Month: December 2016

It’s the season of giving…or throwing holiday get-togethers. Here are some tips and tricks for rearranging the furniture in your house to be more conducive to parties and gatherings.

Repurposing furniture

There are many ways to organize your existing furniture to perfectly set the scene for a holiday party, you just have to get creative. Purchasing one or two new pieces of furniture could also be a great idea. If you’ve been waiting for the excuse of the holidays to purchase a new dining room table, it’s the time to buy. Perhaps keep your old table, for overflow seating, or use it as a kids’ table for a holiday meal.

The Entryway

De-clutter your entryway. Guests should feel comfortable as they enter your home. Make sure the entryway highlights the route that they should take to the main gathering area. If your entry way is separated from the living room or kitchen, it can be helpful to leave guests space to hang coats or set down bags.

Make sure that there are areas for flow of traffic. Make sure that dining room tables or couches are moved out of the way of the main walkways in your home.

Areas for Food and Drink

Keep food and drink stations separate to avoid traffic jams in one area of the home. Giving guest two destinations to hit, ensures that people will circulate through the house. Tapas, hors d’oeuvres or buffet-style serving is best for larger holiday parties. People typically don’t expect to sit down formally, and will be used to eating small bites or with a plate on their lap.

Get people to mingle by placing small appetizers on pub or bistro tables. It’s easier to mingle at a higher table, and doesn’t require the commitment of finding a seat.

Seating areas

Create seating areas for smaller groups of people to gather at. Be sure that there’s enough seating, but not too much. If there are too many seats, people will tend to never leave their seat, and never mingle with the rest of the party. A good tip is to not set furniture too far apart from each other. You don’t want guests leaning across coffee tables to try and hear one another.

When it comes to finding the perfect dining room table for your home and your family there are various factors to consider. Look at different finishes, colors and how it fits into your dining area. Also consider height, as it may influence the feel or look of the dining room as well. Dining room tables come in three common types.

Standard Height

This is the most common height of dining room tables. Standard height tables typically range from 28-30 inches high. Most people consider them to be the most comfortable and most traditional types of dining room tables.

Bar Height

Bar height tables aren’t as high as pub tables, but they do come in as one of the tallest types of dining room tables. Bar height dining room tables typically measure in at around 40-42 inches high, hitting you at the hip or waist. While pub tables can come up to chest height or slightly lower, that height of table is much more commonly found in a bistro-styled pub table.

Bar height tables are a very relaxed and casual dining room table. Bar dining room tables aren’t as big and don’t seat as many people as a traditional standard height dining room table might. They’re perfect for smaller families, or as eat in kitchen dining room tables.

Counter Height

This type of dining room table is slightly less traditional but lends itself well to a crowded family dining room, surrounded by conversation. The counter height dining room table is typically 34-36 inches high. These tables are higher and can also be used for kitchen prep, as they’re not too low to stand around.

Take away

Always remember to take into consideration the space you have for a dining room table. If you don’t have a formal dining room to relegate a large table off to, consider purchasing a smaller table meant to fit into a smaller space. Eat in kitchen dining room tables are also becoming very popular in more modern homes, getting rid of the disconnect between the hub of the kitchen and the separate formal dining room.

If you’re looking for a table that will offer you flexibility, look for a smaller bistro table, which could make your kitchen a more flexible space. There are many options of dining room tables that you can choose from and incorporate into your home. Try out a table with benches rather than stools or chairs. Find the perfect dining room table, height, finish and all for you.