MORE THAN JUST FOOD: CHOOSING YOUR DINNING TABLE SET

   They say home is where the heart is. They also say the wway to a man's heart is through his stomach. Full of conviviality, conversation and delicious cuisines, is there any space more impotant to the atmosphere in your home than the dinning area?.


This is where you bring your guests for long enjoyable meals. Its also where you celebrate family occasions; from anniversaries to birthdays to special achievements. It’s a place to talk and laugh, to indulge yourself, be the perfect host and to show off your interior (and culinary) flair to your friends!
That’s why today I’ll be sharing a few tips and tricks to help you choose the perfect dining room furniture. From casual dining to haute cuisine, read on to find your signature dining style and learn how to choose stand-out furniture for this essential space, whatever your taste.
WHAT’S YOUR DINING STYLE?

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Before we take a closer look at hand-picking high quality pieces, the first and most important step is settling on your personal dining style. From the casual warmth of a shabby chic or rustic look, to the grandiosity of a formal, traditional style; there’s a whole breadth of design choices for you to consider.
A good place to begin is to think about how you currently use your dining area. Do you use it only for formal, special occasions? Do you use it for everyday, family meals? Do you use it every fortnight to entertain close friends and family? The answers to these questions will help you to determine the level of formality you should aim for in this space.
Now take some time to consider your own personal style. Think about the food you love to cook and eat. Think about the mood and atmosphere you want to create around the dining table. Think about the music you like to play to set the mood during dinner.  Use these considerations to come up with the perfect look and feel for your dining area, whether that’s bright, bold and modern, sumptuous and romantic or luxurious and elegant.
DRESSING UP, DRESSING DOWN

SIZE MATTERS
After style, size is the most important factor to consider when buying dining furniture. Too large and the furniture could dwarf your room, creating a cramped feel and destroying that essential sense of intimacy around the dinner table. Too small and your guests will not be able to sit comfortably.
As a very broad rule of thumb, give each diner 60cm of space around your table. If you have your heart set on larger chairs, make sure you factor their width in to this calculation.
If you’re planning to invest in an extendible table, remember that at full length, table legs may fall in uncomfortable positions for your diners. Choose a table with a pedestal base to work around this issue.
HOW TO SPOT QUALITY CRAFTSMANSHIP

Now you have a clearer idea of the style, feel and sizes you are looking for from your dining furniture, it’s time to scrutinise your favourite pieces. Look for high quality materials which have been crafted to create a flawless finish.
Joints should have no gaps and should slot together seamlessly, marquetry and inlay should be perfect. Examine your favourite pieces carefully and talk with the supplier in depth to learn about their provenance before splashing out.
BON APPETIT!
Above all, dining furniture is there to be enjoyed. It’s the canvas which makes a wonderful evening or a beautiful birthday lunch possible. Focus on comfort, versatility and layout first – beauty and elegance can be added eaHsily with accessories and extras.me