Choosing furniture to suit everyone’s taste – and budget – is no easy task. Do you opt for looks over practicality? What if you fall for a piece of furniture…but nobody else in the family does? The experts at Moss Furniture bring you this article to help make your decision a little easier.
The dining table can be the centrepiece of your home. It’s often the place where kids do their homework, meals are enjoyed and guests linger over coffee. It’s the central point where everyone comes together, so it’s vital to choose the right piece for you.
How big should your table be?
When determining the space available for a dining table, consider the space that people need to sit comfortably and walk around it. Interior decorator Shoshana Gosselin suggests the ideal width for a table is at least 91 centimetres, “so there’s ample space for place settings as well as food.”
Ken Moncrieff, Interior Designer with Alternative Images and Moss Furniture at Crows Nest, says: “People often don’t realise how much space a table will take. Use newspaper or chalk to map out how much space the table will take up in your room. This will help you to visualise the space that the table will take up. Then, you can measure the wall/furniture-to-table clearance to see if the table will fit.”
Choosing the right shape
Rectangular tables are popular – loved for functionality. Rectangular tables work well in long and narrow rooms. If you’re looking for it to take up less space, choose seats that are more streamlined, or consider a bench that can be stored under the table when not in use. Rectangular tables can accommodate many guests, especially when they are extended.
Round tables fit well into tight spaces and can normally fit more people, as they have no corners. Round tables with pedestals offer more legroom, eating space and comfort to diners, as they eliminate the table legs that can get in the way. Some people consider round tables to be the best, as they allow everyone to face one another, pass the food around and feel more social.
Square tables position diners an equal distance apart, making for more intimate dining experiences. If your dining room is square, a square dining table will mimic the room’s shape and provide symmetry. However, bear in mind that with a square or round table, it is harder to reach for food, so it might be a good idea to install a lazy Susan if this is your choice.
Styles & Material
Certain table materials work better with different styles. Dining tables made from stainless steel, glass or chrome finishes suggest modern or industrial themes in a home. Timber (particularly farm-style timber tables) give a rustic theme.
Lyn Fisher, Interior Design and Owner of Moss Furniture in Crows Nest says, “Choose a table surface that’s long lasting, durable, non-porous and comes with a warranty,” such as Caesarstone® which is created from an easy-care quartz surface that’s scratch and stain resistant, non-porous comes with a 10-year warranty.
A second feature to consider when choosing a table is flooring. Interior decorator Ken Moncrieff says you should aim for contrast in your choices. “For example, you can have too much timber – timber floor, timber table legs and a timber table-top. It can be all too much,” he says. “Also, most kitchen benches are rectangular. If you’re going to have a dining table beside it, I generally try to suggest to go with a different shape to rectangular, to make the table look completely different to the kitchen, particularly if it is positioned right beside it and made of the same surface.”
Moss Furniture has Australia’s largest range of custom made Caesarstone tables and also custom-make dining, coffee, console and side tables using stainless steel, glass, timber, Neolith porcelain and marble.
Visit their showroom at 360 Pacific Highway, Crows Nest where their friendly staff will assist with your enquiries. Tel: (02) 9439 8112.
