Dining Furniture Buying Guide
Dining rooms are for more than just eating every evening; they’re the perfect places to entertain guests and bring the family together for special occasions.
So, it only makes sense we spend a bit of time making sure it looks its best and has all the essential furniture. That’s why we created our handy dining furniture buying guide!
We’ll look into how to pick furniture for your dining room, including table design, matching chair material, and how to find the perfect-sized set for your space.
How do I choose a dining table?
As the showstopping centrepiece of the dining room, choosing a dining table is one of the most important décor decisions you can make.
You’ll want a dining table design to seamlessly blend in with the rest of your décor, but it’s just as important you think about the size of your table and what works best for your space.
Dining table style
Dining table materials
Wooden dining table
Wooden dining tables are always a strong choice, perfect for the traditional, rustic dining room that emulates that of a cosy country cottage. Each wooden table is unique as the knots and grains of natural wood vary, creating stunning dining table designs that are individual to you.
Glass dining table
Glass dining tables are a great all-rounder choice. Contemporary and stylish, this dining table design fits in particularly well with the modern home, as the clear surface doesn’t clash with other furnishes or textures in the dining room and kitchen.
Marble dining table
Marble dining tables bring an elegant, maximalist feel to your weekend family gatherings and mid-week meal times. Each piece has a high-gloss, hand-polished finish to ensure the marble looks good for years to come.
How to choose the right dining table size
The right dining table for you goes beyond just the style – though this is still important – as you need to be sure it’s a good fit for the size of your dining room.
Our dining tables come in a range of sizes, and you can find the exact measurements listed on the product page of the table you like. Before you buy, make sure you measure those dimensions against the size of your dining area or kitchen.
You’ll want to leave around 90cm of space around your dining table, as this’ll make it much easier for dining chairs to be pulled out. Plus, leaving a bit of space makes for a much more open and comfortable dining set up.
How do I choose seating for my dining room?
Dining chair style
Dining chairs
Dining chairs are the classic and perhaps the most comfortable seating option. Not only do they offer posture support, but they’re often upholstered with cushioned padding too – perfect for those dinner parties that go on late into the night. You’ll also find a wide variety of styles and designs, giving you more choice when decorating your dining room.
Dining benches
Dining benches are ideal for more informal occasions. Plus, you’ve got plenty space to squeeze plenty of bums on seats – or benches - ensuring a spot for everyone at the dining table. When it’s not being used, you can simply tuck the bench under the table to open up your floor space.
Dining chair materials
How do I style my dining furniture?
1. Start with the table
As the centre of your dining room, you’ll want to start by choosing the dining table that speaks to you and your style, as this will inform the rest of the décor.
If you’re going for a more rustic feel, then start with a wooden dining table, and branch out from there. For contemporary décor, look at sleek designs with metal legs, and similarly designed furniture with rugged industrial elements.
2. Pick your colours
A rule of thumb for interior design is to pick a main colour for a room and then add another one to accent it.
For example, choose cream or beige for the walls and then accent with dark wooden dining chairs - keep it simple! If simple isn’t for you, then you can explore bolder colours such as sage green, pastel purple, or hot pink, then match your dining room furniture to the tone these hues set.
3. Experiment with textures
While dining sets may combine similar materials, like wooden tables with wooden chairs, it’s worth looking into different materials for different pieces of furniture.
Some superb styles are created by offering a contrast, such as metal chairs with wooden tables, or velvet chairs with glass tables. But there’s nothing wrong with leaning into a more cohesive style if you prefer a touch of sleek sophistication.
Create your perfect dining room with DFS
Now you’ve got our buying guide to hand, you should be ready to start piecing together the dining room you’ve always wanted.
Explore our dining table collection to find the show stopping, eye catching centrepiece for your space, before heading over to our dining chair options to complete the set.
Alternatively, you can find out more information on how to style your dining room with our style guides! For advice on how to dress your dining table or how to maximise the space in a small dining room, head over to our Trend Hub or Inspiration page.
Dining furniture FAQs
How do I style a small dining room?
Even with a more compact dining room, there’s still so many ways to create a stylish eating area. Read some top tips, below, for decorating a smaller dining room:
- Opt for a round or extendable dining table - Due to their shape, round or oval dining tables can fit more seats than rectangular designs. If you’ve got the room, consider an extendable round dining table, which can be folded away when the guests have gone home.
- Think about furniture placement - You can make your dining room feel bigger by placing the furniture in the corner or against the walls. Square dining tables are the best choice for these out-of-the-way positions, slotting neatly into those awkward corners.
- Add mirrors to the walls: Mirrors are a classic way of making a room feel bigger, with their reflections creating the illusion of more space.
How much space should I leave around a dining table?
Whether you’re adding a dining area to a sizable kitchen, or you’ve got a dining set in a dedicated dining room, you need enough room to seat everyone comfortably around the table.
The general rule of thumb for measuring a dining table is to ensure there’s a minimum of 70-90cm space between the table and a wall. This allows guests to comfortably pull a chair out, sit down, and then pull up to the table. For more help measuring your home for new furniture, check out our measuring guide.
How do I clean fabric dining chairs?
To keep your fabric dining chairs in tip-top condition, regular maintenance is an absolute must. Use a vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment to remove loose dirt and dust and then give it a once over with a clean cloth. For more in-depth fabric maintenance advice, read our fabric care guide.
How do I clean a glass dining table?
Fed up with unsightly streaks on your glass dining table? Start by wiping any errant crumbs or debris from the glass, then spray a cleaning solution of mild dish soap and water onto the table’s surface. Scrub the table clean with a microfibre cloth, wiping in a circular motion, before drying the glass with a different, dry cloth. Job done!
