Choosing the perfect kitchen table for your home is crucial, it does not matter if you have a formal square dining space or you are carving out a little space between a family room and an open kitchen. A kitchen table is always the heart of the room where your friends and family gather, therefore you will want it to fit the available space, fit your aesthetic and improve your home design.
This buying guide is designed to help you determine the ideal table for your home. Embarking on a purchase of a kitchen table without proper knowledge will force you to rely on the biased details of the salesman. When choosing the ideal table, you must keep the focus on your needs and wants. Here are the things you should bear in mind when choosing the perfect table for your needs:
Size
You should select a kitchen table according to the size of the room. You have to consider and allow space for the chair push back and people to move within the space. As a general rule of thumb, you should allow a minimum space of 3 feet from the wall. This will allow space to move around and your family or guests may get up or sit down without cramping themselves into the chair.
When choosing the seats, ensure you leave about 7-12 inches between a chair and the dining table and if you have chairs already, ensure to take their measurements before you go shopping. If you are not sure about the size you need, it is a great notion to mock up a paper template for use in the room to determine which size suits your home best, you may want to take it with you as you go table hunting.
Space
You should consider which table fits your space. If you have less space, choose a table with a pedestal base since it saves space. The round dining table is also less restrictive on the number of people who can seat. A glassy table is also transparent and will give you a feeling of openness.
But if you have enough space and have occasional guests it is good to upsize. If you have a family of four, get a table for six and if you have a household of six, get a table for eight. This will offer you more seating space when required.
Extendable
You might not require a big table yet, but in case your family is growing and occasionally you break bread with a bigger crowd, an extension table with a self-storing leaf is the solution. You should also be cautious and measure the extension leaf when it is the table, this way you will know if it fits the room.
Chairs
If you do not have chairs already, you should consider how many you’ll need. Ensure you have more chairs than the number of family members. This will allow an extra space when you have friends who come over. A roundtable appears sleek when styled along with curved and rounded back chairs.
An extendable table pairs well with the stackable dining chairs since you can store the chairs when not in use. Moreover, a table with matching metal finish chairs will help you tie the entire dining set.
Material
Choosing the right material for the table can be challenging. But here are some of the common materials and what you should consider for each:
– Wood: this is a classic material since it is easily repaired and durable. The acacia, pine, teak, oak, and mango are very affordable and popular.
Wood also gives you the option of making your own dining table if you or a family member is feeling brave, since it’s relatively easy to cut with some basic tools. I’ve seen kitchen tables made from oak beams and it looks very nice.
– Stone and Stone-look: Stone table tops include quartz composite, marble or cast stone. Stone is a good option and is modern, beautiful and durable. It also transcends a lot of interior styles. Stone is long-lasting but maybe porous and easily absorbs stains. They can also be heavy.
– Glass: Glass table tops could include frosted, clear or tinted types. They are relatively cheap and may create a feeling of openness and space. They are best alternatives for smaller modern rooms and those with less light since they allow light to pass through.
Glass tables can show wear and tear quicker with chips and scratches, so if you have an active household or small children in the home you may want to consider other options.
Hopefully, these tips will help you find the perfect table for your home that is both functional and looks great. Now you just have to go out there and find it!
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