In most homes, the dining room table serves as the gathering place of the family. Therefore, it would be prudent to make sure your dining table is adequately sized to accommodate your family and friends. Choosing the right one is fairly simple if you keep the following four things in mind.

1. Size:

If there are only four in your family, you would probably be looking for a four-chair dining table. But what about company? If you get a six-chair dining table with a leaf, you can store the leaf along with two of the chairs, breaking it down to a four-chair set. Then, when having company, simply bring out the leaf and extra chairs.

2. Style:

If you spend a lot of time at the dining room table, I suggest you get padded chairs with armrests. They may cost more, but well worth it in the long run and are especially nice when friends drop by for drinks and conversation. Visiting with friends can be more enjoyable in cushy padded chairs, rather than hard, straight-back chairs with no armrests.

3. Type:

Regardless of whether you go with padded or conventional, avoid dining tables framed in metal that tarnish and rust. Wood is always the best way to go such as cherry, oak or cedar.

4. Shape:

Rectangle and square shaped tables can be awkward. You can comfortably fit more people around a round or oval table and won't be annoyed by those painful run-ins with the corners. How many beautiful tablecloths have been ruined where someone hit the corner of the table, tipping drinks all around?

However, you don't have to take out a second mortgage for a nice dining room table. There are some really great bargains out there if you know where to look. Some of the better thrift stores can have some very nice dining room tables at a fraction of the cost of retail furniture stores.

Stores that specialize in furniture are often very pricey. On the other hand, there have been some who bought from a used furniture store, only to end up paying close to what they would have paid if they had bought it new. So it would be prudent to educate yourself on the going prices before making your decision.

Rental centers are a good option for those with less than perfect credit and very little cash. Of course, in the end you'll end up paying more for it than it's really worth. Nevertheless, sometimes we do what we have to do.

Therefore, whether it's meals, homework, cards, table games or company, choose your dining room table to fit your family and your budget.

Learn more about this author, Pat Lunsford.
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