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Shopping for a new dining table or dining chairs? Take a look at our handy guide for everything you need to know about buying a dining table and dining chairs, from style and design to shape and size.
There are literally hundreds of dining table and dining chair styles, sizes and finishes to choose from. Let's start with three key questions.
Knowing your own dining style can help you decide.
You're a traditionalist when it comes to entertaining. Even a Tuesday night dinner means linen napkins and the good silverware. You love celebrations and parties, dream of centrepieces and practice calligraphy so you can make your own place cards.
Best dining tables: Make sure that your dining table is large enough to seat everyone in style and comfort. An extending dining table might be a good choice for you.
Best dining chairs: Invest in dining chairs that are traditional in style and beautifully upholstered in either leather or fabric.
You're the hostess or host with the most. For you, Saturday evenings were invented for inviting friends around for diner. You love to try new recipes and nothing makes you happier than wine glasses sparkling with candlelight.
Best dining tables: You put a lot of effort into dining so make sure you choose a dining table that impresses. Opt for a table with a showstopping finish like a marble dining table.
Best dining chairs: Make sure you always have an extra dining chair of five, preferably ones that don't take up too much room. Choose wooden chairs or a versatile dining bench.
For you, dinner time is family time. It's the part of the day when you talk to the kids about school, discuss the family calendar with your significant other, and decide what you're all going to do at the weekend.
Best dining tables: Make sure everyone feels included in the conversation by choosing a round table. For low maintenance meals, opt for an easy-care finish like a traditional wooden dining table.
Best dining chairs: Consider dining chairs that are comfortable - meals times tend to be lengthy affairs at yours - and with family-friendly finishes like faux leather.
For you, dinner isn't the only reason to have a dining table - there's always something else going on. There's a meal at one end of the table, while at the other there's your laptop, the kids' homework, a craft project and a stack of holiday brochures.
Best dining tables: Make sure your dining table is as hardworking as you are. Ceramic dining tables are heat resistant and scratch proof
Best dining chairs: If you spend a lot of time around your dining table, choose chairs that are both sturdy and comfortable. Messy family? Acrylic dinig chairs might be the best option.
Different kinds of dining spaces demand different types of dining tables and dining chairs.
The kitchen is busiest room in the house. A dining table here will get plenty of wear and tear - and its fair share of spills and scratches. For everyday use, an oak dining set is a practical choice. If your dining chairs will live around a kitchen table, consider easy-clean surfaces like wood dining chairs.
A separate dining room will give your dining table a bit of protection from everyday life - and this may be all the encouragement you need to head for the glass-topped dining table you've always wanted. Likewise, if your dining chairs will live in a formal dining room, go for a luxury look like dining chairs with velvet or leather upholstery.
A dining table for a contemporary open-plan kitchen diner needs to balance style with practicality. High-gloss dining tables add a bit of modern glamour but still work well for busy families. If your dining table is a bar table, then you need bar stools. Ones with backs are perfect if you like to sit down to enjoy a meal.
Be realistic about the space you have, no matter how much you love that gorgeus huge industrial-style dining set.
If your dining area is on the smaller side, a compact dining table, a bar table and bar stools or a smaller extending table might be the best choice. For seating, consider folding chairs or a space-saving dining bench.
If your dining room is more spacious, look at square dining tables or very large extending dining tables that seat 12 or more. When choosing dining chairs, think carefully about proportions. Small or low dining chairs might get lost in a large dining room. Consider taller chairs, dining armchairs and large dining benches with backrests.
Last but not least - how much an you afford to spend? Remember, a bigger dining table generally means you'll need more dining chairs. And be sure to account for any storage furniture that you might need.
You don't have to be a big spender to have a cool and stylish dining room. You'll often find fantastic bargains on clearance, or start with the bare minimum and add extra dining chairs over time.
If you have a generous budget, you can think big. Browse our selection of big name brands and create the dining room you've always wanted.
To keep things simple when you're buying a dining table or chairs, let's start with the basics.
Most dining tables fall into one of these six types.
Rectangular dining tables are the right shape to fit most dining rooms. Width is usually proportional to length - the longer the table, the wider it will be.
There's nothing like a round dining table for sociable dining. They're also a good choice for a square dining room or an uneven number of diners.
Just that little bit different, the oval dining table is pleasingly cirved and takes up about the same amount of room as a rectangular dining table.
A boat-shaped dining table is a rectangular table with inward curving sides. A popular style in the 1950s and 1960s, the shape has a cool retro look.
Often compact, square dining tables are perfect for cosy yet comfortable dining. If you want a large square dining table, your dining room needs to be as wide as it is long.
An extending table can be quickly increased in length so that you can seat more people just whenever you need to.
A flip top mechanism turns a square dining table into a rectangular one. The top of a flip top table will be hinged along one side.
A drop leaf dining table has two hinged leaves. Raise the leaves to create a full size dining table or drop them to tuck the table against a wall.
Many extending tables have extra leaves that fix to the table ends or fill a gap in the table top that's revealed when the two ends are pulled apart.
This extension mechanism is operated by pulling the table ends away from each other to allow an extension leaf to rise up and pop into place.
