Choosing the best dining room furniture set for your home can be exceptionally tricky. There are so many options available in terms of colors, materials, sizes, and styles. The furniture experts at Gardner White have compiled this information for you to consider while you shop for new furniture.
The whole point of having dining room furniture is to gather around as a group to enjoy a meal together. The kitchen might be the heart of the home, but the dining room is undoubtedly the stomach! Having the appropriate amount of seating and table space for your household is vital so that everyone can eat!
In fact, the dining room itself is experiencing its own kind of renaissance according to this article from The Washington Post. Ever since the onset of the pandemic, the dining room has been given greater consideration in terms of decor, furnishings, and functionality. With so many people staying home through the worst of times, greater focus was given to how to accommodate kids in online school, work-from-home professionals, and stay-at-home DIYers.
The dining room table has experienced a resurgence of being the central nexus of the home since early 2020. People are gathering around the table once again to socialize as a family, and to entertain family and friends. For this reason, you need to consider how you plan to use your dining space.
The Function of Your Dining Room Furniture
There are nearly endless options when it comes to what types of furniture you can choose for your dining space. It’s absolutely critical for you to know exactly how much space you have available in conjunction with how you plan to use your dining area. For example, if you have a small breakfast nook that is only 8′ square, then you can likely only fit a small table with seating for no more than four people.
If you entertain often, and you have the available space, then you have the freedom to choose furniture with more seating options and a larger table to gather around. Additionally, you might even have enough space for a buffet or server off to one side which can hold extra dishes and flatware. The bottom line is that you must know how you wish your dining room furniture to function for your household.
The Cost of Dining Room Furniture
The reality is that good quality dining room furniture isn’t cheap and cheap dining room furniture isn’t good quality. There are often sales on furniture that you can take advantage of if your budget is tight. Also, you can finance new dining room furniture to spread the cost over a longer period of time. Sometimes, you can also find a bargain in the clearance department on high-quality dining furniture.
There are more affordable options in dining room furniture that might not break your bank but are still of decent quality (Shop our dining tables and sets for under $799). You can still get good quality and save some money. You don’t have to spend a fortune to get furniture for your dining room. Most dining room sets range from $400 – $10,000 so there’s sure to be an option that will fit your budget.
Materials Used in Dining Furniture Construction
Dining room furniture is built from a wide range of materials in nearly limitless styles. The most common options are wood, glass, metal, and stone. However, other materials like bamboo, leather, plastic, upholstery, and manufactured pressboard are also available. On top of these materials, the options for color are nearly limitless.
You can easily find dining room furniture that matches your design style, though it may be difficult to find your preferred material/color combination. For instance, if you prefer wood furniture, the color options are more limited than metal or plastic furniture. Add to that the various materials used for seating and your options are nearly limitless!
Durability – Get Furniture That Will Last
Your dining furniture can be utilized multiple times each day for many years. You need to be aware of how your furniture will be used, and who will be using it over time. For these reasons, it’s very important to ensure that what you purchase is durable and sturdy.
In the case of kids using the furniture, choose easy-to-clean furniture that is made from wood or metal. If you host guests regularly, you may want to consider bar-height furniture sets and possibly bar carts. Furthermore, if you use your table for work or crafts, you might not want one with a textured surface so a glass or marble table would be a great option.
Your Decor Style
As mentioned previously, there are nearly limitless combinations of color, material, and shapes that you get in dining furniture. The good news is that without a doubt, there is furniture that will match your home decor style. Even better news is that you don’t have to settle for a matched set, it’s your call on how to pair seating with tables, buffets, and so on.
A dining set can be its own conversation piece with so many fashionable options available. Furniture manufacturers have long been known to create designer looks for the dining area in your home. When you shop in the store, it might help for you to have some photos on your phone of the dining area and other parts of your home to compare.
Dining Area Seating
Seating is its own unique consideration when shopping for your dining area. Factors like how many seats you need, what type of material to use, and seat height need to be considered. Also, consider if regular chairs are good enough or if you want stools or benches.
Comfortable seats are something that both you and your guests will be thankful for, so keep that in mind as well. Hard seats can have cushions added to them, but there are many options that already have cushioned seats by design. Either way, always keep comfort in mind when considering seating for your dining area.
Need More Help?
You can contact one of Gardner White’s experts at (248) 481-2208, chat with one online, or visit one of our local Michigan stores.
About the Author, Dave Higgins
