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Pub tables can be one of the most functional tables to use in your home. With their different height, they can be used for a wide variety of things, and with the holiday season upon us, they’re great for parties, and casual small dinners. While they come in varying heights, and many different shapes and sizes, they provide a wide variety of functionality in your home.

Decorative

If you’re looking for the perfect table to feature photos on, so that they’ll be at eye line height, a pub table works wonders. While they’re great for showing off family photos, decorations, or even small stacks of books, they can also prove to be a great work space. If your dining room table always seems to be crowded with mail, bills and books, moving them to a smaller pub table might force you to keep them more organized.  A pub table can double as a great small workspace, with enough room for a laptop and some books.

A pub table can also be great to include in the living room, as a smaller alternative to a dining room table. Depending on your space, you might not have room for a formal dining room table. A pub table can seat around four people and is a nice casual way to have a dining area. If you’re looking for a small table for excess people it functions well.

Kitchen Dining

If you’re living in a smaller place and don’t have room for a full table in the kitchen, let alone a formal dining room, a pub table can be a great solution for space. While it’s still a table you can eat at, it’s a much smaller size, and fits well in most spaces.

Try investing in a pub table instead of a dining room table, if you’re scrapped for space, and use it for multiple purposes, like a desk, and an eating space.

Holiday Gatherings

With the holidays here, a pub table can be a great addition for extra dining space, or even a great table to gather food on at a holiday party. Set it up as an additional table for the kids at the holiday feast, or use it as a place to put appetizers or a makeshift bar during a party. Pub tables are so versatile that you can use them one way for the holidays, and then incorporate them into your home in an entirely different way next month.

If you’re hosting a holiday dinner or party this year, and you don’t own a traditional dining room table, there’s no need to panic. There are many other ways to use dining room furniture, bar stools, kitchen tables and more, to serve a meal and appetizers. If you’re looking to invest in a new dining room table, we’re here to break down the best styles.

Breakfast Bars and Barstools

Keep in mind that at the holidays, not all meals are sit-down. Some gatherings subsist entirely on appetizers and small plates. If you have a breakfast bar, why not turn it into a buffet table. If you don’t have a large dining room table to place food on, try using your kitchen or breakfast bar.

Pull some barstools up to a breakfast bar for some additional seating options if you need overflow.

Multiple Tables

We’ve all had many a gathering where there weren’t enough seats for everyone. Pulling tables together always works. Finding pub tables, utilizing your breakfast bar or any other tables will work too.

Dining Room Table Options

If you’re looking to invest in a dining room table, perhaps now is the perfect time. If you want to be conscious of the space in your house, you could always find a table with leaves, and add all the leaves during the holidays so that you have a bigger table. These tables are best for flexible spaces. You can take the leaves out and store them, and utilize a smaller table for the rest of the year.

If you’re looking for a traditional dining room table, you can find them in many shapes and sizes so that you can seat a wide variety of people. If you’re looking for an alternative seating option, try using benches instead of chairs at your dining room table. Benches can seat more people if they have to.

If you’re looking to get a table but don’t have the space for a larger dining room table, take a look at bistro tables. Smaller, and typically round, they won’t seat a crowd, but they could seat up to 4 people, and function as a great serving table.

When it comes down to it, at the Holidays, anything goes. People can eat on their laps, have small plates or do a formal sit-down dinner. No matter the occasion, if you’re looking for new dining room furniture, check out what’s available at California Stools, Bars and Dinettes.

When it comes to picking out new chairs for your dining room table there are a few things you need to consider. If you’re planning to use them with an existing dining room table, or you’re getting a new table separately it’s important to make sure the chairs match, not in color but functionality.

Check the height

It’s important to measure how high your existing or separate table is. When it comes to picking out chairs for your table, you want to make sure that your chairs fit under your table. While it’s important to find dining room chairs that fit under the table, it’s also important to find chairs that have a functional chair seat height. You want to make sure that your family or dinner guests can fit in their seats under the table, and also be high enough to reach food, but not low enough that they feel like they’re sitting a bucket.

Check the width

If you want a certain number of chairs to fit around your dining room table, you’ll need to measure the width of your seats. You want to make sure that guests can fit around the table, but not be completely wedged in. You want to make sure that they have room to pull their chairs in and out from the table.

Make it comfy

A new trend popping up for dining room chairs is to have a higher couch or love seat as part of the seating. If you’re looking to create more of an informal breakfast nook, a love seat is a great way to go. Back a table up to the love seat and put two or three chairs on the other side of the table, and you’ll have the best of both worlds.

