A dining table is not just a piece of furniture, in the minds of many people it is a symbol of a large cozy house, family lunches and dinners, so its choice should be very deliberate.
How to choose a dining table: highlights
Before buying a dining table, you need to answer three questions:
- Will the size of the room allow a large table to be placed?
- What is the purchase budget?
- How many people are planned to sit for him?
Answers to these questions will limit the search. If you have a small kitchen and a family of only three people, then the table is needed as compact as possible. If you are the owner of a kitchen-living room or a spacious kitchen where you plan to gather guests several times a year, then look towards the round sliding table. Those who have a large spacious dining room and an impressive budget should consider a large wooden oval or rectangular dining table.
Table sizes: how to choose
To choose a table at which it will be comfortable to eat all family members at the same time, and not in turn, consider an important rule - one person needs to have 60 centimeters of width and 40 centimeters of table depth for a comfortable fit. It will be nice if there is still room for serving - put salad bowls or a common dish between the plates.
Thus, the minimum width of the table should be 80 centimeters. Choose the length depending on the number of people. For example, for four people: a meter by 80 centimeters is an ideal-sized dining table. Table dimensions of 2 meters per meter are suitable for a company of 8 people, and for 12 people a table length of more than 3 meters will be required.
As for round tables, here you need to look at its diameter. For 4 people, the diameter of the table should be at least 1 meter, 130 centimeters for 6 people, 150 for 8 and so on.
It is important not only to choose the size for the number of people, but also to take into account the area of the room and the presence of other furniture. It is important that the chair can be moved away and sit comfortably, and not squeeze to the table. Therefore, the distance from the table to the wall or other furniture is better to withstand at least 100 centimeters.
To save space, you can order a dining table according to your individual size, which fits perfectly into the geometry of the space. Also, the table can be moved to a window or wall, especially if all family members eat at different times. And for family feasts, the table can be extended to the middle of the room.
Shape selection - rectangular and square dining table
The size of the table is certainly important, but you should carefully consider the choice of table shape. A square and a rectangle are most convenient, since they take up less space. A small square table can be placed in a corner or against a wall, then it will free up the space of the room, but 2 people can still fit comfortably behind it.
A rectangular table can be placed against the wall with a narrow or wide edge, thereby changing the amount of free space and the number of seats, which is very convenient when the need for both is constantly changing.
True, with small children, such a table can be a dangerous threat - it is better to close its sharp corners with special protective pads.
Dining table - round or oval
Perhaps the round table is the very symbol of family feasts and home comfort. Therefore, the choice of this particular form is preferred for the dining room. The round table is also good because it can comfortably accommodate more people than a square of the same size.
However, there is a minus - a round table takes up more space, so it can only be put in a spacious kitchen or dining room.
A round dining table can stand on 4 legs, but often such tables are made on one massive table. It can be carved or curly and perform a decorative function.
The oval table will be the perfect compromise for a spacious kitchen - it is also elegant and unusual, like a round one, but has more useful area, like a rectangular one. It is also more suitable for a rectangular elongated room, which are often the kitchens in typical houses. In them, as a rule, kitchen furniture is placed on one wall, and along the opposite there is an oval dining table, the dimensions of which leave free space and allow people to sit comfortably.
Choose table material
Modern dining tables are made from a variety of materials, but still the most popular were and are wooden dining tables. They are beautiful, reliable, practical and durable. However, dear, moreover, a table made of natural wood is inappropriate in a small kitchen. For her, you can choose an easier and more budget option from particleboard. Laminated tables made of this material are not afraid of moisture and are easy to clean.
Glass tables are also very popular. They look light and weightless - what you need for small rooms. However, get ready for a thorough care - all spots, crumbs and fingerprints are visible on the glass. In addition, a napkin or mat should always be put under the dishes so as not to create loud noises and not scratch the glass.
Folding, sliding and folding dining table - multifunctional options
Extendable tables are ideal for fairly spacious kitchens and dining rooms - when folded, this is a compact dining table that can accommodate up to 4 people, and for receiving guests it can be folded up to 3 meters and accommodate up to 10 guests. Moreover, the sliding tables can be of any shape - round or square, they can turn into a rectangular or oval or keep their shape depending on the folding mechanism.
Folding tables for small spaces are also very popular. So, at the square table one half of the countertop can be folded, which makes its increase or decrease available even for a child. You can look for a similar table and a round shape, then when folding one half, you get a semicircular countertop, which is perfect for milking a very small but elegant kitchen.
You can also purchase a folding dining table, which is called a pencil case. Such pencil cases fold up completely and take up space about 50 centimeters wide. Such a table can be removed at the very time when it is not in use or put on the wall and used as a decorative shelf.