ELEVATING YOUR DINING EXPERIENCE: CB2’S DINING TABLE ESSENTIALS

There's something so special about sharing a meal with the people you care about. At home, mealtimes may be the only time everyone can come together. Eating around an attractive dining table is one of life's simplest yet greatest pleasures. Not only do we get to enjoy great food, but we can also spend quality time together. A dining table becomes the place where we share our news and enter all manner of discussions from current affairs to the latest blockbuster movie. Though the kitchen is often described as the heart of the home, the dining table could easily share that title.

The perfect dining table offers a marriage of beauty and utility. We’ve all heard the phrase 'we eat with our eyes', and just as an attractive plate of food can make a meal more enjoyable, so can an expertly crafted and delightfully dressed table. Read through our useful guide if you'd like tips on refreshing your dining table aesthetic.

Choosing the right dining table

Whether you’re styling a dining room from scratch or giving your room an upgrade, choosing the right table can be a little tricky. Start by deciding on the overall theme you'd like in the dining room, then choose your dining table accordingly. Being the largest item of furniture in the room, it will help to set the tone. Many still select the classic wooden construction.

There's plenty of variety within this genre, including carved and handsome tables and simple and rustic offerings that work well within a minimalist design. Perhaps you’d like a dining table that makes a little more impact, with a bolder contemporary design featuring fashionable materials such as concrete, resin, marble and metal.

In terms of practicality, carefully measure your space to ensure the new dining table will fit, looking neither too large nor too small for the room. Though a rectangular dining table is traditional, a round style may allow you to seat more guests when your dining space is smaller. An extendable dining table is a neat solution if you’re a smaller household that only needs additional seating when hosting dinner parties and celebrations.

Take your seat at the table

A meal at your dining table could last for hours if the feast is bountiful and the conversation flows. Such a banquet requires a supportive and snug chair, with modern foam-filled cushioning and high-back models providing the ultimate comfortable dining experience. Dining chairs allow you to add even more personality to your room. They need to complement your table, but you can also think outside the box, using the trend of adding mismatched chairs for a fun and fresh vibe. You might wish to step away from the traditional silhouettes and embrace curved backs, and if you have room at the table, choose models with armrests for a luxurious dining experience.

If you have a young family, one of the practicality factors you’ll need to keep in mind is how readily you can wipe down the chairs. Leather upholstery and wooden or metal chairs are preferable to fabric when mopping up spills and wiping off messy fingerprints regularly.  

Why flatware and dinnerware matter

Did you know that the weight of your cutlery directly impacts how much you'll enjoy your food? Research has found that heavier cutlery made people believe their food tasted better, so when purchasing your flatware, choose weighty solid metal options such as wonderfully durable stainless steel. It's never been easier to match your flatware to your chosen aesthetic with modern brushed metals in gold, silver, bronze, gunmetal and black, as well as the traditional high-polished cutlery.

As any chef can attest, the colour and style of dinnerware can impact the appearance of a dish, and this is true for its impact on your dining table, too. A stylish new dinnerware set can lift the table, whether you opt for a timeless white set for formal dinner parties or choose the contemporary matte blacks and greys or the trendy reactive glazes over earthy tones for everyday use. Be sure to pair your flatware and dinnerware mindfully, with the gold and bronze cutlery sets working well with the reactive glazed dinnerware.

Keep the drinks flowing with stunning glassware, ensuring cohesion between the silhouettes of your drinking, wine and cocktail glasses.

Setting the scene

Add those all-important finishing touches to your dining table with crisp linens whose colour and design help tie together your flatware, dinnerware, and dining room's décor. A tablecloth and runner protect the underlying table surface, creating a finessed look and allowing you to switch up the look whenever you like. Execute the popular pared-back aesthetic with a white tablecloth and a grey runner, or add some edge with a runner bursting with bold patterns or vibrant colours. These looks both pair well with a statement centrepiece. For a floaty and informal everyday dining table look, choose an open weave runner in a natural shade, accessorising it with a simple jug of flowers. Make sure everyone has their place set for them with a matching placemat and cloth napkin, which you can spruce up with a stylish napkin ring.

Adding decorative items like a centrepiece to a dining table will elevate the look. Though no table is complete without the inviting glow of candles, why not bring in a sculptural, decorative centrepiece to complement the other ornamentation in the room or to simply make a bold statement in its uniqueness?

Present your lovingly prepared food with the fanfare it deserves using serving bowls, baskets, trays and platters that link aesthetically to your dinnerware. Don't forget to bring out the cheeseboard at the end of the meal, or why not end on a sweet note with a cake stand adorned with tasty little desserts?

Dress your dining table to impress and make every mealtime special with high-quality, contemporary pieces from CB2.