The UK's largest retailer of solid hardwood furniture

Choosing a Dining Table

July 22, 2009
Tokyo Solid Oak Dining Set

Considerations When Buying a Dining Table

These days dining tables are often multi-functional pieces of furniture. Dining tables are used just as much for doing the household paperwork on or helping the kids with their homework as they are for eating the Sunday roast or hosting fabulous dinner parties. Some people enjoy eating at a dining table every day whilst others prefer to save the dinner table for special occasions, but how ever you like to use your dining table there are some key things to consider when choosing a new one. The things you’ll need to think about when buying a dining table may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people neglect some of the following considerations.
Alto Solid Oak Dining Set

Where is The Dining Table Going?

Dining tables were once the centerpiece of rarely used dining room furniture, but as the layout of the modern home changes many people are thinking beyond this and putting dining tables in large kitchens or even at one end of an open plan living space. As such there are now many designs available to suit any requirement. Oak dining tables often fit in with most decors, but if you’re after something a little different why not look at Indian dining tables made from mango wood.

What Size Dining Table Do You Need?

The first thing to do is measure the available space. There’s nothing worse than buying a beautiful solid hardwood dining table, only to find you can’t get your chairs around it! A useful tip is to place items on the floor (to denote the four dining table corners) to make an imaginary rectangle, then leave space for dining chairs (pushed out with people in them). Imagine the dining table and make it as big as it will go (with plenty of room still for chairs,) note down the dimensions then look for a table slightly smaller than this size.

What Style Dining Table Do You Want?

There are various styles of dining table, but the main difference is the finish. By far the highest quality and classiest dining tables are hand crafted solid hardwood dining tables. Whether you want the subtle sheen of oak finished with Danish oil, or the sumptuousness of exotic mango wood treated with natural beeswax, there’s no better way to dine. A dark stained mango dining table looks great in a light airy room, and unstained natural dining tables fit perfectly in any setting. You can then choose matching or contrasting dining chairs to complete the look.

Find Yourself a Bargain in a Dining Room Furniture Sale

It’s also advisable to look for matching dining room furniture at the same time as the dining table. This way you can be sure that all your dining room furniture will compliment each other, and if you buy dining room furniture as sets you are going to get discounts and save yourself a lot of money.

Do Not Compromise on Quality

As always, no matter what you do, insist on the highest quality timbers and never be tempted by inferior woods such as pine, or dining tables made using veneers.

Designing a Dining Room

March 18, 2009
Despite the basic principles of design when planning a dining room, a fundamental aspect is selecting and choosing the right dining room furniture that supports and enhances the ambiance of the dining room itself. Whilst dining rooms have tended to be formal in style with a sense of quality and luxury emanating from the choice of dining furniture, nowadays, they are being designed to incorporate a whole spectrum of styles, from ornate and grandiose schemes to modern minimalism with corresponding furniture in the desired style, too.


Tokyo Oak Dining Room Suite
Naturally, if you plan to entertain regularly, then solid wooden furniture would serve you best, whether it’s the clear cut lines of a solid oak dining table and six matching chairs or the more traditional Corsica Brown Teak Dining Set. Some dining sets come in light or dark shades like the stunningly stylish Mantis dark or light solid mango six foot Indian dining sets with its six elegant high back grass chairs. Like wise the Baku Mango Indian Dining Table and accompanying comfortable chairs also has the choice of dark stain or natural waxed finish. Another option is to choose one of our ash furniture ranges. What ever your colour scheme or theme, make sure the dining furniture you choose compliments the impression you wish to achive.
Oak Table with Cream Chairs
Room space is a vital primary consideration when planning a dining room. Not only is the size of the table important for the number of guests you wish to entertain, but equally important is that there is enough room to allow your guests to pull out chairs and move around comfortably. Whilst lighter dining room furniture helps make the room lighter and more spacious, if it is a large dining room you are designing, then darker wood would perhaps be more appropriate. If space allows, then don’t forget a wine rack. Having a wine rack that matches the dining room furniture creates a sense of harmony and coherence. Examples include the beautiful Baku dark or light mango wine cabinet with a rack on one side to display the wine and a handy storage cupboard on the other. Contemporary living means that the dining room isn’t used just for entertaining, but for hobbies and as a home office too, in which case, durable solid wooden furniture would be the ideal choice especially since it lends itself well to the demands of daily living. The multitude of uses for the modern dining room thus require more than just a table and chairs. Storage plays a vital part, so it’s worth considering pieces of solid wooden furniture such as sideboards and dressers in which you can safely store miscellaneous items when not in use. The Tokyo Solid Oak Glazed Dresser provides excellent storage and is ideal for both keeping clutter at bay as well as for serving drinks from. The Baku three shelf display unit is another prime example of a stylish storage solution. Why not relax following your meal by reclining in the ultimate in style and class – a leather solid oak tub chair available in brown and made using top grade leather. Take the dining experience to another level and make a statement with the ageless elegance and ensuring quality of solid wooden furniture. Put the specialness back in to dining at home. Happy dining!
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