How to Choose Dining Room Furniture

Your dining room furniture likely will be multipurpose for everything from holiday meals to daily homework station. So you need to choose well to make the most of this hitherto underused space. Here are some design ideas and practical advice Red Barn Furniture Outlet has picked up along the way and would like to share with you.

Your Dining Table Size and Shape

The No. 1 mistake homeowners make when choosing a dining table is being inaccurate about the dimensions. This can be disastrous both practically, if you have trouble getting in and out of the room, as well as aesthetically. A table that’s too small will stick out in a bad way too. So be very careful with your yardstick or tape measure, checking your results twice and writing everything down. You must have at least two feet of clearance between the dining table’s edges and the surrounding walls. That way your dining set will command the room’s look but you can comfortably slide chairs in and out. Actually, the golden number for this clearance space is 36 inches. Width is another practical factor, making reaching for things at the table too awkward if it’s too wide. Shoot for something narrower than 48 inches. Also, the table should be about 30 inches off the floor.

If you’re stuck with a cramped space for your dining room, a tempered-glass tabletop is a proven designer trick to make it seem larger.

Your Dining Chair Options

Try out dining furniture in our store to figure out your ideal seat-to-table distance. Make sure your choice of chair slides easily under the table without the arms bumping or scraping under the tabletop.

If you want to mix one style of dining chairs with a table from another set, go for it. While some looks clash, making a clumsy design statement, such as Early American chairs with a sleek glass table, others will impress your guests with their irony and whimsy.

Whatever dining room furniture style and dimensions you prefer, our St. Stephens Church, VA store is ready to help your room match your design vision affordably.