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‘Cause eating is important, guys. From rectangle to square to oval to circle, we’re breaking it down to the basics to help you choose the perfect dining table for your space. Ya ready?

Contemporary Modern Dining Table with Grey Pattern Dining Chairs and Circular Hanging Lantern.

Most importantly, you need to pick the right shape. Do you host a lot? Or do you like to have small dinner parties and keep it more intimate? That, along with the size of your dining room (or dining room/kitchen/living room in one for us city folk) will determine what shape you should choose.

The Chairish Guide to Dining Table Shapes and Sizes Illustration

After that, the fun begins! Here’s where you can customize lighting, chairs, rugs underneath the table… the list is endless! Here are 5 tips to remember when sprucing up your space.

Rectangular Dark Wooden Leaf Dining Table on Chairish.

1. TO LEAF OR NOT TO LEAF?
A drop-leaf table has a fixed section in the middle and a hinged section (the leaf) that can be folded down or dropped. This is perfect if you have a small space and want to be able to host more people. Make sure to use a tablecloth runner to hide the unsightly seam. Party on.

Organic Modern Dining Room with Wooden Dining Chairs and Brass Hanging Light.

2. STATEMENT LIGHTING
Always a yes. However, remember that the bottom of the statement light should hang at least 30″-36″ from the top of the table.

Organic Modern Dining Table with Driftwood Centerpiece and Brass Silverware.

3. PERSONAL SPACE
When eating, each person needs about 2 feet of space. Consider this when setting the table. Give people room to throw them ‘bows out if needed.

Organic Modern Dining Room with Antler Chandelier and Wooden Bench

4. MATCHY MATCHY, THAT’S SO 80’s
Live and let live and steer clear of matchy matchy dining sets of the 80s. Enjoy yourself. Mix it up. Try an industrial table with modern chairs or a formal, wooden table with casual chairs in a fun upholstery. Heck, just get all sorts of different chairs or even a bench.

Circular Lazy Suzy dark Wooden Table on Chairish.

5. DON’T BE LAZY…
Get a lazy susan. If you’re going with a round or square table and eating family style, that lazy susan will definitely be a lifesaver! (or a food saver?)

What table are you going to go with?

October 19, 2014

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