Interior Design & Decor

As the gathering place of your home, your dining room should be warm, inviting, and relaxing, with décor that’s suitable for casual family meals as well as more formal gatherings and occasions. Dining room furniture must be functional, but to be truly practical, it also needs to comfortable. Selecting the right dining room furniture is an important decision. Here are a few tips for finding beautiful dining room furniture for your home.

Dining Room Table and Chairs



The backbone of any dining room is the dining set itself. Purchased together or separately, the dining room table and chairs serve as the centerpiece of the room, and also perform the most essential function of the room: serving food to family and guests.

Choosing simple and timeless pieces is one of the best ways to ensure your furniture will remain stylish for a long time. Parson chairs, like the Microfiber Parson Side Chairs, are an excellent option, offering clean, simple lines that work well with any décor. Named for the Parsons School of Design which originally introduced them, Parsons chairs have become a popular and classic dining room option.

Offered in a wide variety of neutral solid colors as well as stripes, Parsons chairs can be covered with simple, readily available slipcovers to suit any occasion and change the look of your dining room in minutes. Leather and easy-to-clean leather-look vinyl, like the North Canyon Parsons Dining Chairs, are also available, and are a good choice for dining rooms that may also do double-duty as home offices or other workspaces.

The Eveleen Brown 7-piece Dining Table and Chair Set combines the sleek lines of deep brown, tufted Parsons chairs with a contemporary rectangular table, which is ideal for casual and formal dining, as well as the occasional homework assignment.

Country Cottage Style chairs are another popular option which also lend themselves to a wide variety of decorative treatments. The combination of natural wood and white finishes is classic country; paired with the sleek contemporary lines of a simple table, like the Udine espresso breakfast table, the look is chic and sophisticated.

Country and contemporary elements are also evident in the dual tones of the Mackenzie 7-piece Antique White Dining Set and the Monica 5-piece White Dinette Set. Offering distinctive early 20th-century details, like the chairs’ vase-shaped backrest, the Monica set is ideal for smaller spaces.

When choosing a table separately, consider the size of your dining room. Smaller tables with drop leaves, like the Country Cottage Dining Table or the Austin Drop Leaf Table, are both good options that offer an added degree of flexibility to your room’s layout. The Versatility Round Dining Table is aptly named, and works especially well in small dining rooms, where traffic flow could be impeded by larger rectangular tables. Pair it with Versatility side chairs or arm chairs — or both — for a cohesive effect, or choose a different type of chair for a more eclectic look.

Some complete dining sets are offered in styles that can lend themselves to both French country and contemporary décor. The Mackenzie Antique White Dining Set is an excellent example of this popular melding of styles. Antique white finishes and deep, rich cherry wood combine to create the essence of casual country dining, while the intricate, crisscross backrest adds a more modernistic flair.

Dining Room Storage



Once you’ve chosen your table and chairs, it’s time to think about storage. Wine racks are popular, and units that combine additional storage are smart choices, especially for dining rooms with limited space. The Decorative Bakers/ Wine Storage Rack is an excellent solution. The combination of warm wood and elegant metal details means this unique piece is at home in any décor.

For storage with clean, contemporary lines and a sleek, more masculine appeal, the Axium Buffet is a good choice. This neutral-toned piece does double-duty, with ample enclosed storage beneath and a wide serving surface above. Or opt for country flair with the Pine Utility Kitchen Cabinet. Interior shelves, as well as shelves on the doors, offer plenty of storage space, and the vertical lines make it an ideal choice for small spaces. Or buy a pair and use them to flank a window, creating a unique and functional focal point.

Bars and Breakfast Nooks



If your dining room includes a bar area, or even a little extra space to create a breakfast nook, consider adding additional seating with a pub-style table and stools. The Salvador Cherry 5-piece Pub Set with 24-inch Stools adds a rustic flair, and creates an ideal spot for casual dining, a mid-morning coffee break or simple meals with the family, and even offers an ideal spot for homework. Or select popular Parsons-style bar stools, like the Cosmopolitan Leather Counter Stools, offered in a selection of neutral tones.

Your dining room provides the backdrop for memories that your family will cherish for a lifetime. With so many options available for furnishing your dining space, you can create an atmosphere that will make every guest feel special and valued.