How to Select Your Perfect Dining Room Set

If you want to completely remake your dining room's image, it's best to purchase a full dining set. No two dining sets are alike, however, and picking the set that's right for your purposes requires a discerning eye. In this guide, we'll inform you of the best ways to find a dining table with a matching chair set that will fit perfectly with your unique sense of style.

Measure Your Space

Before you make any decisions, take some time to thoroughly measure the area where you'll be deploying your new kitchen set. Nothing's worse than unpacking a new table only to find that it won't fit in your dining room, so measuring twice and purchasing once is the best way to go.

Since you're buying a full dining set, it won't be enough to simply measure the area where you'll be putting your table; you'll also need to make sure that you have enough space for your chairs. Since, ideally, your guests will be able to get in and out of their chairs, you'll need to make sure that your space can admit all of the chairs in your set even when they're pulled out from the table.

Consider Possible Shapes

There are quite a few different types of dining table shapes to pick from. While round tables are the most traditional options, you might want to pick an elongated oval if you want to be able to fit more guests.

Plus, you could pick a perfectly square table if you want to be able to seat exactly four people, but watch those corners if you're planning to have any kids in the house. Lastly, you could also pick an elongated rectangular table, which is the best style to choose if you intend to have lots of people over for dinner parties.

Pick a Support Type

In most cases, dining tables are supported by either legs or a pedestal. Legs are deployed at the edges of tables while pedestals sit at the center of the tabletop, and both types of supports can get in your way if you aren't careful.

As you're selecting a new table, sit down at it, and note how your legs fit under it. If you notice yourself bumping your knees or having a hard time scooting out of your chair, you might want to pick a different support style.

Keep in mind that too many legs on a table can make it hard to seat large groups of people, but pedestals get in the way if you'll be seating anyone who has long legs. In addition, there are a variety of different materials that may be used for table pedestals, so make sure that you pick a pedestal that matches your table's material.

Choose Materials that Fit Your Decor

Dining sets are made from a variety of different materials, but only certain materials will mesh well with the existing decor in your home. Here are some examples of the types of materials that are commonly featured in dining sets:

Wood

Solid wood is the traditional dining table material, and it remains a favourite to this day. Materials like oak, pine, and teak are common woods for dining tables, but keep in mind that solid wood tables are almost always expensive. These tables also expand and contract with changes in heat and humidity, and they scratch relatively easily.

Veneer

If you like the look of wood but you want to go a cheaper route, veneer might be the right choice. With veneer tables, a thin piece of solid wood is glued to a plywood core, which results in reduced weight and reduced cost. If a table you're considering has a veneer, its underside will look different than its top.

Stone

Stone tables are heavy, and they stain relatively easily. However, these types of tables are undeniably beautiful, and if you have a marble theme going on in your kitchen, you might want to extend this motif to your dining room.

Glass

Tempered glass is incredibly strong, and it makes your room look bigger than it is. However, the tiniest little smudges show up starkly on glass tabletops, and these types of tables only look their best when they're paired with other tempered glass furniture.

Metal

Metals such as stainless steel and brass aren't usually used for tabletops, but they are common picks for table supports. In most cases, metal is less expensive than wood, so you might want to pair a solid wood tabletop with a metal base to cut costs.

Make Sure the Table is Reliable

There's nothing worse than picking out a brand-new dining table only to have it fall apart after a year or two. As you pick out a table, check out its joinery. Materials are one thing, but if a table isn't joined together correctly, it will fall apart relatively quickly.

Wood joined to wood is the most stable form of joinery, and if a table displays a lot of metal attachments, it might not be too durable. Check the areas where the legs join to the tabletop, and if you can see any gaps, move on to another option.

You'll also want to make sure that the chairs that come with your dining set feature solid construction. If you feel a chair moving back and forth when you sit on it, it won't hold your weight for long. In many cases, it's possible to switch out the chairs that come with your table for other options if you want seats that match your existing decor.