Dining Room Trends

According to traditionalists, a dining room must have a formal matching dining room set, preferably wooden. In a traditional home, these rooms are used only for special occasions, much like the good china and silverware. Insert lace doilies, a crystal chandelier, an over-sized Oriental rug, and some plastic on the chairs to complete the effect. Are you picturing it? Not very inviting. 

Unused space is a thing of the past! These days, square footage is a commodity. Modern homeowners want to use the dining room for everyday use and, fortunately, furniture and decorating trends have moved in the same direction, bringing it back into the mainstream of daily living.

The first change is one that has been happening for years. Trends continue to make the dining room less formal and more livable. Take off the plastic wrap and break out the everyday dishes. 

Dining Room Tables

The recycling craze has influenced the design of newest dining room tables. Furniture made

of recycled or "reclaimed" wood has become commonplace. Chopping blocks, no longer relegated to the kitchen, have begun appearing in dining room furniture.

Moreover, an industrial look is replacing the shabby chic trends of yesterday. Thick, recycled, rough-hewn wood paired with a silver or gunmetal base and legs have become accepted into the mainstream.

The industrial look is inviting for a number of reasons. Homeowners at Rug & Home love the sturdiness of the wood and metal furniture. Not only is it trendy, but it’s practical. These dining tables ably set the stage for a meal and then serve as the worktable for the kids’ homework or latest school project. These tables are sturdy and often weigh more than a small car.

Dining Room Chairs

Traditionally, a dining room set requires a matching set of six or eight chairs, whether the dining table is used daily or just for special occasions. The latest trend encourages mismatched chairs, creating a much more informal appearance that decorators and homeowners alike, love.

Are you guilty of picking one chair and ordering seven more to match? No need! You can mix colors, fabrics, and styles. Place a traditional Queen Ann chair next to an industrial gunmetal seat. Set a few chairs around the table with seat cushions beside plain wooden seats.

If you want something really different, good news: the bench is back. Benches have become an integral part of the communal dining spirit that’s transforming eating areas around the country. Benches can be made of recycled wood and matched with similar chairs, or they can stand on their own, covered in leather in complete contrast to your ladder-back chairs. Alternatively, go with two benches and two side chairs.

Regardless of what you choose, remember that dining rooms are now considered informal places to eat every day. Make your dining room a comfortable extension of the rest of your home.

How to: Choose the right size rug for your Dining Room

So you need a new rug. You may be wondering: what's the rule of thumb? Too large and it may it seem as if you’re trying to hide the floor. Too small and it may seem as if you’re trying to hide a stain. Choosing an appropriate rug size is not an exact science, but it’s not complete guesswork, either.

While you may be able to get away with non-traditional choices in other rooms, it’s best to follow the general rules of decorating when it comes to your dining room rug. Here are a few guidelines to help you make a smart design statement in your dining room:

• When your dining room table sits on a wood floor, a rug underneath can save your floors from unsightly scratches made by pulling chairs in and out. A rug also protects your floors from spills.
• A rug can muffle the noise in the room, easing conversation.
• Aesthetically, a dining room rug provides a frame for the table, adding to the overall décor of the room. You can even place a rug over carpeting to bring style into your eating space.

Make sure the rug is large enough! While your table size and space limitations may actually dictate the size of the rug your dining room can accommodate, here are a few rules of thumb to remember when making your purchase:

• Ideally, your dining room rug should be about four feet longer and wider than your table. You need 18 to 24 inches on each side so you and your guests can slide chairs out without worrying about falling off the edge of the rug. If your rug is too small, chairs can still scratch the floor and get tangled in the edge of the rug when trying to slide the chair back into place.
• To determine the size of rug you need, first measure your table. Then add 36 to 48 inches to each measurement. Be sure to include any extra table leaves in your figure because you want your new rug to accommodate the entire length of your table. In most cases, an 8×10 or 9×12 rug will fit your area and leave plenty of room for your chairs.
• Most rugs are rectangular, perfect for standard dining room tables. An 8-foot or 10-foot round rug can set off a circular table and compliment the style in your room.

As you consider your options and the best measurements for your space, take into consideration any sideboards or extra pieces of furniture in the room. Your new rug should not extend beneath those pieces.

If you've loved these tips on how to choose the best rug size for you dining room, stay tuned for Friday's feature on dining room trends! We'll be bringing you the latest styles and trends for your dining space. 

How To: Have Enough Seating for your Guests

The holidays have arrived! Family & friend are coming to visit, but have you considered how you're going to accommodate all these guests at your table? Rug & Home is here to put together some simple solutions for your dilemma. Add accent chairs to your living room that can be brought to the table or place a bench in your dining room for extra eating space away from the table. Great round dining table options make it easier to accommodate more chairs and dining tables with leaves allow for you to expand the table to fit your space. Long and skinny dining tables save space in width, but allow you to seat more guests along the sides.

Solution #1: Use Accent Chairs that are Versatile

Accent Chair from Paula Deen Home

A simple and cost-effective way to expand the available seating at the dining table is by investing in accent chairs. These can be placed in your living room year-round or, if your dining room is large enough and has a bay window, they can be placed in front of the window for great seat with a view throughout the year, and can then be pulled up to the table when you have more company.  Everything from more ornate varieties to fully upholstered parsons chairs give you a range of options to choose from to find what matches your décor and style.

Solution #2: Place a Bench along the Wall in the Dining Room

Bette Bench by Lexington

A bench placed along one of the dining room walls is a great way for guests to still be a part of the conversation even if they can’t be seated at the dining table.  We have a great selection of benches from solid wood, more rustic looks to sophisticated, upholstered styles!

Solution #3: Round Dining Tables provide Flexibility

Bolero Dining table by Universal Furniture

Round tables provide more flexibility than the rectangular or oval-variety because they typically have a pedestal base, therefore, you don’t have to fight with the dining table legs for space!  This allows you to easily fit more people at the table when necessary.  Check out several round table options that we have in stock right now!

Solution #4: A Table with a Butterfly Leaf makes Life Easier

A butterfly leaf is a dining table leaf that conveniently folds away and stores right underneath the dining table for quick expansion or contraction of the table and, therefore, the number of people you can accommodate!  And the best part: no more struggling with where to properly store the leaf.  See several of the butterfly leaf dining tables that we have below.

Klaussner Dining Table 845-096

Solution #5: Long, Skinny Dining Tables Allow for More Seating, Using Less Space

Dining tables that are narrow and long, combined with armless and slim dining chairs, allow you to fit in more seating, even in narrower dining rooms!  We have several sleek options available.

A America Midtown Collection

Sources: This articlehttp://www.bhg.com/rooms/dining-room/themes/small-space-dining-room-decorating-ideas/ on “Small-Space Dining Rooms” on Better Homes and Gardens’ website provided some of the inspiration and ideas for the solutions in our blog article.  Check it out for more tips on how to maximize your dining space and personalize it with your style!