Choosing furniture for your dining room

Dining together as a family is one of life’s great pleasures: memories are shared at the dinner table, plans are made, the day’s news exchanged. With a little bit of forward planning it will be easier to make your dining room a warm, welcoming space that you and your family will love to spend time in.

Planning your space

Just as with any room, it pays to measure your space first and to make paper templates of the pieces you’d like to include so you can experiment with different layouts and check clearances when tables are extended, drawers pulled out and cupboards opened. Some pieces of furniture will arrive fully assembled so ensure that you check access points are big enough and that any awkward angles, narrow hallways and staircases can be negotiated without difficulty. Don’t clutter your space with too much furniture. What starts out as a large room can easily begin to feel small and cramped if you over fill it.

Tables

The centrepiece of your room will be your dining table. All of our wooden tables, be they oak, pine or sheesham wood, are designed with modern family life in mind. They’re strong, sturdy and finished with lacquer or varnish to withstand slops and spills and show off their natural beauty. If you’re a family that entertains regularly then you will probably need a big table, or at least one that extends to accommodate extra guests. Extending tables are just the thing for smaller spaces, too, as they help you maximise space for your everyday needs while still giving you flexibility when friends or family visit. In our ranges you’ll find tables that can seat from 4 up to 12 people, and space-saving round or square tables so that even if your dining room is of modest proportions, we’ll have something to suit.

Chairs

A strong, comfy chair is paramount for all those long, relaxing dinners, spending time with friends or working away on your laptop. All our dining tables have chairs that complement them perfectly or you could mix it up a bit by combining styles. Try our bonded leather chairs if you want to add a touch of contemporary luxury. Or a combination of designs to add contrast if you’re after a more eclectic look. On the practical side, check that chairs can be easily pushed underneath the table when not in use – particularly important if you choose chairs with arms. If your table extends and you buy extra chairs, make sure you have somewhere to store them without them getting in the way. Although chairs tend to come in standard sizes, do check that the ones you choose are compatible with the height of your table. And remember, a higher back has more visual impact so may not be the best choice for a smaller dining room.

Dressers

A traditional dresser will make a stunning focal point in your dining room, as well as providing heaps of practical storage and display space for all your cutlery, utensils and other tableware. They are also ideal for showing off your best china and collectibles. And they don’t necessarily need to match your existing furniture as they make superb standalone pieces. We have a range of sizes and designs available so no matter the size and décor of your room, we’ll have the perfect one for you. Think about what you want to display and store and decide which configuration of drawers, shelves and cupboards will work best for your everyday needs. If you want to keep your things dust-free then a cabinet with glass-fronted doors will be the perfect choice. If space is limited then you might want to consider a display cabinet. They tend to be narrower than dressers yet still hold plenty and some are even designed to fit neatly into a corner, like our Jali Sheesham Corner Display Cabinet.

Sideboards

Few items of furniture can match the versatility of a sideboard. In them you can put crockery, cutlery, serving spoons, coasters, place mats, table linen and so much more. And on them you can display ornaments, family photographs and vases of flowers or keep your coffee machine ready for some after dinner action. From simple double cupboards which don’t take up much space to extra-long pieces with multiple drawers and cupboards, all tastes, room sizes, decors and budgets are catered for within our extensive range. Think about what you need to store before buying. Do you need more cupboard space than drawer space or the other way round? Think about the space it’s going in. Will it fit under a window? Is there room to open doors and drawers easily? Do you want one that coordinates with your existing dining room furniture or do you want to make a statement by adding contrast? If you have the room, consider adding a wine rack. As well as looking beautiful, they’ll keep your favourite bottles close to hand when you’re throwing a dinner party and offer extra storage space.