Furnish your dining room with the essentials first: a table and chairs.
Furnishing a dining room can be overwhelming to a new home or apartment dweller because of the endless options of styles and pieces available online and in stores. Some of the traditional pieces, too, serve more decorative rather than practical purposes. Narrowing down your choices takes a bit of research. But first, determine what size pieces your room can accommodate. Make a list of what you need and what you don't need right now, and what you might add further down the line.
Instructions
1. Measure each part of your dining room to ensure that the furnishings you purchase will fit.
2. Browse dining room furniture styles online or in person at stores. Scroll through the dining room furniture offerings on retailers' websites such as Crate and Barrel, Pier 1 Imports, Ethan Allen, Restoration Hardware, Overstock.com, Thomasville and Target. Determine what style you prefer, such as classic, modern or rustic.
3. Determine how much seating you need and whether to purchase pieces individually or as a matching set. A typical dining room set includes a table with or without a leaf, and at least four chairs -- or two chairs if it is a small table. Some sets also include a buffet and hutch. Compare pricing, as a set may likely be the better deal. Ensure the table you choose is neither too long nor too short or wide for your space.
4. Purchase a hutch in a wood and style that coordinates with your table. Place it against a wall and fill it with China or other decorative plates, serving ware and wine glasses.
5. Buy a sideboard or server to place against a wall near the table. This is not required but adds an elegant touch to a dining room, especially if you have the space. Sideboards and servers are traditional dining room furniture pieces used for placing serving dished just before serving at the dining room table. Add an elegant lamp on top of it, or a two lamps on either end, if the room needs extra light.
6. Add finishing touches, such as candlesticks or a vase as a centerpiece for your table. Other ideas include adding an artificial ficus tree in a corner, strung with miniature clear lights, and an accent table in another corner on which you can set framed photographs. Hang curtains made of a rich fabric; tie them back with woven silk ropes. If your room has wooden floors, purchase a long area rug or runner to place under the table. Lay it so that it extends past the chairs on either end of the table.
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