Ornate carvings on wood, a touch of satin or velvet and an exquisite space to relish some delectable delicacies. Dhanishta Shah guides you through picking the perfect furniture for your dining room
It is at the dining table that families bond and share the highlights of their day over scrumptious meals. The dining room is a special space; one that is often used for lavish soirées and sit-down dinner parties. Hence, it is important to choose the furniture for this space well; pair skilled craftsmanship with sleek designs, and regal materials with a luxurious finish to set up a dining room that spells opulence.
Interior Designer, Neelanjan Gupto of the eponymous design studio recommends that the starting point should always be ergonomics. “Keep in mind the style, decor and concept of the house design. The dinning table and chairs must blend in with these,” he says, emphasising that for beautiful furniture to create the desired impact, it has to blend well with the overall decor scheme.
Top it fine
You will be spoilt for choice when it comes to tabletops. “Wood glass and stone tops are generally common, but people rarely use leather or metal. Wooden tops are preferable, but one should keep in mind that they get scratched soon. Glass requires relatively low maintenance, while stone is strong, natural and stylish, and renders the table timeless,” asserts Neelanjan. Ornate tabletops also instantly spike up the glamour quotient of the dining area.
India’s repertoire of skilled artisans makes it easy to experiment with different materials. For instance, a 14-seater dining set was handcrafted out of teak wood and clad with a thick 100% silver sheet. “Silver-coated furniture adds a touch of royalty and grandeur to your home. It is a soft and bright metal, which goes well with modern and vintage decor,” says Prashant Sarawgi, Managing Director, SR Artefacts.
For those who want to move away from traditional designs, graphic tabletops literally bring art to the table! An example is the Aelita dining table (from Scarlet Splendour) that has a graphic top in resin inlay, which immediately infuses a modern colourful yet elegant look into the space.
With shrinking family sizes, smaller dining areas are becoming common. However, according to Neelanjan, while there are many compact dining tables available, it’s best to avoid buying such a small table that it doesn't accommodate dishes and glasses for at least four people!
Have a seat
Image by Fusion Access
Combine elegant traditional chairs with carvings or handwork with plush upholstery for that opulent feel, or use graphic chairs for a dash of colour. Anti-stain treatments and Scotchgard will protect the fabric, keeping maintenance low. While using a set of chairs is the norm, try a mix of different chairs to create a new look!
Image by Portside Cafe
Benches are also making their presence felt in the dining area and it is not uncommon to see a dining table with a bench on one side of the table in many homes. Options are aplenty; from leather benches that will add elegance and sophistication to ornate wooden ones with exquisite carvings that give your room an old-world charm. Benches offer great scope to play around with upholstery to create stunning effects.
Upholstery matters
“Use of fabrics like chenille, linen, velvet, satin, leather and cotton linen with delicately hand-worked trims add luxury to the space. Its the exquisite craftsmanship that makes each piece unique,” explain Shobhna and Kunal Mehta from Kanchi by Shobhna & Kunal Mehta.
Contemporary wooden dining tables and chairs match perfectly with beige, off-white, gold and champagne upholstery, which is perfect for an elegant and classic setting. For ornate, traditional wooden furniture, contrasting shades of upholstery—turquoise, dusty pink, or powder blue—look stunning. Fabrics with metallic patterns or even plush velvet can easily complement metallic tables and chairs.
Image by Kanchi by Shobhna & Kunal Mehta
While a dining area can be spruced up with beautiful art on the walls, sideboards, or light fixtures like flowing chandeliers, it is the table and the chairs that will continue to have an overwhelming presence. With the range of choices and finishes available, one just has to get it right!
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