Is a dining room in the apartment still relevant today or rather a relic from "the good old days"?
Eating, playing and discussing together – for many families, this is simply part of everyday life. For this, you need a meeting point in the apartment – and what could be better than the dining room with a large table and comfortable chairs?
Here you can sit and eat together and, of course, discuss all family matters without being distracted by the TV, computer or mobile phone. There is enough space here for board games, painting, puzzling or crafting together, and everyone can participate without "getting in each other's way."
Such a dining room is the perfect place for family celebrations, children's birthdays and coffee gatherings with friends. Usually located near the kitchen, the "supply" of food and drinks is quickly available, and the traces of the shared meal are just as quickly removed.
And a dining room is also a popular meeting place for the older generation – for eating, of course, but also for discussing and celebrating afterwards.
The best place is in the kitchen? That only applies to student digs – later on, you prefer something a bit more comfortable and neatly seated at the dining table. It's interesting that such dining room gatherings are hardly ever broken up or moved, even after the meal is over and the living room beckons with comfortable armchairs and a sofa. Most people remain seated at the dining table and enjoy the conversation over a glass of wine and direct contact with those around the table.
So: If space in the apartment allows, you should definitely set up a separate room for a dining room. This doesn't have to be a separate room – for example, an open-plan kitchen-diner or the visually somewhat separate extension of the living area is also very suitable. However, there are a few things you should definitely consider when furnishing a dining room so that it doesn't just remain a pure eating room, but becomes the center of the apartment.
The right dining table for every dining room size
The most important part of the dining room is, of course, the dining table or the dining table set. Which model is best suited for you depends primarily on how much space you have available.
Round and square dining tables have their pros and cons. Round tables are a little more communicative, and if there's a sudden influx of guests, another chair can usually be added. However, they need more space than square tables to look good – so the room must be significantly larger.
Square tables are very flexible in terms of seating, ranging from simple chairs to comfortable shell chairs to practical swivel chairs or even a bench – almost anything is possible.
At Baumkantentische.de, we are, of course, fans of solid wood tables with natural live edges – but ultimately, your taste decides here. One thing is clear: not everyone has such a live edge table – and it is definitely an eye-catcher.
If you only have a smaller dining room available, you still don't have to do without the perfect dining table. For such rooms, smaller tables with extension elements are particularly suitable. These can be easily extended with a few simple steps using extension leaves or pull-out elements, so you have enough space for many guests.
The right chairs
But no matter which dining table you choose, it's most important that you sit comfortably and have enough legroom. Getting up and walking around the table should also be as pleasant as possible.
You can find some important figures on dimensions and the selection of dining chairs in our article Chairs for the dining table.
One more thought on the design of the chairs: Normally, they are pushed back when sitting down or standing up. For this, you naturally need enough clear space behind the chairs. And especially for people with limited mobility, sitting down and standing up can be difficult – in this case, swivel chairs would be the best choice. Swivel to the side, sit down or stand up – swivel – done.
Whether you prefer uniform chairs or a mix of different chairs and benches is up to you. In any case, the combination of different colored chairs creates a small highlight and will catch everyone's eye.
Lighting
Lighting also plays a big role in the dining room, because after all, you want to see what's on your plate and be able to recognize the person opposite you clearly.
Light should also create a cozy atmosphere. Warm light is best suited for this, ideally also glare-free and dimmable.
Lights suspended from the ceiling, such as pendant lights or hanging lamps, are ideal for illuminating the table as much as possible without dazzling the people sitting at it. To prevent the rest of the room from being plunged into darkness, an additional floor lamp or indirect lighting is very suitable.
Storage and decor are allowed
If you regularly eat in the dining room, you naturally don't want to drag all the necessary utensils from the kitchen to the dining room every time. Therefore, a sideboard or a shelf placed in the dining room would be advisable. This provides space for dishes, tablecloths, and other items, making everything quickly accessible.
However, the following applies here: this piece of furniture should not become the focal point of the room – the most important furniture in the dining room is the table group. To create a little coziness, you can, of course, play with curtains, carpets, tablecloths, a larger green plant, or a figurine. But please don't overdo it here either – less is often more.
