In every home, there are generally three main common rooms in which people spend most of their time. The room where you cook, the room where reading and entertaining are common, and the room where meals are eaten all have their fair share of use. Just as kitchen and dining room furniture has evolved to meet the needs of modern families, so have dining room sets.

Traditionally, dining sets consisted of a large rectangular table surrounded by chairs. The two chairs at each headboard had arms, while the chairs at the sides had no arms. The furniture is almost always made of wood, and prior to the 19th century, unique in each home. While custom parts are still available today, they can be prohibitively expensive. Here are some of the more common styles of tables and chairs that are available today.

Modern

While wood may be the most common material for tables and chairs, there are other options for non-traditionalists. A metal table can add a modern, minimalist look to any setting, especially when paired with a more casual seating arrangement such as benches and stools. If you prefer a modern look, but without the metal, you can find a glass table that will suit any size area. To complete the look, the clear plastic chairs are available in various styles. Along with the sleek styling, glass and plastic also make cleaning easy.

Second hand

If buying new dining room sets doesn’t appeal to you, there are many wonderful options available in classifieds or vintage stores. A collection of bruised and battered chairs and tables can be revived with a little sandpaper and a few coats of lacquer. Or if you prefer the more rustic look, you can leave scratches and nicks on the piece.

Redesigned

If you are a skilled craftsman or just have a lot of time on your hands, you can try creating your own table out of older materials. Some common materials used are floor boards, particularly in rarer woods like redwood, old wooden doors, and even wood salvaged from sunken ships. Done right, these materials can create truly one-of-a-kind dining room sets that not only look fantastic, but also offer a story that you can tell any guest who sits down to them.

Intimate

Although the traditional table for meals is long and rectangular, more and more families are moving away from this trend. In some cases, it is due to the restrictions that a smaller living room places on the size of the furniture. However, most of the time families simply prefer to sit closer to each other. This has led to the rise in popularity of small round or square dining room sets. These accommodations typically accommodate up to four or six people and allow for easy interaction and conversation.