In Nigeria, everyone wants to buy furniture that lasts. When buying dining room furniture, everyone wants to know what to look out for so that they can get a product that meets their expectations and doesn’t disappoint. We at Leatherworld are here to help you get it right. You can visit our furniture stores in Lekki or Victoria Island, Lagos, for good advice on the right dining room furniture to fit your space.
Nevertheless, here on this blog, we would let you know what you need to know. The best dining table for you will be one that works for your budget, is solidly constructed, fits in your space, and has a style you’ll love for years. According to furniture experts, a good table should last you for at least 5 to 10 years, but if you get something too funky with too many weird details, you may wake up one day wondering what you were thinking.
Inspect the table
So the first thing you need to know when buying dining tables is that you should be wary of trends. To stay safe, keep it simple and sturdy. No matter how trendy the design is, inspect the table for stability and construction at the furniture store before you buy. Think about how it would feel to sit at the table, would it be comfortable for long periods? How does the frame of the chair fit your back? Is it straight or curved? Chair frames shouldn’t be too straight or too curved. They should have the right curve to make you sit comfortably for a reasonable period of time. You should be able to test this when you are at the furniture store by sitting on the chair.
Look for nicks and scratches that may indicate how the tables would endure serious use at home. And make sure you understand how to maintain the material used to construct the dining table. Most dining tables are constructed with wood. So the general maintenance of dusting and cleaning with a soft dry cloth should be expected.
In addition to these general things to look out for, here are some additional things to do before buying a dining room set at a furniture store.
Use your measuring tape
The number one rule is that your dining table has to fit your dining area! Dining tables can be deceptively large pieces of furniture so you really need to take their measurements and know what you’re doing. you need to account for space around the dining table when taking your measurement as this is necessary.
You would need about 3 feet of space at a minimum, around the dining table, and of course, having more is better so that you can comfortably sit in the chair and move around the space. According to advice from some interior designers, start by measuring the length and width of the area you can dedicate to the dining table. Then subtract about six feet from those two measurements to get a target dining table length and width.
If the dining table is too close to other furniture, it may seem too big in the room. While taking the measurement, you would also need to visualize how big the dining table would look against all other furniture when actually in the room. it helps to have a friend stand there with the tape measure while you have a look.
Select the right dining table shape
Most people would go for rectangular tables as this is a no-brainer. Square and rectangular tables are the most common. Also in furniture stores, you’ll find a greater number of choices and styles for these shapes. But a round or oval table can give you a little more space to move around since it cuts off the corners but still has a good surface area. It is also a very good option is your dining room space is small or tight. At Leatherworld furniture showrooms in Lagos, we have a broad selection of all sizes and shapes of dining tables, from the large corporate banquet type to the small individual type, that should fit your space.
Round or oval tables are good for parties and intimate conversations. They also exhume an atmosphere of partnership and teamwork because there is no head of the table. Square or rectangular tables can convey these things, but also communicate an organizational or more businesslike atmosphere.
Choose the dining table base
The base — usually legs, a pedestal, or a trestle — can have an effect on how many people you can fit at a table. You just want to be sure the leg space isn’t being invaded by the supports. When you see a table in person, sit at it to see if your legs hit the table’s legs. Verify you have enough space for your knees when you scoot all the way in, and if you can cross your legs underneath the table. The apron — the frame that holds up the tabletop — can cut down on your room to maneuver.
If you want to be more flexible with your guests, pay attention to the leg width and where the legs are placed. In general, a table with thinner legs, or where the legs are at the corners, will make it easier to squeeze an extra chair in. With a pedestal or trestle table, you have more flexibility to add more people to the table. A table with a center base is the best option to squeeze people in. But also be wary that some larger round pedestal-style tables can be a little less sturdy than those with four legs.
Trestle tables can give you flexibility along the sides of the table but can limit space at the ends of it. Look closely at how much space there is between the edge of the table and where the trestle supports are attached to make sure there’s room for your knees.
Choose the right table materials for your style
Choosing the material for your dining table can be difficult. You have to balance price, ease of care, and your personal style to choose the right one, and a table that’s not a good fit on any of those could mean a buying decision you regret later. Here are the most common materials, and what to consider for each:
Wood
Solid wood is a classic material because it is durable and easy to repair. Pine, acacia, mango and teak are popular, less expensive options. Solid wood is the most popular dining table finish customers look for though it’s often the most expensive. Wood expands and contracts with heat and humidity and can show scratches and wear, but is fairly easy to repair.
Veneer/Wood-look
Wood veneer is often a more affordable alternative to solid wood. Here a very thin layer of solid wood (or material printed to look like wood) is glued to a plywood or other wood core. To identify good veneer, look for tables with clearly-labeled core interiors, like kiln-dried hardwood. One way to spot cheaper veneers is to look underneath the table at the store. If just the outside is finished, but the underneath looks like a different material, you should guess that the manufacturer is cutting costs. If you’re not exactly sure what kind of wood is used for the furniture, you can always ask the salesperson exactly what the table is made of.
Stone and Stone-look
Stone tabletops can include marble, quartz composite or cast stone (like cement). Stone is durable but can be porous and can absorb stains easily. Depending on how it’s made, it can chip or crack, and once that happens it can be tough or impossible to repair. They can also be quite heavy. The price of stone can really vary — cement-topped pieces would generally be less than marble-topped or granite ones which tend to be very expensive.
Glass
Glass tabletops can include clear, frosted or tinted versions. They’re relatively inexpensive and can create a feeling of space and openness. Though glass isn’t susceptible to moisture, it can chip, scratch or crack from heat. It also shows every fingerprint. A good glass table top can last decades if you’re not too clumsy, but it will start to look bad quickly if you’re prone to chipping the edges or scratching the tabletop.
Metal
Metal, including stainless steel, brass, zinc, and lacquered or painted versions of these, is used more frequently for table bases than tops. Metal is durable and not easily damaged. But because of its higher shine, it shows every fingerprint and can require special cleaning tools. Also, painted metals can be hard to repair. These can be less expensive than wood tables, though it’s rare to find an all-metal dining table beyond utility tables.
Finally, check for sturdy, reliable construction
A good dining table will be sturdy and well-made, with a finish that withstands heavy use and shows little obvious wear. The material is a major part of good construction, but a table is only as good as the joinery. The joinery is the industry term for the places where the base and tabletop fit together — the more solid this is, the longer the table will last.
Look underneath the floor sample at the furniture store: Wood joined directly with wood is very strong; too many attachments and hooks can weaken the construction. In general, simpler is better. Look at the connection points where the legs meet the table tops and at the corners — if the pieces are starting to separate, you see gaps at the corners, or it’s wobbly when you move it, it’s not well constructed. And beware of really inexpensive tables, they could be held together just with staples and glue.
Conclusion
We hope you find this article useful in your quest to finding the perfect shape, size, and seating arrangement for your home. If you need any advice, feel free to drop us a call, or visit our furniture stores in Lagos and we’ll be more than happy to help!
Or browse other collections: