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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.

Finding the best dining room table that suits your needs can be difficult. Space can be an issue, so can comfort or functionality. We’re here to break down what to look for, what to consider first and how to find the perfect dining room table for you.

Sturdy Tables

If you’re looking to purchase a table that you’ll have for years to come, you’ll want to find something made of sturdy material. If you want it to function for large holiday dinner parties, family dinner, and after school homework, it’ll need to be something touch. Tables made from hardwoods like mahogany, walnut, maple, oak or teak will be your best bet. Other kinds of tables made with plywood or MDF will still be durable, but nothing can compare with natural hardwoods.

If wood isn’t your thing, or it’s not quite the look you wanted, you could always try a glass top table. The added benefit of glass-top tables is that they go with almost any décor. Due to the reflective tops, they’re also great for spaces that need to look lighter or brighter. Another added advantage to glass tops is that they too are durable. Most glass-tops today are made with tempered safety glass, which is scratch resistant and means it won’t shatter everywhere if it breaks.

Functional

The bottom line is, you need a functional table for your space. But what if your space is constantly changing. If you move a lot or rent homes, you might want to invest in something that is easier to move. Finding the perfect hardwood table could make any future moves a hassle, as hardwood tends to be heavy.

If you do move a lot, it might be smarter to go with a smaller table like a pub table or bistro table, until you have a space that you can devote solely to a dining room table.

Find a table in a shape that will work in most rooms, whether it’s square, rectangular or circular. Pick the shape you like best, and find a table that matches it. While the thought of buying a brightly colored table is appealing, it’s best to stay away from trending colored tables. Trends will change, and finding a dining room table perfect for you is an investment. If you love color so much, you can always change it up with brightly colored table cloths, placemats, napkins, etc.

The Perfect Table

The best table for you is one that suits your needs. Decide what the three main functions of a dining room table are for you, a place to study, host dinner parties, family dinners, etc. Then find a table that fulfills all the requirements you set.

Everyone loves a formal dining room, with a full table and 6-8 chairs. In some smaller homes or rentals, having a designated dining room is a luxury, as there simply is no space. We’re here to help with smaller alternatives for your smaller spaces.

Table Ideas for a Smaller Kitchen

There are plenty of options for smaller kitchens or apartments when it comes to dining areas. Dinette sets and bistro tables are two of the most common options. Dinettes are typically just like a dining room table set, but it’s simply smaller.

Bistro tables are typically round, and perfect for two people to eat at. If you live in a small apartment, and it’s just two of you, a bistro table is perfect for an eat-in kitchen. If you entertain more, in a smaller place perhaps a dinette set is right for you.

In some smaller apartments, little nooks are featured near the kitchen. These areas are perfect for fitting a small bistro table and a couple of chairs for a cozy feel.

Making it fit

Sometimes in smaller apartments it takes a bit if imagination to get the layout just right. When you start with a smaller table, sometimes the layout or flow of the space can just fall right into place.

If you don’t have a lot of space to work with, it might work best to push a smaller table up to a wall. If there will only be 1-2 people eating at it regularly, there’s no reason to have the table out in the middle of the room. A great hack for a smaller kitchen is to invest in benches rather than chairs. Benches tend to take up less space than chairs, as you can push them under tables when they’re not being used.

Counter Space

If you’re looking for more counter space in an already tiny kitchen, you might try finding a pub table. These tables come in higher heights so it’ll be easier on your back for cooking prep work. You can even find some funky barstools and use the table as your dining area or breakfast bar.

Take away

If you’re cramped for space, finding a smaller table can be the perfect solution in any smaller home or apartment. Foregoing the formal dining room, might make entertaining more cramped, but utilizing the space might work better for the flow of the room. Try looking for barstools, breakfast bars, dinette sets or bistro tables to fit them into your small space, and enjoy the functionality of a smaller kitchen with space.

When it comes time to choosing the best furniture for your restaurant, it’s important to consider a wide variety of factors. The furniture can set the overall tone of your restaurant and give it the right feel, and it also welcomes your customers in.

The look

If you’re going for a certain style or look to your restaurant, you want the furniture that you choose to reflect that style. Industrial furniture can go a long way in a restaurant, and it’s actually a huge trend for most up and coming restaurants lately.

If your restaurant holds a lot of meetings or big dinners, it could be important to consider longer family style tables, or have just a few of them.

Upkeep

You want to be sure to buy sturdy furniture that’s going to hold up well in a restaurant setting. It’s going to get a lot more use than a residential table would. Make sure whatever you wind up with is high quality, and that it’s going to hold up. Remember in restaurants, furniture tends to be moved around a lot, so it’s got to hold up to that. Do your research on materials that require less maintenance, and find furniture that’s made out of those materials.

The best materials to use for durable restaurant furniture are aluminum, steel or any coated resin. These materials will hold up to lots of use and wear.

Comfort

You want your guests to feel comfortable in your restaurant. Buying furniture that isn’t comfortable won’t encourage your guests to stay for a long meal. It could also discourage them from coming back for a second meal.

Another great idea for finding restaurant furniture in San Jose, CA is to find pieces that have dual purposes. Aluminum is a great material to consider for any outdoor furniture that you need. If you’re going to have outdoor seating, you may want to find different tables and chairs that can stand up to more weather. If you’re going to need to store this furniture over winter, make sure it’s easy to move, or lighter to lift.

Take Away

There’s a lot of thought that needs to go into picking the best furniture for your restaurant, but if you pick it right, you’ll never have to worry about it. Find the best look for your space and vibe, and pick a durable material that will last for ages.

The best way to choose the perfect patio furniture for you and your space is to make a plan. We’re here with the tips for getting the best furniture for you.

Know your Space

It’s important to consider how much space you have, and how much space you want the furniture to take up. You need to know what function you want your patio furniture to have. If you need the perfect table for an outdoor dining area on warmer nights, you might want to go with something smaller. If you’re looking for a dining set that can host upwards of 8 people for dinner parties on the patio, you might be looking for a bigger outdoor table. If you’re looking for cozy furniture to lounge in, investing in some bigger patio chairs, with cushion options might be more up your alley.

If you have limited outdoor space, it might be best to make a list of all the things you’d like your outdoor space to host or do. Then proceed to analyze what type of furniture might be best for your needs.

Ease and Comfort

Be sure that whatever furniture you invest in is comfortable and suits you. You may save money on furniture that is less comfortable, but find that you never spend time using it. You also want to make sure you invest in patio furniture that will wear well and will be easy to care for. Furniture that’s made with metal, teak, cedar or any other all-weather materials will last longer, and will require less care and upkeep.

You also want to be sure that the furniture you invest in is easy to move. If you intend to cover it or store it for the winter months, it’s important to consider if it’s easy to move or not. You could damage furniture that’s harder to move. It’s much more beneficial for the life of your outdoor furniture to store it during the winter months.

Set Up

A great idea for helping furniture to last longer, and helping the durability of a deck or patio, is placing furniture on all weather rug. Lots of durable fabrics are being created as outdoor textiles, and placing your patio setup on a thicker rug will help improve the lifetime of both your furniture and wood deck or patio.

If possible, try to find dual purpose pieces. If you can find a cozy couch, that can also double as a bench pulled up to an outdoor table, you’re spending your money most wisely. Comfy chairs for lounging that also double as dining chairs are a great idea as well.