Dining Table Buying Guide
Table Buying Guide
The family
dining
table is the one piece that may last you a lifetime and
be part of various houses and different decorating schemes.
The advice is to buy a table that you love and of the best
quality your budget can afford.
Before you sit down to
view the
dining tables in our range it is useful to know the
answers to the following:
Budget – how much do you want to spend?
Family – how many people should it seat?
Space – how big is your dining room? Each
edge should have 48 inches between the table and the wall
for ease of use.
Lifestyle – do you want
an informal or formal look? Grand dinner parties or cosy
suppers?
Usage – will you use the table
for other activities? Study, arts and crafts, this may
affect the colour and finish of the table you choose.
Special Features – do you have a dual
purpose? A small table for your family that has extra leaves
for extending when you have dinner parties?
Your
table should be scaled appropriately for your room,
allow space for seating and circulation around the table.
The general rule is to leave 48 inches between the edge
of the table and the nearest wall or piece of furniture, you
could leave as little as 24 inches if there is no need to
pass behind the table.
Know how many people your
table will
cater for. Few people spread out on a large table can lack
atmosphere. If you entertain frequently, think about a
rectangular table that can seat many as well as considering
tables with extra leaves for those special occasions. Each
person requires 24 inches width to be sat comfortably.
Different shapes have their own advantages and one shape
may be more suited to your needs:
Rectangular:
this shape emphasises a room’s length and seats more people,
a large rectangular table would be the main feature of the
room and extra chairs can be stored elsewhere for larger
parties.
Circular: great for
conversation, as every person can see each other and is
conducive to a warm atmosphere. Be aware that circular
tables are not the most space efficient.
Square:excellent
for intimacy and very good for small spaces as they can be
tucked away when not needed.
Choose a wood that is echoed in furniture used elsewhere
to co-ordinate and balance the room.
Different woods
have different feels and grains.
Oak and
ash feel more formal and as a slow grown wood they have
variations in grain and colour that give each piece unique
characteristics. These slow grown woods are particularly
durable even in contact with moisture.
Pine and other quick grown woods have a more informal
feel which can add light and a modern edge to a room.
Especially useful in smaller places that would benefit from
a simpler, lighter look.
Extra leaves that are elegantly disguised beneath the
table can then be used to extend the length of the table
when necessary. The quality is uncompromised, the extra
leaves are made to the same standards.
Extending tables are useful for hosting dinner parties,
as they can be returned to their smaller size for everyday
use, giving you more room when you need it.
To maintain
the colour quality of extending
tables, it is
suggested especially with darker woods, to ensure the table
is kept out of direct sunlight for long periods of time, to
ensure an even colour across the fully extended table.