Today’s Dining: Dazzle or Casual?

Today’s homes are built with practicality in mind. Kitchen and dining areas have become the hub of the home – a place to relax, grab a bite and enjoy time with family and friends. Your furniture dealer will show you a variety dining styles, all of which can be tailored to your own lifestyle and budget.

(Contemporary) DINING THAT DAZZLES

Want to have a dazzling dining room? Then start with a striking set of chairs and a stunning table. With all of the chrome, brass, brushed steel, polished lacquer, and aluminum creations, you can certainly achieve a setting that shines.

And, paired with glass, any of these contemporary materials will result in a dining table that is a standout. Chairs can match the table perfectly, or you can search for ones that complement beautifully. There are plenty of up-to-date dining designs to choose from, whether your tastes lean toward the streamlined or the sculptural.

Add a coordinating curio, buffet, tea cart, or china cabinet ‚ plus an exquisite decorative centerpiece for the table and you will have created a dining room that is certain to dazzle both family and friends.

GET CREATIVE WITH CASUAL DINING

Does your home, apartment, or condo leave you challenged for dining space? Well, there's no need to compromise on style because you're short on space. Casual or "junior” dining room groups are a fast growing furniture trend offering the same smart styling as their larger counterparts, but with pieces in scaled down versions. If you can’t accommodate a junior dining room, consider a casual dinette set, a perfect choice for your kitchen or dining area. Whatever your space limitations, your home furnishings retailer will show you multiple options for your lifestyle needs

Casual/Country Dining Room

As we have mentioned above, your own style is hands-on and welcoming and country dining in itself “opens its arms” to you and your visitors. You are the first visitor your have to please, so choose furniture and materials that invite use. If they look well loved, they will add the informal element you crave. In general, country dining tends to offer rough textures rather than smooth, but there are no rules!

Wicker, rattan, pine and cast iron are all less formal than glossy wood or sleek glass. Weathered and distressed objects will be right at home.

Your things will be touched. Consider easy-care fabrics and stay away from shiny textiles or dry-clean only. Coarse weaves project the casual style. You will feel right at home with denim, canvas and homespun cottons.

Mix it up

A mixture of furnishings will relax your room. Uniformity is a trait of a formal style. Consider six vintage one-of-a-kind chairs with a similar shape and size. Or your chairs can all match, but the table is different. Even one oddball chair at the end of the table as a focal point will make a casual decorating statement.

Fabrics soften the edges. Dress down formal chairs and tables with slipcovers in textured fabrics and floor-length cotton tablecloths. Vintage table linens are still relatively easy to find in antique stores or even at your local flea market or yard sale.

What goes where in the dining room?

Choose your dining room table to fit your space. If your room is a long rectangle, a long table is a natural use of the space and won't leave unnatural gaps on either end of the room. Tiny dining rooms will require a small table. A square table with a bench on one side might allow an extra guest to squeeze in.

Sometimes a round table will allow for more place settings without bumping too many elbows. If you're looking at a round table because of lack of space, look for one with a single pedestal in the center rather than legs.

Keep in mind that the shape of furniture can affect the look of the room. A round table will soften a room with harsh corners. A corner cabinet is both space saving and softening.

The furniture should fit the space.

If you must have a large dining table in a small room, use decorating tricks to lighten the visual space. Try a glass-topped table and furniture with legs. Don't forget the height of the room. If your dining room is too tall, your guests may feel dwarfed and uncomfortable. Fill a tall room with bookshelves for height or a tall hutch. A chair rail may also break up a tall expanse of wall, but should be avoided in a strictly contemporary room. Hanging multiple prints on one wall can add personality and scale down a too-tall room. When you think vertically, you can delight the eye and add storage.

Vary the heights of your furniture

If your table and sideboard are all that you have in your dining room, the room will feel unbalanced. If you can't afford a gorgeous hutch or Welsh cupboard, even a set of high backed chairs will add the contrast of vertical height you need.

How much room do you need?

Elbow room for guests should be between 20 and 24 inches wide and at least 15 inches deep. The center of the table should have a strip about 12 inches wide for serving dishes, centerpieces and candles.