Benches

Benches are a great way to add comfort and more seating to your dining room table. There are a couple different ways you can organize them. Trying a bench on one side of the table is a great way to try it out. If you’re ready to commit to benches, try adding benches at the ends of the tables, or only on the sides. The key to styling benches with dining room tables, is to have chairs in with them.

Styles

A great new trend in dining room tables is experimenting with different colored chairs. Try finding a wide variety of colors that fit with your dining room. Another great way to try this is to choose from a smaller palate and try two to three colors.

If you’re looking for an even bigger change up, try using different styles of chairs together, old fashioned, modern, farmhouse. Sometimes the clash of styles goes great together. Try mixing and matching different chairs for an updated and modern look in your dining room.

If you’re looking for Dining Room Table decoration tips, we’re here to help. While it’s always easy to switch up certain things in your dining room, some things you don’t always think of or you’re afraid to try. We’re here with a few tips for changing up your dining room.

Lighting

It’s always fun to change up your lighting and fixtures, and they can have a completely different effect on the way your dining room looks. Try something old fashioned, modern, or new and updated. Try something unexpected, that will completely change up the feel of your dining room.

Rustic

Go a little rustic in your dining room. Try updating your dining room table with something wooden that evokes a farm house feel. It can be great to mix rustic and industrial styles here. The rustic feel also makes most dining rooms feel cozy and warm.

Mixing Styles

A great way to change up the feel of your dining room is to play with different tables or chairs. While dining room table sets are great, some people like buying tables and chairs separately for a different look. Try changing up your dining room with an industrial table and modern chairs or vice versa.

Benches

Benches can be a great way to change up the seating in the dining room. If you’re looking for more space and a little variation, benches are a great way to add more seating and not crowd your dining room.

Benches are a new fad when it comes to dining room tables, as they weren’t previously seen as being very formal. Once people realized they seat more people and they also save more space than additional chairs, they became popular.

Mirrors

When it comes to home decoration, mirrors are a great way to add space. Even though they’re not technically adding space, mirrors make a space feel larger, by adding depth.  Try adding a large mirror to one of the walls in your dining room, that doesn’t have windows, and enjoy the space it creates.

Artwork

Try a new piece of art that might add a new feel to your dining room space. Whether it’s a sculpture or painting, try something that grabs attention. Sometimes a brightly colored piece or painting can really transform the feel of a room.

Experiment with different dining room table sets and different decorating techniques to try to change your space into one that you love. If you’re looking for dining room tables, chairs and more, look at California Stools, Bars and Dinettes for your dining room needs.

Before you buy a dining room table, there are some basics that need to be considered before you buy. You have to take into account the space you have, and the function of the table. These are the two most important factors; what size table can you fit and what specifically are you going to use it for. Dining tables in San Jose, CA come in tons of different finishes, materials, and more. So there’s more to decide on than just size and use, but look and feel. If you already have a style trend in your kitchen or dining room area, it’s best to go with that existing feel.

Lifestyle

It’s important to consider what the table will be used the most for. If you only use your table for formal dining occasions, you may have more leeway when it comes to what kind of table you get. If you have a young family and your dining room table will be used for doing homework as often as it will get used for eating, it might be better to go with a stronger material, one that won’t get damaged by tons of handwriting, like a softer wood would.

If you only plan on using your dining room table for larger, more formal occasions, you might have more freedom of the kind and size of table you get. If you have a large dining room to dedicate to a table, you’re going to be able to get a larger table. If you’re working within the constraints of a kitchen, with an eat-in dining table, the table size you’ll be able to fit will probably be much smaller.

Legs

You’ll also have a choice when it comes to the legs of the table. Whether you want a table with four legs for support, or pedestal supports is up to you. Most tables have four supporting legs on each corner of the table. If you’re looking to seat large numbers of people it might be best to find a table with one large support in the middle. That way you can seat people all the way around the table without a support in the way of someone’s legs.

It’s also important to consider the height of your new dining room table. Most tables measure in at 30 inches high, so if you or your family members have long legs and are tall, it might be of note to look for higher tables.

Traditional

Some traditional tables also come with leaves, which will change the size of the table. By adding more leaves the table gets bigger, but you can take the leaves out and have a smaller table most of the time. This might be the best option if you don’t have a formal dining room, but you’re looking forward to entertaining family and groups of friends with dinner parties. You can add some leaves to make the table accommodating to everyone, and then remove them for a smaller table when the party is over.

New

When it comes to seating more people at your dining room table, another great trend is using benches instead of chairs. By adding a bench on one side of your table, it gives a more family-style feel, and provides more room for people to squeeze in at the table. We recommend a mix of both chairs and benches for an updated feel.

