A home cooked dish — maybe a classic Amish Roast? — wafts off the dining room table and throughout your home, tickling your nose.
Ahh, dinner time.
Everyone gathers for delicious food, and the busyness of life stops for a few blissful minutes as our loved ones chat about their days. These times are sweet, perfect moments in the story our lives.
On part 1 of our guide to finding the perfect dining room table, we talked about the importance of knowing what size you need for your table and how leaves can give you more space to host guests.
Shape
After deciding what size table works best, it’s time to look at table shapes.
Round is similar to oval as square is similar to rectangle so for simplicity’s sake, we will stick with comparing rectangle and oval tables.
Rectangle vs. Oval
If your dining room affords the space, rectangle tables are great for big families or frequent guests. The standard rectangle table, measuring 42” x 60”, offers a classic style and reliable structure, seating about eight people. Prepare for plenty of laughs and good food around this amble dining space.
Oval tables promise a unique statement in your home and the rounded edges provide more space to get around the table easier!
Unfortunately, because of the rounded edges, fitting eight people around the standard (42” x 60”) oval table may prove to be tighter than a rectangular table. This table seats six people comfortably and suits cozier rooms with its fashionable style.
Depending on the room’s size and your preference, our oval table may work better than rectangle…or vice versa!
Style
Standard vs. Pub
The standard height table (30”) looks dazzling in both a casual and formal dining room. These standard height tables, like our Solid Top Farm Table, are often used for elegant dinners or bigger celebrations because of their classic, simple design.
On the other hand, pub tables — that measure at 36” high — offer a more laid-back alternative for your dining experience. These everyday tables like the Contemporary Gathering Table, will blend flawlessly in an informal dining room or kitchen. Many people enjoy pub tables because they like when their feet don’t touch the ground, and can swing, free in the air!
Legs vs. Pedestal
The standard leg table comes with four legs which helps keep any extra leaves balanced. This classic style is both functional and beautiful! We love the handcrafted Leg Table for its simple yet stunning design.
Peaceful Valley Furniture also offers pedestal tables, which are supported by a sturdy, thick base. With a pedestal table, more people may be able to squeeze in without the table’s legs getting in the way.
We don’t recommend adding too many leaves to a pedestal table because there may not be enough support for the extra length. When considering a pedestal table, remember you may be limited on expansion because more leaves may mean less stability.
We also offer double pedestal tables that boast two pedestals and provide the stability that single pedestals (with excessive leaves) may lack.
Wood Choices:
Our tables are available in three different woods: Oak, Maple or Cherry. These three woods are sturdy enough to weather the wear-and-tear of daily dining but also stunning in their handcrafted beauty.
Oak‘s grain appears thick and distinctive — an unique element that may show through paints. Maple, on the other hand, looks similar to Cherry with a simple grain. Paints blend beautifully on Maple, providing a smooth, flawless finish. Cherry‘s fine grain looks stunning in any piece of furniture, both classic and elegant.
All of our Amish craftsmen offer different styles regarding the table edges and legs, paints and stains. If you’re interested in a certain style or shape, we’d be happy to help in any way we can!
Are you looking for a sleek, modern style? Our Contemporary Gathering Table looks dazzling with it’s clean lines and straight edges. On the other hand, if you’re interested in a classic, rustic look, our Extension Table may work best. Complete with unique, rounded legs and a solid, primitive structure, this table truly is a masterpiece.
All these choices — the size, shape, and style of your table — are only guidelines to help you create a memorable dining experience.
The most important element to dining with happiness (besides food, of course!) is a table full of the ones you love. Nothing else can replace those sweet moments of belonging!
