The classic dinner party is still very much a part of the way we entertain and connect with our friends and families. Creating the right environment is a key part to ensuring that you put your best foot forward and impress those special guests.
The furniture and decor are a critical part of setting the tone and ensuring that you can create the kind of mood or environment that you are looking for, and whether you’re going for the classy, modern feel, or the warmer, homelier touch, your choice of furniture can make all the difference. Today we will focus on humble dining chairs and how to ensure that they complement and enhance your next soiree.
Check Your Table Shape & Size
There is nothing worse than feeling all squashed up at the dining table, so ensuring that your guests are not piled on top of each other is a major concern. Make sure that each place has sufficient room for guests to sit and eat in comfort. But wait, it’s not as simple as it seems!
The shape of your table will play a big part in determining how much room you will need. Square or rectangular tables require less space for setting than circular or oval tables due to their shape and the placement of legs. Make sure that your chairs fit in with these. As long as you ensure that each guest has at least 50cm of space, you should be fine.
It’s a Match!
The modern trend is to have mismatched dining tables and chairs. However, before you go off buying random furniture willy-nilly, keep in mind that this trend has its limits. Get the balance right and you will have an elegant and chic feel, go too far and your dining area will look ridiculous.
The most important factor is to match a round chair to a round table and a square chair to a square table. It also helps to ensure that the thickness of the legs is approximately the same. Thin table legs with thick chair legs looks slightly odd, and vice-versa.
The Right To Bear Arms
Pay careful attention to whether your table will accommodate a chair with arms or not. Arms can mean enhanced comfort, but also prevent chairs from being pushed into the table, taking up far more lateral space.
Portability
If your dining table is adjustable and you are constantly changing the number of places at the table, it is important to ensure that you have chairs that are relatively portable. However, if you’re the kind of family that tends to stick to the same formula, then having bulkier, less maneuverable chairs is still a viable option.
Living in a Material World
Obviously, you want your dining chairs to last, so choosing the right material is a wise way to go. Families with small children would be well advised to choose a hardy, easily cleanable fabric that will withstand spills and stains. Those with grown kids, or none at all should be fine with something a little more luxurious.
And Now for Something Completely Different
For a change of pace, you might consider replacing chairs altogether for bench seating, or mixing benches and chairs around a single table. This is best utilised for more informal dining areas, and provides more of an outdoor, mediterranean feel. It’s not for everyone, but has certainly become more common in recent years for a reason.
Whatever your choice, we hope that you enjoy good food, great company and good times in comfort and style.
