How to Choose the Perfect Dining Table
In this modern day and age, a dining room serves a higher purpose than just somewhere to have a meal. The dining table holds a special place in every home, it symbolises unity and community. It’s a place where people can come together to celebrate, make memories and share stories over a meal together. Today the dining table is a multifunctional piece of furniture, a surface to eat from, work from and a surface on which to place things.
When selecting a dining table, your lifestyle plays a huge part in determining the purpose or functionality of this space. Perhaps you love entertaining, and your table is always overflowing with a lively group of dinner guests? Or maybe you’re more of a busy work from home family, and your table doubles as a home office or is used for doing homework with the kids. Does your lifestyle favour a dining room with an air of elegant luxury or family friendly comfort?
Sherwood Designs’ dining tables are heavily influenced by traditional European techniques and our design approach is ‘transitional’, taking inspiration from classic designs and reinterpreting them for everyday living. A high-quality dining table is one that can be treasured for lifetimes.
The Abyss Dining table is the central focus of this formal dining room designed for adults to retreat to when entertaining guests.
SHAPE OF THE DINING TABLE
We create a refined look by paying close attention to proportions.
The shape of your dining table depends not only on the size of your space but also the number of people you want to seat. While a round table can feel cosier and more intimate for smaller groups, it can get cramped when adding on guests and larger tables can halt the flow of conversation when reaching across to the other side. A rectangular table often works best, both conversationally and is an effective use of space. We go by the rule of allowing 600mm per person, creating the perfect balance between intimacy and space for movement.
While the shape plays a huge part in the functionality of your dining table, the base style sets the scene allowing you to effectively use this space. In terms of seating, a pedestal base or inset legs allow for freedom and flexibility, whereas four outer legs can be restricting and prevent being able to comfortably cater for those last-minute dinner guests. We create a refined look by playing close attention to proportions, taking into careful consideration the look once paired with dining chairs.
The Marseille is a handcrafted, robust dining table with ornate carvings inspired by European design. It’s designed to look like a sculptural piece of art, while also serving functionality.
USE HIGH QUALITY MATERIALS
We create a timeless look by prioritising material and finish.
A dining table made from high quality materials with a high-quality finish balances aesthetics with practicality. When selecting the material of your dining table, take into consideration the mood of your space. Different shades create different tones, a warm walnut creates a light welcoming space, while a darker ebony stain creates a moody evening retreat. Our woods and finished are created to withhold a strong depth of colour and are designed to look better with time and use. As your piece ages it develops more character, its durability integrates with your home. We have a range of styles and finishes that can be interchanged and worked in with each other to uniquely suit your space.
ADD PERSONALITY TO YOUR DESIGN
A great dining table creates a great foundation for adding personality in design. You can play around with different fabrics, colours and styles when pairing with dining chairs, or topping with decorative pieces such as table runners, placemats, flowers and other trinkets. These elements can be refreshed with the changing trends of each season, allowing for a truly timeless look.
Looking for the perfect bespoke dining table? Inspired by our handcrafted designs? Get in touch - we’d love to hear from you.