The dining room is one of the most important rooms in the house, where the main elements of the arrangement are a table and chairs. It is where we enjoy meals, spend time with loved ones, or in solitude, with a cup of coffee or tea and a good book in hand. Functional furniture, good lighting, and decorations will make the dining room captivating not only for residents but also for guests. How to arrange a living room with a dining area, and how to create a dining nook in the kitchen? What should you consider when choosing a table, chairs, and a rug for the dining room?
Dining room arrangement – see how easy it is!
The dining room is an incredibly important room in every home. It's where we eat meals, but also spend time with family or entertain guests, so it's worth taking care of its proper location and furnishing. The decision of where to organise the dining room should primarily depend on the size of the flat, its layout, and our individual needs. One thing is for sure: even with a small flat, you can arrange a functional dining nook.
The dining room can be part of the living room, located in the kitchen, or serve as a space connecting the living room and kitchen. Of course, if you have the option, you can arrange the dining room in a separate room. However, the most popular solution is to locate the dining room in the living room or kitchen. A dining nook can be delineated using appropriate lighting or a different type of flooring, which will symbolically define the dining area. It's important to remember that a dining area in the living room should be situated away from main thoroughfares, in a place that guarantees peace, comfort, and convenience during meals. As for a dining area organised in the kitchen, it's best to place the table against a wall, ensuring there's enough space for seating.
If you have an open-plan kitchen and living room, it's a good idea to place the table and chairs between these two areas. Ideas for arranging a living room with a dining area are very popular, as such an organisation of the dining nook allows for an increase in the usable space of the home. Moreover, the person preparing meals in the kitchen can simultaneously converse with family members at the table or in the living room. This is particularly convenient during gatherings with family or friends, when you can cook and entertain guests with conversation at the same time. Now that you know where you can arrange a dining room in your home, it's high time to learn what furniture and accessories should not be missing.
Dining room – arrangements. What table and chairs to choose for the dining room?
The most important, central piece of furniture in any dining room is the table, where we not only eat meals but also spend time with family or invited guests, and sometimes even work. Therefore, a dining table should not only be visually appealing but, above all, be functional, durable, robust, and appropriately matched to the needs of the household members, as well as the character and size of the interior.
1. Choosing the right dining table
What shape of table should you choose? Is it worth opting for an extendable table?
- Round dining tables
A round table looks best placed in the centre of the room, and a bit less so when against a wall or in a corner. Its greatest advantage is that people sitting around it have excellent eye contact, which positively impacts conversation and the atmosphere of the entire gathering. Furthermore, a round table has no sharp edges, making it safer for children.
- Square table
A square table is an ideal table for a couple, which works perfectly in small dining rooms or nooks set up in the living room or kitchen. Placed against a wall or in a corner, it will even fit into a small studio flat.
- Rectangular dining table
Rectangular wooden dining tables are the most universal and most frequently chosen solution. A table of this shape works well in spacious dining rooms as well as small rooms. It can be placed in the middle of the room or against a wall. It's a comfortable piece of furniture not only for eating meals but also for preparing them, feasting, or working. However, it's worth bearing in mind that with a rectangular table, not every seat is equally comfortable; for example, people sitting on opposite sides may struggle to hold a free-flowing conversation due to the distance between them.
- Extendable table
This is a convenient and practical piece of furniture which, thanks to an additional leaf, can be adjusted to the number of users and changed according to needs. It's an excellent solution for people who value freedom and space, but who want the option of increasing the tabletop surface and accommodating more people when necessary.
2. Dining table dimensions
When choosing a dining table, in addition to its shape, you should also pay attention to its dimensions to ensure easy access to the table and to guarantee comfortable seating for household members and guests. When choosing the size of the table, you should ask yourself – how many people will be sitting at the table and how often do you have guests?
Furthermore, remember to place the table in such a way as to leave about 80 cm of free space between the table and the wall or other furniture. This makes it easy to move around the table and comfortably pull out chairs. Moreover, you should bear in mind that the space occupied by a chair with a person sitting on it should be 60 cm long and 40 cm wide. As for the height of the dining table, it should be around 75-80 cm.
3. What chairs to choose for the dining room?
A dining chair must above all be comfortable, solidly made, stable, and functional. However, one cannot forget about aesthetics. Increasingly, dining chairs have a representative character and, when chosen appropriately, perfectly accentuate the interior's style.
Therefore, a key issue is the choice of material for the chairs, which affects both their aesthetics and usability. The most popular choices are upholstered chairs and wooden chairs, which can be easily matched to the decor of almost any interior. A white Scandinavian chair will look great in a dining room arranged in a Scandinavian style, but also in a rustic or minimalist dining room. In turn, spacious, modern dining rooms are an ideal space for solid wooden chairs, as well as the currently fashionable metal chairs. Industrial dining tables paired with upholstered chairs on a metal frame will highlight the character of any modern interior.
What should you consider when choosing the style of dining chairs? For the table and chairs to complement each other well, the safest solution is to choose sets – chairs along with a table. Otherwise, you should remember to maintain stylistic consistency between the chairs and other decor elements. For example, black chairs in a rustic or Provençal style dining room will not form a harmonious whole, but in a modern space, when paired with a wooden table, they will look incredibly elegant and designer.
