have a flair for interior decorating. Buying a dining room set is a guarantee that the pieces will always look good together.

If you choose complementary styles and colors, the pieces will work well together in the same space without making it look like you picked out a matching set all on the same trip to the store.

A good rule of thumb is to choose tables and chairs that share a common element, such as the finish, the style period or the design of legs.

However, this isn't a strict rule. You can choose anything you like and it doesn't matter if it matches, as long as it makes you happy. Shelby Girard, the Director of Design at Heavenly states: 'Gone are the days of matching dining room furniture sets', and adds: 'With a simple neutral table, I like mixing various styles of chairs. Just keep within a similar color family or style to create some consistency".

Whether you're looking for contemporary or traditional, kitchen and dining room sets come in all shapes and sizes, so choose the one that works best for your space and you'll be able to make memories for years to come.