Dining Room Furniture Buying Guide
from Overstock.comYour dining room is a place where family and friends gather for special occasions. The dining room furniture you choose will show that everyone is welcome in your home. When the room feels comfortable, looks stylish and accommodates all your guests, every meal you eat there will feel like a celebration.
Chances are the dining room furniture you buy now will be the furniture you will have for many years to come. Knowing a few key facts will help you shop intelligently and purchase dining room furniture that will meet your needs and last for years. This dining room furniture buying guide includes some basic information to help you sort through the options and choose the dining furniture that will work best for you.
Dining tables
Size
When you are considering size, also 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 dining-room to have. To give your home a cohesive feel, choose diningroom furniture that reflects the architectural style of your house -- from the defining Tudor arch to the latticed rococo molding -- and the style of other rooms in your house -- from the home office bookcase to the foyer fireplace. Bring the look of a favorite coffee table, cocktail table or console table into your dining room selection, whether you're searching for side chairs, armchairs or benches.
The materials your dining table is made of have an effect on style, but not all rules are hard and fast. For example, a mahogany table may feel formal, but an oak dining table or pine dining table could feel relaxed, just as a gilded velvet settee could go from 18th century Louis XV to contemporary casual the minute you reupholster it with microfiber. The table legs can also change the style. Wood furniture featuring a carved, Chippendale claw foot on a teak dinette table leg makes a very different impression than the country-style rustic appearance of a cedar or beech wood trestle that's evocative of a log cabin, farmhouse or barn. Likewise, when you think of a freestanding metal table, it's often modern and sleek, but if the legs are curved and adorned with finials, it can feel more elegant.
Dining table care
When choosing your table, consider the care you are willing to put into it. Many wood dining tables are durable and may only need occasional furniture polish, but softer woods are 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. Look for dining chairs that are 18 to 19 inches tall for standard height tables. A seat width of 20 to 24 inches will be most comfortable, but other width sizes can be stylish if they fit the scale of your 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. Find bar stools and counter stool seating that measures up to the height of your counter or bar 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, microsuede, or cotton. Heavier fabrics like velvet look and feel like dining in a luxury restaurant, but they require more work to clean. Wood chairs can usually be cleaned with commercial furniture polish.
Dining set pricing
Many dining room tables and chairs are sold together as dining sets. This is an easy way to furnish your dining room so you can start using it. It can also save you the trouble of figuring out whether or not the chairs fit the table.
The prices of dining tables, chairs, or dining sets can be influenced by a few factors. First, the materials of the dining room's table and chairs may affect the price. Hardwoods are often the most expensive, but these are quite durable and beautiful. Engineered woods -- particle board or veneered woods -- are often less expensive but can last a long time if cared for correctly. Second, the price can be affected by whether or not you assemble the dining room furniture yourself. Pre-assembled pieces can cost a bit more and may take a little longer to be shipped, but if you don't have the time or patience to assemble furniture, the cost may be worth it. It also increases the likelihood that your unfinished armoire doors and entertainment center drawers hang straight and flush.
Remember that you will probably have your dining room furniture for many years. Choosing the style and size you like now will matter years from now, long after you've forgotten the price.
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 and backless swivel chairs that fit the height of the table or kitchen island 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, hutch or open dinette shelving. Choose one in a coordinating material to your dining table. In addition to your dishes, you can also use your ornate cupboards 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.
Think about the dining you do in other rooms. For outdoor barbecues, pick out a picnic table or quality, porch-side folding cart table as well as rattan lawn chairs, garden chairs and brawny, stackable furnishings. Think about a smooth transition after dining. If you plan to entertain in your home's hall or reception room, you might love the youthful pub-style charm of a gaming table and lounge chair setup, or you could prefer the tandem reclining that can only take place with the parallel rocking chairs of a wonderful sectional. From beanbag to bedpost and easy chair to glider ottoman, consider everything you might need to get the most out of your dining experience.
And with Overstock.com's great discounts and large selection of furniture, you'll have no trouble furnishing your dining room.
What size rug should I put under my dining room table?
Ideally, a rug will be large enough that when a dining chair is pulled out far enough to comfortably seat a person, all the chair legs will still be on the rug. Consider choosing your dining set first and the rug later if you are unsure. If your dining room is carpeted, you don't need an area rug, but layering one over the carpet will define the area and be very attractive.
What size table should I buy?
Here's a basic guide to how many people you can fit at your dining table. Remember to consider the size of the people to ensure personal comfort. These sizes are approximate; available dining tables may not be in these exact dimensions.
- Four people:
28-inch to 40-inch square
36-inch to 48-inch round - Four to six people:
28-inch by 46-inch to 40-inch by 58-inch rectangle
58-inch to 78-inch round - Six to eight people:
36-inch by 60-inch to 48-inch by 72-inch rectangle or oval - Eight to ten people:
36-inch by 80-inch to 48-inch by 92-inch rectangle
36-inch by 36-inch to 80-inch by 92-inch oval - Ten to twelve people:
36-inch by 96-inch to 48-inch by 108-inch rectangle - Fourteen to sixteen people:
36-inch by 124-inch to 48-inch by 126-inch rectangle
Set your dining table in style with dinnerware from Overstock.com's home store. You'll find casual settings as well as formal dinnerware. While you're online shopping, be sure to check out our selection of glassware, including fine stemware and casual tumblers. With the wide selection available and our unbeatable discount prices, you'll be able to set the table for every occasion.
No dining room is complete without a chandelier or pendant fixture hanging over the table. It's the jewel of the room! You'll find chandeliers and pendant lights in the lighting department of Overstock.com's home store. Be sure to hang the light fixture so the bottom of it is 28 to 32 inches from the table top. For accent lighting, check out Overstock.com's excellent selection of sconces, mirrors and discount ceiling lighting fixtures.
Beautify the walls in your dining room with art from the art department in Overstock.com's home store. Complement your dinner with cuisine art or create a peaceful mood with landscape art. With all the art you have to choose from, you'll be inspired to fill every wall in your dining room.
Browse Overstock.com for other great furnishing finds, from bedroom furniture to office furniture to furniture for the living-room, you will find bedroom suites, writing desks and loungers with impeccable style. Keep an eye out for your ideal bedside nightstand to match your chest of drawers and tiffany-style lamp shade. Page through the selection of ergonomic office chairs, Adirondack folding chairs and luxuriant recliners, sofas and loveseats for your sprawling pleasure. When you're finished there, look through our bathroom funiture for everything from unfinished vanities to folding wicker storage to the bathroom shelf. Whatever you need, we have it at Overstock.com.