Author: Rebecca O’Donoghue

Your dining table is truly the very heart of the home, it’s a place to gather for meals, for families to connect together and an opportunity to decorate and reflect your personal style.

How to choose the right dining table

There are a few steps to consider when choosing a dining table. These include the size, style and number of chairs, materials, and placement.

Size

Before visiting any store to look at dining tables, make sure you measure your available space and surrounds. Is your dining table going to sit in a little sunny nook by the kitchen or will it be the grand centrepiece in a formal dining area?  

Your available space will make a big difference to what kind of table will work best!

What to measure:

• The height of your seats – it’s generally best to leave 20-30cm between the seat and the table top
• Your dining space – it’s not just about the size of the table, remember to leave enough space for chairs and people to move around without touching walls or other furniture.

Tight on space? Consider a round dining table or bench seating to maximise your options.

Materials

There is a huge range of dining table options out there, from rustic timber to sleek white tabletops.  Consider your other furniture and select a table to match – or work in reverse and style the rest of your space to your new table.

If your new dining table is going to be seating a busy growing family then pay attention to materials that are smooth and easy to clean.

Shape

Round or Rectangle? The choice is yours!  Round or smaller square tables are great for tight spaces like townhouses and apartments, whilst long rectangle dining tables and large square tables are a great way to seat the entire family.   

Chairs

Now that you’ve chosen a dining table don’t forget the chairs!

There’s a huge range of dining chairs available in a range of styles and colours. An affordable way to easily create a cohesive look is to shop complete dining suites. This is a cost-effective way to ensure you get a matching set.

Chairs can also be a way to let your unique style shine through – add some personality with velvet seating in a range of colours or indulge in luxury upholstered and padded seating.

Bench seats are also a great option to save on space as they can be tucked right under the table.

Bonus storage

A matching buffet is a great option for adding in extra storage to your dining space.  Along with hall tables, buffets also provide another surface for your to display your favourite décor or as an extra serving space when entertaining. 

Another great benefit of buffets is they keep the entire room looking neat and tidy by providing hidden storage options for all your extra cutlery and crockery.

If you’re looking to create a complete cohesive look, then the easiest way to set up your dining room is to choose pieces from the same range. For minimal coastal charm then Newcastle is your new best friend, for a modern industrial look then Longreach is perfect for you. Harper is a beautiful blend of rustic charm and sleek modern design.

Our friendly staff are always happy to help you find your perfect dining table, pop into your local store today or get in touch with us through our contact page.

Do you have a tiny living room? Maybe a bedroom that’s barely got room for the bed? It can sometimes seem impossible to style and enjoy these cramped spaces, but we’ve gathered a great collection of tips and tricks to make any room in your home feel bigger – without any renovations!

The clutter has got to go

Clutter can make even the biggest space feel cramped and chaotic, so in a small space it has definitely got to go! Clearing away your clutter is the first step in claiming back your space (& your sanity!)  

We’ve talked about handy ways to get rid of your clutter (and keep it gone!) over in this blog post here.  Clearing away the clutter doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to any of your belongings, just get smart with storage and keep your surfaces clean and clear.

A great way to maximise space and keep it tidy in the long-term is finding clever furniture with hidden storage.

Think about your décor, often less is more so try to limit your decorative pieces to only a few favourites.

Mirror, Mirror on the wall..

This tip has been an interior stylist secret for a long time, adding a mirror on the wall is an instant way to brighten and enlarge any room! Take a look around next time you’re staying in a hotel room – these often have large mirrors to make a cramped space feel bigger. 

Mirrors enlarge your space by reflecting light and conveying the illusion of more room.  They’re not just limited to the bedroom either – why not try a hanging mirror in your entryway or a decorative frame above a mantlepiece.

How low can you go?

Higher ceilings make a room feel bigger so look for ways to draw the eye upwards. One of the ways you can do this is with lower furniture.
For example, consider a mid-century style, low profile sofa over a tall, high-backed lounge. Sleek low coffee tables are another easy solution.  Don’t be afraid to show a little leg either – by showing the floor beneath the furniture it makes it look as though the floor space is a lot larger than it really is.

It doesn’t all rest on your lounge either! Here are some either tips to help make your ceiling feel higher:

• Hanging artwork and mirrors up high on the wall
• Tall décor pieces such as lamps
• Tall shelving and wall-mounted displays

No more wallflowers

Most people naturally tend to push their furniture right up against the walls. It might be because we think that having it “out of the way” makes a room feel bigger, but that actually isn’t the case! Your furniture needs a little bit of breathing room, even just shifting slightly away from the wall can add the suggestion of extra space to your room.  