Think about how you'll use your table and how hardwearing it needs to be.
The classic dining table look, wood dining tables showcase real wood's natural beauty and are available in a variety of styles and finishes.
If you choose a marble dining table, you'll know that you're getting a one of a kind piece. Marble does need to be treated with care, though.
Glass-topped dining tables bring home a contemporary look while creating a feeling of light and space. They do require frequent cleaning.
Very on trend, ceramic dining tables have a cool urban look and are an excellent choice for families as they're heat resistant and scratch resistant.
Stylish and glamorous - and much more affordable than marble - high-gloss dining tables work well in both classic and contemporary spaces.
Most dining room seating falls into one of three types.
The original dining table seating, the dining chair has evolved over the years and now covers a huge range of styles, shapes, colours and finishes.
Perfect for a casual snack at a kitchen counter or around a bar table, bar stools usually have back support and a foot rest. Many are height adjustable.
A practical dining bench is a great way to accomodate more diners in less space. Most are backless so it's easy for the middle diner to get in and out.
Dining chair finish will determine durability, and can affect the price.
Always in fashion, wood dining chairs have a natural warmth and come in many wood tones. Styles include retro, shaker, traditional and country.
Metal dining chairs are often contemporary in style. They're perfectly in tune with the ever-popular industrial style trend.
For comfort and style, you can't match upholstered dining chairs. Whether covered in fabric or leather, upholstered chairs are usually well cushioned.
Fabric dining chairs
Available a huge choice of textures, patterns and colours, fabric dining chairs are a very popular choice for all kinds of dining spaces.
Leather dining chairs
Leather is less affordable than fabric but is undeniably stylish. As it improves with age and use, it's a good choice for family dining rooms.
Faux leather dining chairs
The perfect compromise, faux leather dining chairs have the look and feel of real leather but tend to be more affordable, and come in a wide range of colours.
PVC dining chairs
The original family-friendly upholstery choice, PVC moves in and out fashion. Some peaple love it because it's unpretentious and easy to clean.
Dining tables and dining chairs are available in a huge range of styles. It's easy to feel overwhelmed, so let's take a look at some popular styles and how to create your perfect table and chair arrangement.
There really is something for everyone - and every home. And choosing a new dining table is a great opportunity to explore a new design look.
Make the most of a grand dining room in an older-style home by choosing a traditional solid wood dining table and dining chairs, perfect for formal dinner parties and big family occasions.
1. High-quality wood construction
2. Polished or lacquered surfaces
3. Generous proportions
4. Ornate design elements
5. Pedestal bases
Old Charm - Inspired by the classic wood furniture of a bygone era, this brand offers fantastic workmanship and delightful design motifs.
Whether made with marble, ceramic or lacquered wood, luxury dining tables with matching chairs look and feel stunning and combine traditional craftsmanship with creative contemporary design.
1. High-end craftsmanship
2. Sleek glossy finishes
3. Metallic accents
4. Contemporary lines and angles
5. Smooth table extension mechanisms
ALF - This Italian brand crafts beautifully-engineered dining room furniture with fabulous sleek finishes.
The industrial dining trend shows no sign of decreasing in popularity. Sturdy dining tables and chairs showcase cool urban flair and are perfect for contemporary spaces.
1. Natural or reclaimed wood tops
2. Metal or metal and wood legs
3. Architectural shapes
4. Unfinished weathered quality
5. Choice of chairs and dining benches
Habufa - This Dutch furniture designer creates beautifully-finished industrial style furniture for modern and traditional interiors.
This very recognisable design style of the 1950s and 1960s is just as popular today thanks to its clean lines, simple yet sophisticated shapes, and focus on the natural beauty of wood.
1. Well-crafted functionality
2. Smooth rounded corners
3. Bevelled edges
4. Splayed or topered legs
5. Pale oak, ash or elm finish
Ercol - This iconic British brand handcrafts beautiful dining tables and dining chairs that feature its signature lines and curves.
Rustic without being traditional, modern country dining tables and dining chairs are made predominantly of wood and feature classic style elements executed in a fresh and contemporary way.
1. Well-crafted but not over designed
2. Natural solid wood and veneer
3. Two-tone and painted finishes
4. Simple turned legs
5. Understated decorative elements
Furnitureland - This oak furniture brand offers a huge choice of well-crafted and affordable dining tables and chairs that are both functional and stylish.
How you put together a dining table and dining chairs can be just as stylish as the furniture itself.
Make life easy and opt for a ready-made dining set - a dining table plus four or six coordinating dining chairs. This is often a more affordable option and means you'll avoid tricky decisions.
The easy thing to do is purchase your dining table's matching chairs. You know that they'll fit perfectly and look fabulous. Dining chairs are usually sold singly, in pairs or in sets of six.
Choosing dining chairs of different colours - perhaps in pairs of brights, pastels or neutrals - is an easy way to introduce a fresh new look to your dining room.
If you're drawn to the bohemian look - or you simply can't decide which dining chair you like best - buy single chairs and create an arrangement that's completely unique.
Once you've selected your dining table, dining chairs or dining set, it's time to look at other dining room furniture like a sideboard for dinnerware or a more decorative piece like a display cabinet.
