What should you furnish your dining room with?
The dining room is a crucial part of your home. It’s great for hosting guests and sharing meals with your friends and family. As such, furnishing it with the right items is important. This article talks about the most essential furniture pieces your dining room should have. Check them out!
Dining Table
The dining table is the dining room’s anchor furniture — it’s supposed to be the focal dining room furniture or the main attraction of the space. Dining tables come in plenty of sizes, materials, and styles. When deciding which dining table to pick, choose one that meets your day-to-day needs and can accommodate fancy dinners for when you have guests.
The dining table’s shape should also be a consideration. Depending on the shape or size of your room, the right dining table shape can make or break your space’s aesthetics and functionality. Here’s a rundown of the pros and cons of various dining table shapes:
• Round: round dining tables are perfect for small spaces since you have free moving space. However, because it lacks corners, it doesn’t have arm support.
• Oval: oval dining tables are just like rectangular ones: they’re great for dinner parties. The difference is that it lacks corners, so conversations and guests feel closer and more intimate.
• Square: square dining tables are best for symmetrical-shaped rooms and smaller spaces. They provide ample arm support and work best for small families.
• Rectangle: rectangular dining tables are great for large, open dining rooms. The downside is that the people sitting at the ends of the table tend to feel disconnected when having group conversations.
Chairs
A dining room isn’t complete without a complete set of chairs. Many dining tables come with matching chairs, but you can also buy your preferred set based on your aesthetics. There’s no hard and fast rule when it comes to chair selection, but the goal is to have functional and stylish chairs.
You can buy neutral chairs or mix and match different styles for great visual impact. In other words, the chairs don’t always have to match. In fact, mismatched chairs are somewhat of a trend.
Regardless of the design and type you choose, choose comfortable chairs. They should have enough cushion so that you and your family members or guests can enjoy them, whether you’re having a dinner party or simply sitting and having a conversation.
Storage Spaces
A good dining room should also have extra storage space, such as a cabinet or a hutch where you can store items like surplus wine or even tableware. You can also place dishes in the space to save room for other important items during meals.
If you’re working with a small space, different storage solutions are available in the market. Console tables and corner bar carts are great options. They make your space feel more complete while letting you store away seasonal items, dishes, and china.
Lighting
The dining room is a heavy traffic area in the house, especially in the evening. As a result, it’s important to find the right lighting for this space. When choosing a lighting fixture, consider its proportion to the size of the room and the dining table.
You should also consider the type of lighting you want. Ambient lighting and sconces are perfect in the dining room, especially if you can’t accommodate a chandelier. Pendant lights and downlights are also great for layering.
Rugs
While rugs are often ignored when planning, they’re an essential furnishing that separates your dining room (and dining room floor) from the rest of your house. Having no area rug in the dining room makes it look bare.
When shopping for area rugs, prioritize durability. Look for rugs that are easy to clean and made of environmentally friendly materials.
Other Tips to Follow
Apart from those essentials, you should also follow these tips:
• Play with the Colors: colors set the tone for your dining room. Play with neutral colors, a variety of hues, and even bold colors.
• Decorate Your Walls: find a piece of wall art that speaks to you or add an accent wall color that ties the room together.
• Use Decorations: personalize the space with vases, centerpieces, and decorative objects — just don’t overdo it.
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