Without blocking walkways try rearranging your existing furniture away from the walls and into the available open space. Check out how we’ve placed the lounge in the center of the room below:

Light it up

We already mentioned lighting when we talked about mirrors, but light is a powerful tool for enhancing and enlarging any small space! Here’s a few ways you can brighten and lighten your space:

• Let your windows shine: consider removing heavy or overpowering curtains to maximise light. Even when open bulky curtains can still block the edges of your windows – losing you valuable light!
• Don’t let furniture stand in the way – where possible rearrange so tall furniture isn’t blocking your windows
• Light up the shadows – use lamps and other carefully placed lights to brighten up the shadows and enlarge your space. Check out some of our favourite small space lamp tables below:

White and Bright

It’s no secret that white walls can help make your space feel bigger, but it doesn’t mean you have to paint every wall white! Any lighter colours will help create a sense of airy brightness.  If you’re in love with your moody feature wall or bold colours, never fear! You can still make your space pop – just be careful with the rest of your colour choice and avoid too much dark and heavy furniture.

We hope these tips can help you create a space that you love! Our friendly in-store staff are always happy to help provide advice when choosing new furniture. You can also follow us on Instagram and Pinterest for regular style tips and inspiration.

We know styling your space can be overwhelming, so we are sharing some of the best living room styling tips we have learnt over the years.

First things first – Choosing your lounge or sofa

You can think of styling like building your home – it’s important to start with a strong foundation to add to.  In a living room, the foundational pieces are your lounge or sofa.   It’s hard to build the lounge room you love without a lounge you love!

So what to look for in a lounge?

• Durability

The average lounge will stay in your lounge room for more than 7 years so make sure you choose something long lasting and timeless. Also consider fabric and leather care when choosing your sofa. 

• Size
  The size you choose depends on both the size of your space and your family. Smaller sofas are a great alternative for little apartments, while modular lounges are great for big families to sprawl across. You also need to make sure it will fit through your doorways and get into the lounge room!

• Comfort
  Sure you want something that looks great, but that shouldn’t come at the cost of comfort! Spend some time deciding what kind of feel is comfortable for you.  If you like to lie down across your lounge, make sure it’s long enough or consider a design with chaise.  If you’re taller, you might prefer a sofa with a high back for extra support.
  
  
• Style
  It can be easy to jump straight into what’s currently trending, but a lounge is an investment that you want to work in with the style of your home for years to come. If in doubt, we recommend choosing a simple, timeless style and decorating with throw cushions and blankets. This way you can update your style simply by switching out the cushions. There are even lounges that come with free matching throw pillows!

• Functionality
  Do you have friends and family who visit often? Then you might want to consider a sofa bed to save space. 
  There are also lounges with built-in storage, hidden ottomans, cup-holders and even USB-charging points!

Styling your new lounge

So now you’ve got your lounge or sofa sorted, what’s next?

Cushions and throw blankets are a great way to inexpensively add your own personal style. Don’t be afraid to mix different colours and shapes. A low rectangular cushion in front of a square cushion helps adds depth and height to your sofa.

• Colour
  To choose colours look at what is already in the room. Got a favourite artwork? Choose your cushions in similar colours and tones. Different colours carry different emotions, for example blue is cool and calm while orange is warm and playful. 

• Texture
  Add another layer of texture with a casually draped throw blanket. The secret for getting the perfect arrangement is to pinch the blanket in the centre while holding it in the air, then pull the pinched section towards the back of the sofa.
  
  
• Magic Numbers
  It is possible to have too much of a good thing – if you have a big collection of cushions and throws, considering alternating them rather than overloading your lounge which can look cluttered.
  Odd numbers work well for a relaxed and natural vibe, such as three cushions or one blanket. If you’re after a particularly formal look then you can use symmetry by placing an equal number on each side of the couch.

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Finishing Touches

Finally don’t forget the coffee table! Tables are a great way to create a cohesive look throughout your space, whilst also being great storage options. Coffee tables come in a huge range of styles from modern industrial, to classic and traditional. Consider the rest of the space when choosing your coffee table and pair with matching side tables to complete the look.

Stay in the loop

Pinterest and Instagram are great places to search for fresh inspiration and stay updated with new trends.  Follow ComfortStyle to stay in the loop! ⠀⠀⠀

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