How to Choose the Right Kitchen Furniture for Your First Home

Wood-expandable-dining-table-257You just bought your first home, and you are deciding on the right furniture to place in each room. California Stools, Bars and Dinettes can provide you with a wide range of options based on your particular needs as we offer dining room furniture, bar furniture, and kitchen furniture for your dining and entertainment needs. While getting the dining room and the wet bar perfect for your family, the kitchen area may be the hardest room in selecting the right tables and chairs.

Kitchens come in a wide range of sizes and need to have the right traffic flow for cooking without creating obstacles. When placing in furniture, you don’t want to disrupt this flow by adding too many pieces or too large of a kitchen set to where you have to move the furniture about daily just to have room to cook. Yet you still would like a nice sitting area in the space so everyone can sit down for a nice family dinner. Here are several ways in selecting the right kitchen furniture that will fit perfectly into your first home.

Consider the Primary Use of the Kitchen

Yes, it is a kitchen so it will be used for cooking. Yet kitchens have evolved over the years to becoming multi-functioning spaces. It may also be the home office, the child’s study area, and a place for entertaining dinner guests. Deciding on all the purposes allows you to have a basic idea on what types of furniture to purchase.

For example; if you plan to talk and entertain guests in an open floor plan where the kitchen can be seen from other living spaces and a large counter is used as a separator, you may want to purchase kitchen stools. The kitchen stools can give extra seating for people to relax, have a drink and eat a snack while watching you cook.

Another thing to consider is if you have enough space to place in an additional small table as a food preparation area. By having a separate table, you won’t have to fight for space at the regular kitchen table if the kids decide to do their homework before dinner or the spouse is finishing up on some work reports. Breakfast nooks may also be ideal as you can increase the seating with a bench so your family has their own place to do work before or after the meals.

Measure the Space to Narrow Down Furniture Choices

While you may want every type of kitchen furnishings offered at California Stools, Bars and Dinettes, you may quickly find out just how much space is eaten up by the furniture you place into it. Use a measuring tape to measure out the space that is available. One tip is to use masking tape on the floor to mark the spaces where you want to place the tables and chairs.

Doing this strategy will give you a visual reference of where you want the furniture as you can change your measurement figures in case you need to select a smaller table, fewer chairs, or a larger dining set. Once you have the measurements and have the taped areas as reference, you can sketch out the space. There are several types of software and apps available that will give you a 3D computerized representation of your home. Then you can place in virtual furnishings into the floor plan. Decide on how long of a table you can have, the right position to place it, and the number of sitting spaces for everyday meals and for special holiday feasts.

Selecting Furniture Styles

Selecting furniture styles will usually be on the final part of your furniture selection task. Yet the style can have a big influence in setting the mood in the room. You can select a more rustic style to match the woodsy, country feeling, or select a more modern piece if you are going for a minimalist, industrial look. The types of materials you select for the furniture will also dictate the style you are looking for as glass tables offer a more elegant appearance while wood inspires a relaxing and warm atmosphere.

Sometimes taking photographs of the rest of the furniture in your house can help in selecting a style when you go to the furniture store. If your first home has an open floor plan where the kitchen can be seen from the living room or dining room, you may want the kitchen furniture to complement the other furnishings, or even provide a contrasting element to show how it is a separate space of its own even in an open floor layout.

Trying out Furniture is Essential

Don’t forget this last step of the process. Trying out the furniture by coming to California Stools, Bars and Dinettes will allow you to see for yourself how different family members are seated at tables or kitchen stools. Imagine standing over a table as you are chopping vegetables or stirring pots to select the right height. Then sit on the chair to determine the comfort level you desire. You may desire an upholstered chair if you have certain back problems, or a wooden chair for extra body support.

Keep in mind that different family members will have different comfort levels when it comes to sitting at chairs and eating at tables. So take their opinions into consideration and pick out the kitchen furniture that appeals to every member of your family. If you are having problems finding the right kitchen furniture for your first home, then let the friendly staff of California Stools, Bars, and Dinettes give you a hand.

We have three different store locations in the Bay Area as our warehouses are fully stocked with kitchen furniture in the style and comfort level you desire. Whether you want to select a full kitchen set or mix-and-match different kitchen furniture pieces, we can help you narrow down your choices and locate the stools, tables, chairs and benches that will fit perfectly into your budget.