The size of your dining table or dining set depends on two factors - the size of your dining room and the size of your family. For practicality, it's generally a good idea to choose the largest dining table you can afford unless you're planning on downsizing in the near future.
As different brands have different ways of describing dining tables - small, medium and large, or two seater, four seater and so on - it's always a good idea to check the actual measurements of any dining set you're considering.
Small dining tables, including bar tables, usually seat two to four people. They're a great choice if you're just starting out, especially if you don't have a separate dining room.
Probably the most popular size of dining table, medium dining tables seat four to six people. They're great for family mealtimes as well as doing homework and reading the Sunday papers.
If you have a spacious dining room or kitchen diner, opt for a large dining table that seats six to eight people and look forward to hosting big groups and family parties.
An extending dining table is a great solution if you occasionally need a larger dining table. Depending on its size, an extendable dining table can seat eight, ten or more with ease.
Buying the wrong size of dining table - or the wrong number of dining chairs - is a very expensive mistake. Measure carefully so that you make best use of all available space without your dining room feel cramped and overcrowded.
Table length: Measure from one end of the table to the other. Allow a minimum of 60 cm per diner for cosy dining. For little more elbow room, allow 80 cm per person.
Table width: Measure across the table. Make sure any table you choose is at least 90 cm wide. Anything less and there won't be enough space for everyone to dine comfortably, especially if you want to serve from the table.
Table inside length: To calculate how many dining chairs will fit along your table, measure the long side from the inside surface of one leg to the inside surface of the opposite leg.
Total chair height: Measure from the top of the dining chair's backrest to the floor. Taller dining chairs look more formal. Shorter chairs will make the room feel a bit more open.
Seat height: Measure from the seat to the floor. This is usually about 45 cm. You'll want to a gap of at least 25 cm between the seat and the underside of your table.
Seat width: Measure from one side of the seat to the other, including any arms. This tells you how many chairs will fit side by side along the length of your dining table.
Seat depth: Measure from the front edge of the seat to the very back of the seat. Too narrow or too deep might be uncomfortable for diners with average leg length.
Backrest height: Measure from the bottom of the backrest to its top. Backrest height makes a difference to how much lumbar support a dining chair offers.
Be sure to allow about 15 cm of elbow room between each dining chair, and a minimum of 90 cm between the table edge and the wall for furniture like sideboards and display cabinets. This will give diners enough room to push back their chairs and walk around the table.
Ready to transform your dining room? As well as reviewing our dining room furniture buying guide, turn to our in-house design experts and see what's on trend for dining tables and dining chairs. You'll find many more articles at The Home of Inspiration, our very own online design hub.
Q. What dining table should I get? I have three young children.
A. If you have young children, you'll want to be able to enjoy dining together without worrying about protecting a precious surface. Consider finishes that are easy to maintain - like ceremic, which is scratch resistant - or a table that's already weathered or lightly distressed like one of our industrial tables. If the size of your family is likely to increase, think about investing in an extending dining table so that you'll have all the space you need whenever you need it.
Q. I'm interested in buying a dining table that extends. Will the extension leaf match the table?
A. Good question. This tends to depend on the manufacturer. Some manufacturers take care to "pattern match" extension leaves. Often, though, and particularly with natural materials like wood and marble it's not always possible to match a grain or pattern.
Q. I'm redesigning my dining room - on a budget. What's an affordable way to create a luxury look?
A. When marble's out of the question take a look at high-gloss dining tables - a sleek finish always has a high-end feel. And as well as the finish, table shape and the style of the base can help convey opulence. Pedestal base dining tables, for example, always make a strong design statement.
Q. Can I order single dining chairs or do they come in pairs?
A. This depends on the manufacturer. These days, many dining chairs are available both singly and in pairs, although the cost per chair might be lower if you buy a pair.
Q. Do dining chairs require self-assembly?
A. Yes, sometimes. To keep chairs safely packaged during transit, you may need to attach the legs to the base of the seat on arrival. This is very quick and easy to do.
Q. How many dining chairs can I fit around my dining table?
A. Most dining tables are a standard size, made to seat four, six, eight or more people. If you're not sure, you can calculate by measuring both the distance between the table legs along the long side of your table, and the width of a dining chair that you're considering. Be sure to allow about 15 cm between chairs so people can sit and eat comfortably.
Q. What dining chairs are best for older people?
A. If your guests have a trouble getting in and out of chairs, make sure your dining chairs are not particularly low or narrow. Wooden chairs tend to feel sturdy - which can be reassuring for older people - and may offer better back support. Ensure that any seats cushions are tightly secured.
Q. What's the perfect dining chair height for my dining table?
A. This depends on your dining table but the general rule of thumb is to allow at least 25 cm from the chair seat to the underside of your dining table to accommodate legs. Any less, and it's going to feel like a bit of a squeeze.
Q. I'm overwhelmed by dining chair choices. Where do I begin?
A. If you're not sure how to choose chairs for dining table, start at the beginning of this dining chair buying guide where we cover the basics including your dining style and how much space you have in your dining room.
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