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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.

When it comes to choosing outdoor furniture or patio furniture, you want to pick the furniture that will last the longest. You want to find furniture made with durable materials, outdoor furniture materials that will fare well in all kinds of weather.

Wicker

Outdoor furniture made with wicker has a perfect beachy feel and is quite popular. Wicker is also known as synthetic resin wicker. Some of the benefits of wicker are that it’s light-weight and easy to rearrange. It’s also highly durable with its synthetic materials. Most wicker furniture is made with aluminum frames, so it’s more durable that it seems and is low maintenance.

Teak Wood

Teak wood furniture is known as some of the best material for durability. As one of the most durable outdoor furniture, it handles all-weather well. Teak wood produces its own oil, so it has a unique finish, different than other natural material woods. It’s surface is also very strong, and is more resistant to dings or dents.

Some teak furniture is known to last up to 50 years and is an excellent choice compared to other woods. It outlasts pine and cedar, as they have to be stored during the winter, and teak fares well in all weather conditions in an outdoor space. If you’re looking for a great outdoor dining table, teak wood would make a great table top.

While teak wood is still pretty light and easy to move, it does require some upkeep. Because of the natural absorption of the wood, it can also soak up any rot, mildew and mold.

Wrought Iron

If you’re looking for a more industrial look, wrought iron is a great material for outdoor furniture. It’s one of the most durable materials, that requires the least amount of upkeep. Iron furniture is much heavier than other materials, so it may be slightly harder to rearrange on your patio.

Steel

While wrought iron is a great choice, steel is another durable choice for metal furniture. Steel is iron with carbon mixed into it, to help prevent rust and add more strength. It does require a little work to coat the steel, to effectively make it resistant to rust. Steel does offer a lot of strength and support, but in most household’s aluminum is a great choice if you’re looking for a strong material.

Take Away

When it comes to finding the best outdoor furniture for you it depends on what exactly you’re looking for when it comes to the different materials. You need to consider if you’re looking for something that will last the longest, but may need a bit of upkeep, like steel. Maybe you’re looking for something that’s quite strong, but won’t last as long. If you’re looking for something relatively durable, but lightweight and easy to move, wicker might be perfect for you.

Investing in furniture that’s going to grow with you and your family can be tricky. You want to find the best pieces that will grow with your needs, or your space. Whether you already have a family, or live alone, buying furniture that will serve multiple purposes for years to come is always your best bet. Some of the furniture that gets the most use and serves the most purposes is your dining room furniture. Here’s what to look for to find the best furniture to grow with.

Dining room tables

There are many different types of dining room tables that will suit your home or family, but some of the best kinds are styles that will grow with you. If you live alone, and have no need for a large complete dining room table set, you might choose to invest in a smaller bistro table or breakfast bar.

Finding something small that suits you and a few guests is perfect. You can seat yourself, and a few others while you’re living in a smaller place. If you do move into a larger apartment or house, and the number of occupants in your home increases, a bistro table or breakfast bar will work perfectly as a desk in another room. If you move into a larger space and want to have both a formal dining room, and an eat-in kitchen, your smaller bistro table will work perfectly as a breakfast nook.

Breakfast nooks are ideal for families that are on the go. While dinner is prepared, children can sit in the kitchen and work on homework, rather than sitting at a larger formal dining room table in another room.

If you’re interested in finding the perfect dining room table but are unsure as to how much space you’ll have in the future, finding a table with leaves is perfect. If you typically have a smaller number of dining guests then you can take the leaves out and store them, functioning with a smaller table. For special occasions that warrant more dinner guests, the leaves are easily inserted, making the table much longer, and accommodating more guests.

Bar stools

If you’re investing in bar stools, there are ways to get more use out of them at later dates. If you live in a smaller apartment and only have a breakfast bar as your dining area, you may have the need to invest in a couple of bar stools. Try finding them in materials that will be suitable for outdoor use, as well. Eventually, if you move into a larger space, with an outdoor area, you could use them as outdoor stools.

