Getting the right dining table for your home

Perhaps more than any other piece of furniture, you need to combine looks with practicality when you’re buying a dining table. Naturally you want your piece of furniture to look great but you’re going to be using it a great deal and as such, practicality should be a major consideration.

These days dining tables are put to a whole host of uses and chances are, anyone looking to purchase one may end up doing the family paperwork here more than they find themselves hosting dinner parties. Dining tables often double up as desks too with a computer installed to help with office issues or school homework.

All of this means that unless you’re buying a dining table for pure decoration, you need something durable and hard wearing that will respond to the minimum of care and maintenance. Make sure therefore that you opt for quality wood and stay away from veneers as they tend to wear much more quickly. Coverings are all very well to help reduce mess and damage but do you really want to spoil the look of the wood?

As far as size is concerned, you naturally need to measure the available space before deciding on which table to purchase. Remember that you, your family and your guests when you entertain do not want to be squeezing through tight spaces as and when they need to get up. It’s generally recommended that you leave at least 36 inches gap around the table itself to allow people to move freely.

It’s an unpleasant feeling, not to mention an expensive mistake to fall in love with a dining table and bring it home, only to find that it doesn’t fit so get out your measuring tape and get to work.

You can of course look to invest in an extending table that folds away when it’s not in use. That way you can bring it out into the centre of your room when you’re entertaining a large party of guests and then slot it away again when it’s not required.

The shape of your dining table is important too and while you may prefer an oval or round design, it’s far more practical to opt for a square table. This means that less space is wasted and if you are only ever going to entertain a small group then a square table could well be your best option.

Alternatively, for larger gatherings, round or oval tables can be more accommodating but ultimately the choice is yours and that’s the most important thing to remember. No-one else can choose your table for you so take as much time as you need before making your purchase and don’t be tempted to settle for second best.

Make sure you cover all your options too when it comes to sourcing your table: Compare styles and prices from high street stores with those found online in order to give yourself the biggest choice and the best possible chance of finding the table that’s perfect for you.