Buying a house is just the first step towards making it a home where your heart could belong. Buying furniture, deciding a color scheme, making a floor plan, buying decorative items, renovation, restoration, etc., have to be done. All of these things require careful planning, and a lot of thought goes into every bit of this.
Buying furniture can be a headache because you will have to find something that goes perfectly with your personality and complements the color scheme. One such piece of furniture that requires due diligence during purchase is a dining table. In this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide so you can buy the perfect dining table for your house.
Material choice
Material is central to any furniture because it provides a certain type of finishing and decorative content. Therefore, when buying a dining table, you must take note of the durability, maintenance, and design factor. Here is a list of some materials that you can consider:
- Wood: Wooden dining table should be the frontrunner if you want a piece of furniture that stands the test of time. If you plan to stay in your house for a long time, consider spending your money on quality wood. Solid wood is durable, easy to maintain, and comes with great designs. However, if you want a different kind of surface, such as glass or stone, you can still consider getting wooden legs for the table. Teakwood, Shisham, pine, rosewood, etc., are popular materials to make a wooden dining table. However, you must remember that wood is not resistant to seasonal changes. Therefore, it expands and contracts with changes in temperatures. Additionally, wood swells when subjected to humidity. Also, when buying wooden furniture, always go for solid wood because engineered wood like ply, etc., is not durable.
- Glass: Modern homes use glass furniture and fittings everywhere. The reason is that glass reflects like, which makes the living space look more spacious and lively. Glass tops come in several variants too, such as tainted, glossy, etc. You can find one according to your interior design easily. Moreover, if you provide proper maintenance, your glass-top will last several years. However, it is difficult to clean because it picks up stains and fingerprints easily. Also, you will have to be careful with heat because it may chip.
- Stone: Stone-top can be your ideal choice if you want to add some glamor to your place. Stone is the hallmark of luxury, which is why it is quite expensive. Some exotic stones like marble can even cost you a fortune. However, just like wood, stone-tops are sturdy and durable, and with proper maintenance, they can last you a lifetime. However, they are porous in nature, which makes them difficult to clean. Also, if the stone chips, the repair cost would burn a hole in your pocket. Therefore, set your needs and requirements before deciding on a tabletop.
Measure your room
As discussed earlier, the dining table must compliment your living space design. Therefore, it is crucial that the size of the dining table is such that it doesn’t become the elephant in the room. While taking the size, ensure to leave at least 3 feet of space around it to allow mobility. Also, factor in the visual weight of the table.
Visual weight means the amount of burden the furniture puts on the eye. If the table is perfectly sized but is bulky in nature, it may kill the aura of the room. Therefore, use chalk to map the dining area. This will give you a virtual idea of the visual weight. Additionally, use existing tools in your house to check if the table height is convenient enough.
Decide your budget
The cost of furniture depends on several variables such as material, craftsmanship, length, design, etc. Extendable dining tables can even cost more because of the engineering that goes into them.
If you want to spend whole-heartedly, you can go for luxury options with great design language. However, if you are tight on the budget, your priority should lie with the utility. Additionally, you can also find second-hand furniture at great prices.