Finding furniture that you like can be tricky, but finding pieces that you can fit into your current space is even harder. If you buy smart and invest in pieces that can have multiple uses in the long run, you’ll always get the best deal for your investment.

A huge trend these days is having outdoor entertaining space. If you want to kick it up a notch, you can even add an outdoor kitchen, with the ability to cook all while hanging on the back deck with family and friends. Whether you just want a nice place to eat outside, or cook a full meal, you’ll need outdoor furniture. We’ve got some suggestions for what pieces might work best.

Patio Bar

If you’ve got a patio bar to serve a wide variety of beverages out of, you might consider investing in some bar stools. If your outdoor bar is high enough, it might become a fun place to congregate with a cool drink or two. Find some comfortable and durable barstools for your guests to sit on. The most important part of outdoor furniture is making sure it gets covered or is stored in a covered area. If not your old barstools might become rusty, chipped and dirty.

If it’s time to invest in some new stools, find them at California Stools, Bars and Dinettes. Whether you invest in wooden stools, or metal bar chairs with backs, you can find them here. They have a wide variety of barstools available for whatever your outdoor needs are.

Patio Tables

If you’re looking for dinette sets for your patio, look no further. You’ll find a wide variety of patio sets available. Most outdoor furniture chairs are more reclined, like a lounger chair. And some chairs can be quite low to the ground. Outdoor chairs are sometimes lower to the ground, for various reasons, like being closer to a low-to-the-ground fire pit. You can find smaller or larger tables depending on the size that you want, and the amount of people that you want to entertain.

If you’re looking for a smaller table try looking at bistro tables, as they tend to be smaller and much better suited for smaller groups. Some people prefer having higher tables, like pub tables, outdoors. The pub stools, or bar stools, also lend themselves well to being around perfect bar height, and can function at an outdoor bar as well.

One of the drawbacks of higher tables, is that chairs aren’t suited for moving around the patio, and sitting around a firepit, just because of their height.

Take Away

You can re-purpose almost any furniture to be great for a patio or deck. Some materials and finishes are better suited for outdoors, as it’s best to invest in durable materials. Another key bit of advice is to always cover up your outdoor furniture, as it will prolong the life of your tables and chairs.

Choosing the right table for your space or your lifestyle can be hard. You should consider how often you use your formal dining room, how often you entertain, and where you envision the table within your home.

Shape

There are many different sizes and shapes of dining room tables and dining room sets. There are four basic shapes to tables, and we’re here to break down the best size for you. Consider giving each person eating and give them two feet of space at the table.

Round shaped tables typically seat four people comfortably, and can fit in a smaller room or space. An oval shaped table can accommodate more people, more around 6-10 people. Oval tables are better for longer or more narrow rooms.

If you’re looking for a more square or rectangular table, it depends on the space you have in your house for a dining room table. Most square tables seat four people comfortable, but rectangular tables, like oval shapes, can often seat around 6-10. It depends on what you need in your home.

Leaf

If you have a small space for a dining room table set, but you want to entertain rather frequently, a drop-leaf table might be the best option for you. If you’re expecting a larger party add a leaf into the table to make it bigger. It might squeeze the space a little, but it’s not the permanent size of the table, so you can work around it for the dinner party. The seam that a leaf creates in a table can also be easily hidden with a table runner.

Table Accessories

If you’re investing some time or money into your new dining room table, and the feel of your dining room, here are some suggestions.

If you eat family style a lot, it could be worth your time and headache to invest in a Lazy Susan for your table. Consider the lighting that you have above your dining room table. Perhaps you want to invest in a new light fixture. Remember that a light fixture should always hang at least 30 inches up from the table’s surface. If you’re picking out new chairs to go with your table, don’t be afraid to shy away from matching chairs. It’s fun and trendy to mix and match styles of dining room table and chairs now. Mix an industrial table, with formal wooden chairs and benches, for example.

