And Something To Sit On

No discussion of dining room tables would be complete without touching briefly on their oh-so-necessary accessories, dining room chairs. Much like tables, they come in a wide array of styles, and you can either buy ones that match your table, or mix and match for a more interesting look.

If you’re going for the matching look, keep an eye open for table/chair specials that allow you to buy two more chairs (over the usual table/four chairs) for a special rate. Usually these will be something like arm chairs, which go nicely on the ends of a table and give you extra seating for entertaining.

If you’re mixing and matching, do some measuring first to make sure that the chairs you have your eye on will fit under the table and that people can get their legs under the table as well (add eight inches to the seat surface to see how high the underside of the table should be). If the chairs come with arms, make sure the arms can fit under the table with enough spare room that the arms will not get scratched up each time you push the chairs in or pull them out.

Whichever way you go, make sure you get at least two more chairs than you need normally (for entertaining). You should sit-test all chairs to make sure they’re comfortable enough to cover both eating and after-dinner lingering. By comfort we refer not only to the seat/cushion itself, but also the back (does it give enough support?), width of the chair, and whether it sits solidly on the floor and doesn’t rock or wobble. If the seats are cushioned, make sure they are removable so you can change covers and that the padding is securely fastened with corner screws, not just glued.

If you have small children, avoid fabric-covered chairs.

Stray Dining Room Table Buying Tips

-To get a sense of the broad range of styles available, try checking out a site like EverythingFurniture.com or FurnitureOnTheWeb.com to “window” shop.

-Take the long view when it comes to dining room tables. The table you pick will probably outlast several decorating schemes, if not actual residences themselves. Make sure you select something you can live with for many years.

-Make sure that table legs aren’t wobbly or rickety. Four-legged tables should have legs that have screwed-in corner blocks.

-Counter-height tables have been very popular over the last few years. These are great for those of us getting on a bit in years, as the chairs that come with them are higher than normal table chairs, and thus easier to get out of.

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