When it comes to choosing the perfect dining room set for you and your space, there are no wrong answers. Don’t buy a huge table if you don’t have the space, and consider opinions like leaves so that you can have the best of both worlds.

For a while now kitchen trends have been shifting toward larger spaces, and more focus on family and entertaining. The days of the formal dining room have passed, and now most of the holiday celebrations, and occasional celebrations are done in bigger kitchens. We’re here to break down why bigger kitchens are popular, and what kind of dining room furniture works best.

Old Dining Rooms

The tradition was that you ate in a formal dining room, while all of the food was cooked and prepared in the kitchen. With more relaxed trends, more of the eating and hanging out is done in the kitchen. Days are gone where one solo person prepared an entire meal. Now it’s common to have multiple people cooking together in the kitchen.

Kitchen Breakfast Bar

This has also grown in popularity, and is lending itself well to hanging in the kitchen. By adding a breakfast bar with some new barstools, you’re inviting people into your kitchen, whether they’re keeping you company, or helping you prep your meal. A breakfast bar is also a great addition to have if you have kids. It’s a great place to have your kids do homework after school, while you’re prepping dinner.

Dine-in Kitchen

With the central gathering place slowly becoming the kitchen, we’ve also seen an uptick in dine-in kitchens. With most of the hubbub and commotion happening in the kitchen, it doesn’t make sense to move the dining out of the kitchen. This also makes the ease of cooking better. If you’re waiting for something to come out of the oven, there’s no waiting to walk through to the dining room once it’s done. You can join the rest of your group or family at the dining table in the kitchen, and wait until it’s done there.

While we all love the simplicity of dining room sets and dinettes, it can be fun to break out of the mold with a new dining room table. If you love style and believe your dining room shouldn’t be only functional, it might be time to find some fun style pairings perfect for your space. Here are some style tips and ideas for freshening up your dining room.

Organic Simple

If you don’t want to go with wild finishes or colors, you can still change up your style by keeping it simple. Find organic materials like wood or metal and pair them together. Keeping classic silhouettes in mind doesn’t hurt either. Keep your dining room table shape and chair shape simple, and it will make a stylish trend on its own.

Mod

If you’re a fan of mod furniture but don’t want to go full ‘60s in your dining room, there are ways to pay homage without going full over. Find a classic tulip table, or a set of mod chairs. Pair your mod chairs with an industrial inspired table for a new look.

Industrial

If you love the look of the industrial table, try changing it up. Instead of going full wood table with benches, to complete the industrial trend, try changing up the chairs. Get something modern or classic. Try using upholstered chairs to bring in a more cozy feel to the harsher elements of an industrial wooden table.

Classic Glam

If you want your dining room to have echoes of old Hollywood, but not go too far, try finding a glass top dining room table. They’re highly functional and easy to clean. Try pairing it with a brightly colored chair. If you want to add an extra touch, try for an upholstered chair for an added level of comfort.

Farmhouse

Keep it neutral or white and find a long family-style table to match. This style of dining room table needs the appropriate space, but it sets the tone for a family style meal. Get wooden chairs, or add a bench or two for extra flair.

Your Style

Whatever the combo you choose, be sure it reflects the style you want in your home. Consider the style of table and chair, to be sure it fits your family’s lifestyle. If your dining room table is the hub of your home and where the majority of homework gets done, you might want to lean more toward functionality. If your dining room table is rarely used or only used for one meal a day, or only formal occasions, find something fancier that suits your tastes.

Barstools have become a staple in most homes today. Most people have breakfast bars in their kitchens, or bars in other areas of their home that lend themselves well to a higher chair. With the trend of eat-in kitchens and breakfast nooks, barstools are a great way to add an eating area to your kitchen. Barstools have also become a great way to help make the kitchen a central place of the home.

Adding barstools to the end of your counter in the kitchen, could prompt your kids to sit down and do their homework while dinner is being cooked. They also present a great place for someone to sit, and help prep dinner.

Types of stools

Barstools come in three different heights. Counter, bar and spectator/stadium height stools are designed to pair well with the three most common counter heights. Standard height stools are anywhere from 24-26 inches high, as standard counters are 36 inches. Typical bar height is 42 inches, so most barstools come in at 30 inches high. A spectator or stadium stool is 34-36 inches tall, and meant fr counters around 48 inches.

Because counter heights can vary so much in homes, some stools are being sold as adjustable height to accommodate any counter height. Swivel stools have always been popular, but they tend to be heavier, so it’s something to take into consideration if you move often or if you’re concerned about your floors.

