Forever Furniture: A Buyer’s Guide to the Dining Table
http://www.decor-ideas.org 05/31/2015 01:13 Decor Ideas
The dining table is not only a gathering spot for family and friends, but also a focal point in the home. If you intend to shop for one you’ll have forever, you will probably want to buy only once. So what do you need to look for? A dining table needs to be well crafted and strong, seat a good many people and be of a good shape and size to suit most rooms. As a dining table can be an expensive investment, you will need to take your time in your search to tick off the key criteria you hope the table will satisfy at home. Here are 12 suggestions.
1. Select a dining table made of sturdy stuff. If you want a table to last through years of dinner party wear and tear, choose a table made from a hardwood, such as mahogany, walnut, maple, oak and teak. Tables made from engineered or composite woods, which include plywoods and MDF, are durable and economical but are never as strong as a hardwood.
2. Wood is tops, but don’t discount glass. The advantage of a glass-top dining table is that it works well with many decor themes. And because it has a reflective surface, it is an excellent choice for a space that might need to look a little lighter and brighter. Glass dining tables are tough, too. Today’s versions are made with tempered safety glass, which means the glass resists scratches and heat and won’t shatter if knocked. You can also choose glass that is tinted in a range of different colors, even black. Another benefit of a glass table is that you can surround it with versatile seating arrangements, from mismatched dining chairs to multicolored options.
See ways to mix dining chairs
3. Go for the tried and true: a weathered wood table. A secondhand wood table with a farmhouse or industrial heritage has already passed the test of time. Any scratches and nicks in the tabletop surface have mellowed into design details, becoming features to admire. If you accidentally add a few more to it, it won’t matter. For this reason, these tables are great for families with children — you never have to worry about whether your brood is unwittingly or even intentionally marking the table. The damage, if minor, will only become part of the beauty of the piece. That said, it’s worth protecting your table with a hard wax polish, which should be applied about twice a year.
4. Impress your guests. Marble is a big investment, but without exception marble dining tables are nearly always showstoppers. Tables crafted from quality imported marble are extremely beautiful. Buy without guilt if you truly fall in love with one — marble’s timeless appeal will make it a table that is always in fashion — but do be aware that a marble tabletop comes with a couple of drawbacks. First, marble tables of any kind are bulky and heavy. Second, they have to be well looked after, as the marble can crack and stain. To overcome these limitations to buying a marble table as a forever piece, choose a small, round table, which is a lighter choice than most rectangular ones while still being able to seat four to six guests. To avoid stains, keep the table cleared and clean at all times, covering it with a tablecloth or placemats when red wine and foods that can damage marble are on the menu.
Using White Marble: Hot Debate Over a Classic Beauty
5. For buyers on the move, choose a table that is easily transportable. For those who don’t stay put, a heavy table may prove to be an annoyance, weighing you down each time you move. If you fall in love with a metal or marble table, don’t be discouraged from buying it, but do think about how you might safely transport it. As suggested above, choose a small, round marble table, or go for a wooden table with detachable legs. If you are looking for a table to suit an urban-industrial decor theme, don’t go all-out with a (heavy) metal table but consider a (lighter) wood table with some metal design features, such as the one pictured here. Plastic as an alternative to wood is light and can be molded into some cool shapes, but be aware that the color can fade over time.
6. Consider a designer pack-and-go dining table. Plywood is lightweight and durable, and a plywood table can be flat-packed and assembled as needed at home. Your dining table then can be packed up and moved as necessary. Plus it works well in a home with modern Nordic or contemporary Asian style.
7. Settle on a shape that will work in most rooms. Round tables look good in compact rooms and living areas that have square dining zones. They also offer flexible seating. If you buy a six-seater, eight can usually be accommodated at a pinch — the larger the diameter, the more people can be seated. On the other hand, rectangular tables have limited seating spots due to the position of the table legs and because only one person can be seated at each end. However, if you choose a rectangular table with leaves, the table can be extended to accommodate extra guests whenever an event is planned, such as for a family Christmas or birthday party.
8. Problem-solve with a versatile shape. Ovals are the new oblongs. Similar to a rectangular dining table, the oval dining table is elongated to work in a narrow room but visually seems to occupy less space because of its rounded corners. Oval tables also have the benefits of a round table in that they provide a cozy and intimate setting but can usually seat more people.
9. Color is cool but beware the trendy hue. Today’s on-trend shade is tomorrow’s fashion fail, so choose wisely. Classic colors, such as the primaries (red, yellow and blue), usually have staying power, mainly because they are so unapologetically basic. Red is a very popular color, especially in homes that have a subtle Asian theme, as red is a color traditionally associated with celebration, and this will work even if the home is minimalist and modern.
10. Black is always the new black. If you aren’t expecting your table to suffer wear and tear, choose the most sophisticated and elegant table you’ve always dreamed of owning. Black tables are notoriously tricky, especially if they are veneered, because the smallest scratch will show up. If you are the careful type, however, black is super cool and will always be so.
11. You can’t go wrong with a classic country table. Generally, the country-style dining table is large and therefore suitable for families or for people who regularly entertain. These tables are usually made from a solid timber, like oak or pine, making them very robust. They also have an uncomplicated design suitable for most schemes, although, pleasingly, many country tables feature elegantly turned legs that support the tabletop. The only real consideration in buying this style of table is whether to go for an upmarket one, such as a French colonial table, or one with the rustic appeal of an English country farmhouse. Whatever you choose to suit your home, you can be assured that both will look drop-dead gorgeous when they are set and dressed for a country farmhouse feast.
12. Invest in a blue chip: A case for retro. Anything retro should be considered a keepsake piece of furniture that has the potential to be handed down from generation to generation. The dining table that catches your eye at a market or auction may not be particularly fashionable or even fit into your present decor scheme, but don’t let that deter you from buying something of quality and style from another era. It may well prove to be the best investment of all, escalating in value in the decades to come.
Tell us: Have you found “The One”? What makes your dining table a forever dining table?
More:
How to Seat Your Dinner Guests in Comfort
Key Measurements for Planning the Perfect Dining Room
Related Articles Recommended
Related Images Recommend
