This week's question comes from Kate, she is struggling with her open concept
living/dining/kitchen area.
We recently purchased a renovated semi-detached home in Toronto. Our main floor is open concept living/dining/kitchen. However, I am really struggling with what to do with the dining area in particular. As you can see from the pics we have a sideboard that doesn't really fit with the style of our new home, and I'm not sure that the table works either. My specific question is what kind of dining room table we should get (round?? size in proportion to lighting fixture, colour etc.). We have a toddler running around so any material that is safer than our current glass one is also a priority.
As you can see from the photos,Kate's style is contemporary. When choosing a dining room table choose a style fits with the rest of your furniture.
The clean lines of the dining table above would work well with the rest of the decor found in Kate's home.
When choosing a dining room table for your space, it is important to consider the following:
1. What style would work in best my space (contemporary, traditional, flea market)? Look around your home for insight into your style.
2. What shape is your dining room? Is it square or rectangular?
3. How many do you plan to seat at one time?
4. Would you like your space to be informal or formal?
When it is time to choose a shape for your dining room table, consider these...
Square tables make a space feel casual. They are also great space savers. However, you can only fit 2-4 people comfortably.
Rectangular tables give a linear feel to the space and can seat many people at one time. However, they tend to look out of place in a square dining room.
Round tables make a space feel intimate, and are great for creating eye-contact and conversation. They are also a good choice for families with small children because they have no corners. The negative with a round table is that it takes up more space than a square or rectangular table.
Oblong tables create an informal atmosphere, however they are not suitable for small rooms.
In Kate's case, I would choose a dining room table that has clean, simple lines like the rest of her furniture.
If Kate would like to keep her side buffet, I would use either a square or round table.
If she were to take the buffet away, she could use a rectangular table as long as it does not stick out past the kitchen island.
Her glass table gets lost in the background behind the chairs in the living room. To remedy this I would choose a table similar in color to one of the inspiration photos above, this will add weight to the table and make it stand out.
The first inspiration photo adds a modern, contemporary feel to the space. The second inspiration, while still modern, adds a glam feel to the space.
How do you feel about the space? Do you think a square, rectangular, or round dining table would work best? How did you decide on a dining room table?
If you have a design dilemma, please email me at themustardceiling@gmail.com.
