Anything goes for dining room furniture with the way people entertain these days! While a long rectangular dining table surrounded by matching dining room chairs may scream dinner party to you, it no longer has to – unless, of course, that’s your style.

HGTV offered 5 alternative layouts for dining room furniture in this article. While not everyone has a professional interior designer or stylist to set the scene before a dinner party, there are some great ideas you might be able to use in your own dining room to create a dramatic effect. And while these looks are great for entertaining, they are versatile enough to be the dining room you live with every day.

More Than One Dining Room Table: If you want to offer guests a more intimate experience, consider getting rid of your large, single dining table and instead use two smaller ones, like those sold in dinette sets. If you entertain with a spouse or roommate, you can sit separately, each at one of the tables, to host your guests.
 
Dining Room Tables Don’t Have to Be Wood: Think about the materials you choose for your dining room table and chairs. While wood is the most common material you’ll find, there are also glass tables or those made of marble or another stone. And then, once you choose your dining room table, you don’t have to hide it under a tablecloth. There are many different styles of placemats and runners you can use to complement your tabletop.

And Dining Room Chairs Don’t Have to Match: You shouldn’t be afraid to get a little eclectic when it comes to your dining room chairs. In the same way people now mix the patterns of their dishes, you can mix up your seating. It sets a creative, fun tone in the room. Wooden seats can break up a line of upholstered seating and different colors can add some punchy flair.

Dining Rooms Aren’t Just for Dining Room Furniture: Depending on how you use your dining room when you’re not entertaining, you could bring in a number of different items you would normally not find in a dining room, like a sofa or a settee for seating, or a desk that can double as a server when you entertain.

Comfort Is a Priority: If you are inviting guests into your dining room, you want them to be comfortable and have a great time. And, of course, you want it to look great too! Benches can be a surprisingly comfortable seating option, and they allow you to squeeze in more people since you don’t have to account for each chair’s footprint.

We hope these ideas have inspired you to think outside of the box when creating your own dining room for entertaining. And let us know if you have any other unusual ideas!

Browse dining room furniture at Furniture.com.

Categories: Dining Room Furniture, Design Tips