A dining table in every home is an essential piece of furniture. Just as dimensions and décor will vary in each home, your lifestyle has a great influence on the type of dining table or tables you might chose for your home. Traditionally the dining room was a very formal room in the house and the dining table specifically was a very formal piece of furniture invariable was constructed of some hardwood. If you had a flair for traditional décor, the dining ensemble would typically be very heavy and very ornate.

As lifestyles and especially dining has become more informal, so have our choices for furniture. In most homes today, you'll find the kitchen nook, kitchen bar, or even dining in front of the television much more of the norm. Although formal dining room ensembles are still very prevalent, you'll find the majority of dining tables being made with some type of base wood covered by a veneer that mimics the appearance of a more attractive wood grain. Hence less money is being spent on dining room furniture because in many cases, less time is being spent in the formal dining room.

Tables are also not limited to wood these days, just the opposite. You'll find vast selections of tables in all sizes using glass and marble as the table top with mixtures of wood, chrome, and steel for the legs or table base. You'll even find some extremely 'edgy' or very contemporary furniture being completely made of think resin materials.

The formal dining room is always the room of choice for special occasion dining; whether it for an intimate dinner for two or a large family gathering. Tables come in a choice of sizes and shapes and should always be selected based upon the room size. Do don't want something too small or too large. It's important to consider a table with the ability to resize when you have a need to accommodate more seating. Whether square, oblong, oval, or round, most dining tables are designed with the ability to expand using a 'leaf' or extension insert.

Since 'size matters,' it's important to measure the space you are looking to fill. A round table will comfortably fit four to six people, but typically square or rectangle work best in a defined room. Perhaps your space is intimate and small, maybe a bistro table for two is appropriate. More kitchens are being designed with small dining nooks and use of a high pedestal table is a fun place for your morning coffee or evening glass of wine.

No matter what, you should choose the right table for you home understanding what will work well within the space and within the overall design and style you are planning for the best of your home. Choose the table based on the shape, design, and size that will be pleasant to the eye, work with the elements of the space, and make your dining room feel inviting to family members and guests alike.

If you are looking for a clean, stylish, and upscale feel for your home, you'll find a number of affordable leading suppliers of quality furniture in the UK. Bentley Designs, established in 1988 takes pride in capturing the very best of the latest market trends. You'll find Bentley furniture to be crafted of high quality timbers and veneers to create some of the most exciting and comfortable dining room and bedroom ranges to be found.

If you seek to furnish your home in the rich tones of walnut, the Tokyo range is a beautifully crafted sleek design using veneers and solids of American Black Walnut. The collection includes a beautiful dining table with cleverly concealed drawers. The drawers also form part of the top overhanging panels of the sideboard, coffee table, and lamp tables. With more and more dining areas becoming less formal to accommodate busy lifestyles, perhaps you'll find the Tokyo Coffee Table to be your perfect dining spot!

As alluded to above, not all dining room tables are constructed of wood. More and more ensembles today use multiple materials to best express a contemporary feel. A great example of how oak veneer panels are combined with highly polished granite can be found in the Bentley collection called Atlantis. The Atlantis dining table offers an earthly feel all its own by combining wood and stone. The table can be finished off with either slatted-back chairs or beautiful faux leather chairs.

No matter how you dine or where you dine in your home, there's a contemporary and comfortable solution just for you. Just narrower it down to size, shape, style….because the right choice is there to meet your individual character. Here's to dinner!