It’s dining table season.
Yes, it’s partly because of the many entertaining holidays ahead, but it’s also part of our return to the nest for fall. It’s where we’ll be enjoying roasts, soups and stews as we gaze at the gray outside in the coming months.
Most of what’s on the table market right now is rectangular, of course.
But have you ever thought about going round?
We’re not talking cutesy cast iron cafe tables for two in an eating nook.
We’re talking big, bold, beautiful, round and wooden with enough seating for six to eight or more, depending on your chairs and your need for personal space.
No one sits at the head or foot of the table, a fact that could lend a fresh, casual feel to your next dinner party.
If you’re worried about flexibility, look for round tables that come with leaves that turn them into ovals.
Everett interior designer Chandra Sadro said rounds aren’t right for everyone because they are often wider — usually 48 to 60 inches across — than most rectangle tables, typically no more than 42 inches wide.
“You really have to have a space suited to a round,” she said. “You’ve got to take into concern the traffic patterns around the table. You have to take into account the clearance for serving.”
Sadro said round tables work best in large, open great rooms found in many newer homes.
“It’s a more informal setting,” she said. “You’ve got a lot of movement. You got more traffic patterns.”
Though the best-selling tables at Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn are rectangles, rounds do offer some advantages, said Erika Shepherd, with Crate & Barrel.
Because they’re typically built on pedestal bases, you won’t have to work around legs at the corners, allowing you to easily add another person at the last minute.
They also make sense in square or nearly square dining rooms, where rectangles would overwhelm the space.
If your dining space is particularly small, a round table — especially tables that are 48 or fewer inches across — might be your only option.
Fortunately, round tables are usually in the same price range as traditional rectangles.
“People have been downsizing a lot in the last year or two and it’s easier sometimes to put a round table in the small space,” Shepherd said, adding that the company has recently expanded their smaller round table offerings. “Those have actually been really popular.”
When trying to choose the perfect table, Shepherd recommends incorporating your chairs.
Do you want them to match? Will they have beefy, space-hogging arms for long, relaxing dinners or will they sport clean, straight sides for maximum efficiency?
“Chairs are going to make a difference in how many people can sit at your table,” Shepherd said.
Though the holidays are important dining events, if you’re buying a table for year-round use, you might want to base your decisions on how you live day to day.
Shepherd said: “The holidays are kind of two days a year.”
Sarah Jackson: 425-339-3037, sjackson@heraldnet.com.
Table tips
When purchasing a new dining room table, here are few things to keep in mind.
Size matters: In a cavernous furniture showroom, tables never seem as large as they will in your home. Before ordering, measure the table and go home to see how the piece will fit with your dining room’s traffic flow, serving areas and dining chairs.
Everett interior designer Chandra Sadro recommends using blue painter’s tape to plot out the real-life footprint of the table.
“That’s cheap insurance. You can really see, ‘Wow, I only have 24 inches from here to the buffet,’” Sadro said.
Clearance: Sadro recommends allowing 2 feet of width at the table for each seated dinner guest.
“That’s how much space a typical person would require for comfortable dining,” Sadro said. “It doesn’t mean you can’t squeeze it in. Everybody scoots in on the Thanksgiving meal.”
You’ll also need at least 2 feet between the table and the next obstacle so you can move chairs in and out easily and sit down. Letting area rugs extend at least 2 feet from the table is also a good idea to keep chair legs from catching on the rug when they’re being pulled in and out.
If you have an area that is a high-traffic passageway or near a food-serving station, allow 42 inches between your dining set and the next obstacle.
“You need to kind of go backward,” Sadro said of dining room design. “You need to look at the room and kind of gauge from that. It’s an art, not a science.”
Don’t forget fixtures: Centering your dining room light fixture or chandelier over the table is best. Depending on how you want to arrange your space, it might not be possible. Keep this in mind when mapping the room and placing the table.
Be careful: If your fixture is low hanging and your table is off center, you may end up bumping your head when trying to scoot out and stand up.
Finish factor: Solid wood? Veneer? Wax? Lacquer?
What is the right finish for your dining table? Is it a hub of daily living or a rarely used showpiece?
You answers to such questions should play a role in the kind of material and finish you choose for your dining table, said Erika Shepherd with Crate & Barrel.
“Certain finishes have different levels of care,” she said. “If you choose something with a dark stain, you’re probably going to see scratches more easily than something with a lighter finish. Dark, glossier finishes tend to show even hairline scratches.”
Solid wood, with a basic wax finish, Shepherd said, is one the toughest options on the market. Veneers can be equally tough, but can’t be as easily repaired if major damage occurs.
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