Barstools come in many styles in addition to heights. Some come without backs, or with partial backs or with full backs. It’s up to you to choose the best style for your kitchen. Something to consider when choosing a stool, a footrest can make or break the long term comfort of a barstool, so try to find stools with foot rests.

Finish

It depends on the style of your home, and what sort of finish you’re looking for. Barstools come in many finishes, but the two most common is metal and wood. Metal tends to be more affordable and easier to clean. It also lends itself well to a more industrial look. Wood barstools tend to work well in lots of different styled kitchens. The neutral look of wood goes well with almost anything. If the choice to go between metal and wood is a hard one, try finding a stool that features both.

The Right Barstool

Finding the right stool takes a lot of consideration. You have to consider how often it will be used, and for how long, how comfortable you want it to be, and what it’s level of functionality will be. If it’s going to be the central hub of your home, go with something more comfortable and encourage someone to sit at the kitchen counter for longer.

When it comes to picking the right dining room table, there are many things you should consider. The space you have for a dining room table is huge. And what style do you want it in? One of the most important things to consider when you’re getting a dining room table is what you’re going to use it for. Not just big holiday dinners, but what does your family need? Do you only need something for the holidays, or do you need a central gathering place for your house?

Finish

Deciding what kind of finish you’re looking for in a table is one of the most important steps to choosing a dining room table. If it’s going to be a place that you’re family gathers to do homework and share a nightly meal, you might want to consider a stronger finish, like metal. While metal tabletops do offer a more industrial styling, they’re much more durable, and best for endless hours spent doing homework at the table.

If you’re looking for a softer, perhaps more rustic style, go with a wood table. If you love wood tables, but have a younger family and expect a little wear and tear, consider getting a distressed wood table. That way a mark or two won’t really stand out as a flaw.

Color

If you’re going to choose a table with color, it’s best to bring along samples of the colors that you have in your dining room. If you can bring samples of your cabinets or flooring. Find pictures of your space, so that it’s easier to match style elements in your dining room.

Space

A crucial step is to measure your dining room. Once you do, you can ensure that you’ll get a table that will fit within the space you have. Finding a table that allows for your dinner guests to move around comfortably within the room, is key. Know how many people you’ll want to seat at your table, whether it’s the number of people in your household, or the number of people who will be there for a big celebration dinner, it’s best to plan ahead to find the perfect table for your needs.

Take Away

To find the perfect dining room table, it’s important to consider what you’ll need a table for on a daily basis. That should be what influences your decision. Finding a table that suits your everyday needs, and also those of anticipated larger gatherings is great. It’s more important to find a table that better suits your family’s needs, so you can get great use out of it.

While some dining rooms may take on a specific design theme, it can be fun to play around with different design elements. When it comes to picking the furniture and design elements you want in your dining room, it’s important to think of the best way to incorporate the old with the new. If you want to use your family’s china but still have newer or modern elements at play, we’re here to break it down for you.

Basics

Things you should always consider are how functional and visually pleasing your dining room is. You want to be sure that you have furniture that fits in your dining room. It should fit with enough space around the tables, chairs, etc. so that people can move around comfortably. Consider how the chairs slide in and out from the table, be sure there’s enough room to do this. If you need to consider bench seating for one side of the table, to give the dining room a modern twist, try it. Adding a bench to your dining room table not only saves space, but adds an updated flair to the design.

If you’re planning to mix and match a dining room table and chairs, rather than use a dining room table set, it’s important to be sure that the chairs fit the height of the tabletop. You want to be sure that your guests aren’t too high or low when they’re sitting in your chairs.

Be sure to focus on the lighting in the room. Fixtures should be selected or adjusted so that they’re proportionally right for the table size, the size of the room, etc.

Once you’ve spent time figuring out the space, you’re ready to start adding different design pieces and turn your dining room into a transitional space.

Design

Try finding pieces that reach to two different areas of design. Find cabinets with some farmhouse elements, while still including contemporary design and updated metal accents. Look for vintage (inspired or real) tables, that emit a farmhouse feel. Find something rustic, made with wood.

Looking for transitional chairs, that will work with different kinds of tables. Find chairs that can go with antique tables or a table that’s more contemporary.

Sometimes the best piece to pull everything together other than your dining room table set, is a light fixture. Find an updated chandelier or piece that reaches across different design themes.

Perfect Tables

If you’re looking for the best transitional tables to feature in your dining room, look for dining room table and chairs San Jose, CA at California Stools, Bars and Dinettes. Find the perfect dining room table set for your dining room design.