Dining Room Furniture: Mistakes You Should Avoid
If the kitchen is the heart of your home (and it is), then your dining room is the pulmonary artery. The kitchens get most of the attention, though; dining rooms are fairly low on most people’s list of priorities when they shop for furniture. Sure, you really just need a dining table and a few chairs, but you can do better to make the space more aesthetically pleasing and comfortable for happier meals with your family.
Here are some common dining room furniture mistakes that you should know about and what you can do to avoid them.
- Matching dining sets
Okay, it is understandable to have the temptation for these collections, you can get all your decorating done in one go, and probably at a great price. However, these can look cheap and unoriginal. Don’t be afraid to mix materials and styles with your dining table and chairs for a more unique look.
- Uncomfortable seating
The farmhouse-style bench might be all the rage right now, but you may want to reconsider your choice of seating. Find dining chairs that you actually want to sit in for longer periods of time. Upholstered seating is ideal, and if you’re concerned about maintenance, just know that there are cleanable and stain-resistant fabrics out there.
- Ceiling fixtures that are way too small or big
Choose a fixture that’s about a third of the size of your dining table. Also, with lights hung too high or low. Aim for about 30 inches of space between the tabletop and the bottom of the chandelier.
- The wrong size table
An inappropriately sized or shaped table for space is a big red flag. Rectangular tables may work best in rectangular rooms, whereas a circular table may be a nice choice for a square room. However, if you’re big on entertaining a larger crowd, opt for an oval table with a single base. This way you can fit more dining chairs when company comes over.
- Too much furniture stuffed in
Dining rooms are like black holes for chunky pieces, they get sucked in and remain there for eternity. The point: Get rid of that china cabinet! Few people have a formal china service or silver worth displaying, and large furniture pieces are often so big that they overwhelm a space. Instead, you could have a slim sideboard and hang interesting art, which is a better use of space. If you can’t remove a corner china cabinet, you can modernise it by wallpapering the interior or painting it and removing the doors so it’s an open shelving unit.
- A blah look and feel
When buying from an online furniture shop in LifeStyle Furniture , instead of going for plain, go for bold. This is a space you’re not in all the time, this is a chance to use a funky wallpaper for some personality. Plus, because the dining room is so often used for celebrations, it’s nice to have a place that feels really special and fun.
- A rug that’s not quite right
Constantly pulling dining chairs in and out on a rug that’s too small is the epitome of a red flag. You can pick a rug for the room, not for the furniture, so choose one that leaves about a foot of space off the wall. A larger rug means chairs will slide out smoothly and will give the room a more luxe feel. Additionally, an indoor-outdoor polyester rug is the best choice in an area where food is served, because it’s easier to clean than a natural-fibre rug like wool
- Too much junk
A large, empty surface area (aka your dining table) is basically an invitation for piles of paperwork and junk mail. This is usually the result of a lack of storage space. Look into adding some in the adjoining rooms, like a large, closed credenza. Also, if you actually eat at your table daily, it’s harder for things to pile up.
Create a focal point
If you find yourself asking, "How big of a dining room table do I need? and How many people can fit at my table in my formal dining room?" You want to make sure your dining space is cosy but also that everyone has plenty of room, and you can do that by having a focal point to help you arrange your dining room furniture. You don’t want anybody to have to squeeze between the chairs and the wall or have someone trip over the rug. Between all of the siblings and cousins and kids, friends and family, it can be a bit hectic.