Take Away

The options for dining room tables and dining room table sets are really endless. It depends on the space you have, and what you need the table for. If you’re going to be entertaining often, consider a larger table, and if you don’t have the space for one, think about at table that can expand for those larger diner parties.

In the search for dining room tables, you may stumble upon bar or bistro tables, or other dining room tables with different heights. Let’s break down which table is best for you and your needs.

Standard Height Tables

Standard height dining room tables typically measure from 28-30 inches tall. Standard tables come in lots of shapes and sizes and should be the easiest to find. They’re common because people view them as the most comfortable table to sit at, because they’re feet touch the ground. They’re also better for disabled people, as a bar height table would be too high for someone who sits in a wheelchair.

Standard tables are also considered to be more formal than taller tables, and fit better into a formal dining room.

Counter Height Tables

Counter height tables can measure anywhere from 34-36 inches tall. Counter tables aren’t see as formal tables as they can also be a great table to stand around. Some use counter height tables in their kitchen to help with prep work. Counter height tables are also great for entertaining as they’re at a very comfortable height for people to stand around. You can still use taller or higher chars to sit at a counter height table.

Bar Height Tables

Bar height tables come in as the tallest height, requiring a taller chair or stool, like a barstool, to be sat at. This type of table is commonly used in bars and pubs, but is also growing in popularity for home-use. Bar height tables usually range from 40-42 inches tall.

Pub tables are seen as extremely casual, as the difference between sitting on a barstool or standing at the table is very minimal. The added benefit of bar or pub tables is that they can typically fit in places where formal dining room tables wouldn’t. Pub tables can be a great choice for a smaller home or tiny apartment, where the space for a dining room table doesn’t exist. They’re perfect for creating a casual atmosphere.

The Right Table for You

Choosing the right table isn’t easy. Be sure to know the space you’re working with. If you have a smaller space, a smaller table might be right for you. A taller table, like a pub table might also work well in a smaller space. If you plan to entertain and serve meals in a more formal setting, you may want to stick to a standard height table, as it will best suit your needs and the needs of your guests.

While some homeowners or renters are looking for full dining room sets, most current urban dwellings don’t allow the space to have a formal dining room. As a culture, we’re shifting away from the formal dining room and moving toward eat-in kitchens and breakfast bars or nooks. Some formal dining rooms rarely see use, perhaps once or twice a year, and are being re-purposed for other things like home offices. If you’re looking to move your main dining area into the kitchen, or you simply don’t have a dining room, there are plenty of smaller dining sets to use in a kitchen setting.

Size and layout

Evaluate the layout of your kitchen. Do you have a breakfast bar to utilize? Some smaller apartments offer breakfast bars, perfect for barstools, rather than a formal dining room table. It can be a great way to save on space in an otherwise cramped apartment.

Maybe there’s an area of your kitchen that would be perfect for a breakfast nook. Is there a bench or window seat built in to your apartment? Consider using that as a portion of seating for your dining area, and only investing in two to three chairs. You could try pushing a table up against a wall to save space in your kitchen. If two of you live in a house and only use two chairs, push it up against the wall, to make more space. If you have dinner guests, the table can always be pulled out and more chairs can be used.

Another great space saver for a smaller kitchen is benches for seating. Benches can always be pushed under tables to create more space when the table isn’t being used. Another great space addition is adding a breakfast bar or high top table to your kitchen counter. Use it as a counter extension or an island in your kitchen. If you lack counter space, the addition of this table could help provide more space to prep food and eat.

Table ideas for a small kitchen

An easy solution to an apartment with a smaller kitchen, and no dining room is a bistro table. Bistro tables are small and not heavy. They’re the perfect eat-in kitchen solution, and they come in many sizes.

Dinette sets are also a great idea for a smaller kitchen. Dinettes are smaller dining tables that can seat two to four people. They fit perfectly in a breakfast nook or kitchen.

Take away

A great way to maximize space is utilizing a bistro table or dinette set.  It can be a great way to  create an eat-in kitchen, or just a good way to maximize space.