DINING SET BUYING GUIDE

A dining set is a center piece of any home décor.  Depending on the set you purchase, you can instantly make the atmosphere formal, casual or classic or modern.  Thus, it should not be a hasty purchase.

DIMENSIONS: As a general rule, allow 36-48 inches between the table’s side and the wall.  This allows walk through space, and also lets the chairs comfortably pull out.  If there is more than 48 inches of vacant space, the dining table will probably appear too small for the room.

If you are searching for efficiency, round and square tables are probably the way to go.  Round tables offer an intimate environment that is conducive for conversation.  If the round table seats more than 8 people though, it loses a lot of its intimacy, and is usually too large. Dining tables generally seat 6-8 people, while kitchen tables are intended to seat 4-6 people.  It is generally quite difficult to get a dining table that seats more than 10 without having it be expandable.  

Allocate about 25 inches for each guest.  Therefore, if you want a dining table that will seat 6 comfortably, you should probably have it be larger than 50 inches wide.  For circle tables, a diameter of 4 feet is perfect if you would like to seat 4 people.     

EXPANDABLE TABLES: These tables the ideal way of providing flexibility to your table.  Easy expansion allows you to augment the table to the expected company.  Often times, people purchase expandable tables and use them for both their kitchen table and dining table.

The Dining chairs:  Fortunately, when purchasing a dining set, you don’t have to hope the chairs will match the table because you can already see how they aesthetically and dimensionally work together.  Dining chairs should allow you to sit up straight, however they may not be as comfortable as curved chairs.  Curved dining chairs often times provide the most comfort as their lines naturally follow the contour of your back. If you are purchasing dining set with arm chairs, make sure that the arm-rests slide under the table.

22 inches is the standard width for an armless dining chair, however, you can go larger or smaller depending on the size of the table and the size of the individuals.  Avoid chairs that are narrower than 16 inches; they just don’t provide enough support. 17 or 18 inches is an ideal height for a dining chair seat and virtually all chairs are sold with this seat height.  Since most dining tables are about 29-30 inches high, the general rule is to allow 12 inches between the chair seat, and the table.

USAGE:  What are you using the chairs for? If you are transferring them from your kitchen to dining room often and need flexibility, it may be a good idea to purchase either a folding chair or a stackable chair.  This is especially the case for restaurants as the chairs constantly need to be moved or re-arranged.  Chairs with a gap between the seat and backrest are especially easy to carry. A chair with a solid back may be more difficult to grab, so it should be light enough to move without a firm hold. Also consider the people who will be using the chair: If children often dine at the table, make sure the chair isn’t too heavy or awkward for them to move.