Dining Room Furniture That Fits Your Style & Your Space

When you’re sitting in your dining room, does it feel like the walls are closing in on you?  Or does your dining room table seem like a small boat in a big ocean?  Maybe your dining room is too stuffy to comfortably entertain in? Here are some tips to help you pick out the right dining room set for your space.

It is important to have a table and chairs that are comfortable and fit the scale of the room. If you do some measuring before shopping, and follow our basic measurement guidelines, you’ll find a table sized just right for your dining room:

• Allow 24″ between the table and wall so people can easily sit down and get up from the table.
• Allow 38″ between the table and wall if people are going to walk behind the table.
• Plan for 24″ for each place setting so people can comfortably eat without hitting elbows.
• The maximum width of a table should be 48″ – any more space and your guests can’t pass things across the table and conversation becomes strained.
• The minimum width of a table should be 36″ – any less width and you will have difficulty placing serving pieces in the middle of the table.

  

Once you get in the store, look at a variety of dining room sets. You want your dining room set to reflect your style and how you like to entertain. Is your style more traditional, formal, modern, eclectic?   Don’t worry, you’ll know you’ve found your style when you see it.

The shape of the table is equally important in creating a beautiful and comfortable space. A rectangular table is the most common shape because most dining rooms are rectangular. It’s also a great shape for seating more than four people. Rectangular tables are often more flexible since many come with leaves that extend the length.  A square table looks best in a square room.



A round table works well in small rooms and smaller square shaped rooms. It creates a cozy and intimate setting, so it’s the best shape for a small group of people. A large round table, however, can make guests feel very far away from each other. For versatility, get one with a leaf that changes into an oval shape that accommodates a larger group of people. An oval table is very similar to a rectangular shape table, but visually it uses up less space because of the rounded corners. Therefore, oval tables are a great fit for a narrow or smaller size room. Many oval tables also come with leaves to extend their capacity.


Once you’ve found the right table for your dining room, you will need to select seating. There are many options you will consider, including whether you want traditional wooden chairs, upholstered chairs, armed chairs, bench seating…..again, look at a variety, make sure they are comfortable by sitting in them, and pull them up to the table you’ve chosen.

The designers at Vander Berg Furniture & Flooring are eager to help you pick out the perfect furniture for your dining room. You can even basically build your own set with our custom Amish line. Stop in now, during our Dining Sale – we’ve got 40% off + an additional 5% off all dining furniture, in-stock or custom orders.

Hope to see you soon!