Furthermore, when choosing chairs for a table, it is important to remember that the seat should be 30 cm below the tabletop. This distance allows the person sitting on the chair to comfortably rest their arms on the tabletop and move their legs freely.
In addition to chairs, benches are an excellent solution for the dining room, as they provide comfortable seating, can accommodate more people at one table compared to chairs arranged in the same row, and are also stylish and original, serving as an additional decoration for the dining room.
Dining room rug – which one to choose?
The dining room is a space prone to various dirt and stains, so the primary criterion to consider when choosing a rug for the dining room is ease of cleaning. Models made from synthetic fibres work best; not only are they durable and robust, but they are also highly resistant to dirt and stains, as well as resistant to mechanical deformation, meaning that moving chairs or the weight of the table do not negatively affect the rug's appearance.
The rug under the table should be similar in shape and size to the table's appearance. However, it should be emphasised that the rug should be approximately 1 metre wider than the table on all sides. This will prevent situations where chairs, when pulled out, stand on both the rug and the floor. It's worth remembering this, as a rug that is too large can overwhelm the dining area, while one that is too small can disrupt the room's proportions and prevent proper delineation of the dining zone.
At FormAdore, you will find a wide selection of round and oval rugs, as well as rectangular rugs, making it easy to choose the right model for your dining room. The offered rugs also vary in colour and size. A grey rug, turquoise or red, a 160x230 rug or 120x170 are just a few of the options.
Tip
Lamps over the table – arrangements
A lamp over the dining table plays a dual role. On the one hand, it serves as an interesting decoration for the space; on the other, its main task is to perfectly illuminate the table, which is meant to ensure comfort while eating meals, working, or spending time in conversation with guests.
One of the key considerations when choosing a pendant lamp for the dining room is its size. A lamp that is too small will not impress with its design or the amount of light emitted, while a model that is too large may overpower the space. Therefore, when selecting a lamp, you should match the size of the lampshade to the dimensions of the table. If the tabletop is longer than 1.5 m, you can easily mount a large lamp with a diameter of up to 50 cm above it. In contrast, small, subtle lamps over the table look good in a row, preferably hung at different heights. This solution works perfectly in interiors with very high ceilings and tables of medium size.
Furthermore, the distance of the lamp from the tabletop is important. Smaller lamps can hang at a height of about 50-60 cm, while large lamps need a bit more space, so it's best to mount them at a distance of 75-90 cm.
A dining lamp should evenly illuminate the tabletop and must not dazzle those gathered around it. The light emitted by chandeliers installed in the dining room should be warm, not too strong, and quite diffused. Therefore, lamps with a lampshade directed downwards work best over the table. An excellent choice is a lamp with a lampshade made of metal, coloured glass, opaque fabric, as well as with an exposed bulb or a geometric loft lamp.
Decorations and accessories for the dining table
Stylish and aesthetic dining table decorations will make everyday meals and family gatherings take on a unique, unforgettable character. What accessories should not be missing from your dining table?
- Tablecloth and runner – ideal table decoration for everyday use
Dining tables are usually devoid of decorations. Typically, stylish ornaments and elegant tableware only appear just before an important family gathering or the arrival of friends. However, there are accessories that can successfully beautify our dining room every day. What everyday decorations will work well on a dining table? These are certainly tablecloths and runners, which, in addition to their decorative function, protect the table from splashes, as well as scratches or other damage.
The choice of colour or shape for a cotton tablecloth depends primarily on your taste, but for the entire arrangement to appear coherent and harmonious, it's worth following two simple rules. If you want to set your table with tableware in intense colours, the best backdrop will be a plain tablecloth or one with a very subtle print. Conversely, white, beige, or pastel-coloured tableware will look excellent on a striking, eye-catching tablecloth. As for a table runner, you can place it on top of a tablecloth, for example, pairing a white tablecloth with a runner in a strong, contrasting colour, or directly on the table.
- Candle holders
How else can you decorate your dining table? Elegant candle holders with slender candles come to the rescue, as they emit soft light, bringing a cosy, intimate atmosphere to the interior. Right next to one large candle holder, you can also decorate your dining table with small tealight holders. When placing a large, multi-armed candle holder in the centre, remember to choose candles of appropriate height. Those that are too tall may obscure the person sitting opposite, which can interfere with conversation. Candle holders are an impressive table decoration, thanks to which you can quickly introduce a touch of elegance, as well as cosiness and warmth, to the dining room.
- Vase with flowers
Nothing decorates and enlivens a space as effectively as a bouquet of beautiful, wonderfully fragrant flowers placed in a stylish, elegant vase. Decorative vases perfectly highlight and bring out the beauty of fresh flowers. It's worth having several types of them at home to easily choose a vase that suits the type of flowers and the occasion.
- Stylish tableware
An indispensable element of every dining table, especially when expecting guests, is elegant tableware. Bowls or deep plates, large dinner plates, dessert plates, polished cutlery, glasses, cups, and wine glasses are essential elements of a table setting. Napkins are also a must-have on a set table. Disposable paper napkins are best placed in an elegant napkin holder. Meanwhile, it's worth placing fabric napkins next to each place setting, previously tucked into tasteful napkin rings, which will serve as an additional table decoration.
Note
Arrange a cosy and functional dining room in your home, so that every day you can enjoy meals and spend time with your family in a pleasant and comfortable atmosphere.
