If you love to entertain, investing in a dining set that suits your space and your needs is the best thing you can do. A dining set comes with a dining table and dining chairs to save you money and give you a good start towards creating the perfect atmosphere for your next dinner party.
There’s a lot that goes into choosing the right dining set and styling it the way that you envision. To help you select the ideal one for you, we’ve put together a handy dining sets buyer’s guide that covers everything to consider when buying a new or replacement dining set for your home.
How to style your dining set
Wondering how to style your dining set when it isn’t loaded with placemats, cutlery, glassware and platters of food? We’ve got you. Consider these style tips to make the most of your dining table when it’s not in use:
- Add a centrepiece to the table such as a large vase filled with flowers or leafy greens.
- Place a large platter or bowl in the centre and fill it with fruit or decorative ornaments.
- Arrange a collection of small vessels or statues in the middle of the table, varying in height and shape while sharing a similar colour palette.
- Leave the essentials on the table, ready for the next meal. Create a dining vignette with placemats, a serviette holder and a salt and pepper shaker artfully placed around the table.
Top tips for setting up your dining room
There are plenty of ways to set up your dining room; it all comes down to the type of dining experience you want your diners to have. Will the dining set be used for casual dining with family where breakfast, lunch and dinner are enjoyed together over drinks and conversation? Or will it be reserved for formal dining on special occasions with guests and wine glasses? Once you know the answer to this, you can start to think about what to put in the room. Here are some factors you need to consider to start dining in style:
- Available space - this will determine how much you can fit in the dining room. Create a cosy breakfast nook in small spaces with a 4-piece dining set or complete a spacious dining room with a 10-piece dining set and storage furniture like buffets and a pantry.
- Existing décor - think about the interior design that already exists in the dining room and the rest of the house. Match your dining set to the current colour palette so that you have a room that flows. This may be a teak table to match the sideboards, dining chairs to complement the lounge in the living room or a glass-top table to go with the coffee table.
- Number of guests - how many people are likely to sit at the table? If you entertain guests, a large 8 or 10-piece dining set will be needed to fit everyone while a 5-piece set is perfect for a small family who casually dines together.
- Texture and warmth - bring a dining space together with a beautiful rug placed underneath the dining set. Have fun with textured cushions to offset the shininess of the dining table and play with contrasting colours and prints to add interest.
- Decorations - it’s important that your dining area looks just as stylish when it’s not in use. Place a centrepiece on the table, such as a vase with flowers or a large platter with fruit. Consider hanging some wall art, adding curtains to the windows and placing a mirror on the wall to give the illusion of a larger space.
Consider the size of your dining room
The size of your dining space will tell you what size dining set you need. Take measurements of the dining room before you visit Amart so that you know what table length and shape will fit. A small dining room may be able to fit a 4 or 5-piece dining set or if you don’t have a separate dining room, consider creating a cosy nook in the living room or kitchen for meals. An extendable dining table is also a fantastic space-saving choice that lets you lengthen the table to fit extra guests and shorten it again after the meal to save space when not in use.
Is your dining room big enough to fit more than one piece of furniture in it? Consider adding a buffet in the corner to store the dinnerware and cutlery, a pantry or two and a glass cabinet to showcase the wine glasses. Bar stools look trendy sitting at a home bar for cocktails with friends on the weekend!
What dining table shape is right for you?
The right dining table combines style with functionality. Our dining table buying guide will help you pick a dining table that meets your needs and preferences. Let’s get into it!
Whether you’re looking to pick up a new dining table or replace your existing dining room table, the shape of the table is essential. Some of the shapes of the most popular tables you’ll find include:
- Rectangular table - rectangular dining tables are the most popular as most dining rooms are also rectangular. They’re a great option for formal dining occasions as they can fit plenty of people around them and still allow for conversation across a large table.
- Round table - round dining tables are an excellent choice for smaller families as they create a more intimate dining setting that’s ideal for casual dining. They’re perfect for small dining rooms with 4-5 guests but won’t work well with large gatherings as you won’t be able to hear each other across the table!
- Oval table - an oval dining table is similar to a rectangular table. Its round edges make it ideal for narrow spaces but it also gives you less surface area to place food and drinks. You may wish to put your platters on a buffet and let guests help themselves.
- Square table - a square table looks wonderful in a square dining room and is perfect if you have a small family of four. Like round tables, square tables create an intimate setting that lets diners sit closer together to eat, drink and converse.
How many people do you need to seat?
The number of people that will likely be sitting at the dining table will determine the size of the table and how many seats you need to accommodate everyone. A family of 3-4 people will sit comfortably at a 4 or 5-piece dining set if all you intend to do is eat meals together during the week.
If you plan on having guests over though or have a larger family, a bigger dining set is in order. Depending on how many people you like to entertain, consider 8-piece and 10-piece dining sets. These sets give you plenty of room for everyone and look beautiful in open-plan spaces and more formal dining rooms where entertaining is on a grander scale.
Buying comfortable & sturdy dining chairs
You and your diners will likely spend a good deal of time eating, drinking and enjoying each other’s company at the dining table so comfortable dining chairs are a must.
The table height and the height of the dining chairs are important. As a rule of thumb, there should be 24-31cm between the tabletop and the top of the dining chairs to ensure that each diner can comfortably fit under the table and reach for drinks and food as needed.
When it comes to style, you have a lot of choices. There are soft armchairs that look cosy and elegant for formal dining rooms, slat back chairs, side chairs, wishbone chairs and much more. Solid wood chairs are sturdy and look stunning around a wooden table. Hard chairs like this can be made more comfortable with cushions to sit on. Upholstered chairs should have good padding to support your posture and durable fabric that’s easy to maintain.
Choosing what material you want your dining table to be made from
The material of your dining table has a great impact on the look of your dining room and how you use it as well as the longevity of the table itself. Some of the most on-trend dining tables include:
- Wood tables - wood dining tables are a timeless classic, adding instant warmth to any dining room. They’re visually stunning with grain patterns and come in a huge range of colours to suit any room. They are also very strong and naturally durable.
- MDF tables - an MDF table is made from leftover hardwood or softwood. It’s dense and durable while being more affordable than real wood tables.
- Glass tables - a glass dining table looks elegant and high-end which makes it perfect for formal dining. It’s super easy to clean and can make the room look larger than it is.
- Marble tables - marble dining tables are incredibly robust and can stand up well to wear and tear. They have a trendy, luxurious look and each table top is unique.
Discover your perfect dining set and dining room furniture at Amart. Checkout online with fast delivery or visit your nearest showroom to view our collection in person and get expert advice on creating the dining space of your dreams.