Minimalism has been a fashion for awhile.  All over the country people are choosing to limit what they display in the name of ‘interior design’.  Which is all well and good, minimalist can be a very stylish fashion.  But it is important to remember to put function before form.

That doesn’t mean that you have to trade off between looking good and having something that works, far from it – it is very possible to have both in your flat or house.  There is plenty of furniture that can look good and provide an important function at the same time.  Furniture like large dining tables.

Large Dining Tables

Let us take a look at large dining tables as an option for stylish and functional furniture.  Why is it able to cover both?

Firstly large dining tables can be made from almost any material – this means you can buy one, or have one made, that fits in perfectly with the décor, or planned décor, of your home.  Whether it is wood, glass, metal, whatever your home needs material wise it a large dining table can be made from it.

Style wise there is a lot that can be done with a large dining table.  You can have complex, ornate metal work or you can go for a rustic dining table look, with old style wood almost hammered together – reminiscent of a barn or sea cottage.  Whatever you are trying to do with your dining room there will be a selection of large dining tables for it.

As a large surface the dining table is also very powerful for displaying ornaments and other decorative pieces.  You can have all sorts of decoration on a large dining table – candles, red table runners, lamps, crystal bowls – whatever you can think of.

But unlike a lot of what is minimalism in design a large dining table has function to.  It is a place that you can eat, where you and your family are able to gather around for a meal, to talk about the day and make plans in a way that too few family’s are doing these days.

Large dining tables also allow you to be able to host larger diner parties, to have groups of friends over for food and drinks.  A small table that you might find with a minimalist style limits how many people you can invite, whilst a larger dining table allows you to have a larger number of friends over to enjoy yourselves with.

Remember the tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the round table?  Simply by looking at those myths we can see that round dining rooms tables have enjoyed a long history as a method of bringing people together.

Myth has it that Camelot’s round table used by King Arthur was created to ensure that was no head or end of the table, so that no one could claim to be favourite based on their position at the table.  It was also designed, so it is said, to help encourage conversation amongst the knights.  That certainly has a ring of truth about it because round dining room tables today are known to help encourage conversation.

Round Dining Room Tables

So what are the advantages of round dining room tables in this day and age.  Are they of as much use now as they were to the likes of Sir Lancelot?

• Style.  Rectangular and oval tables are the most common of types of dining room table at the moment – and people have come to expect them.  Round dining room tables have a style that is at least equal of those types of dining room table whilst giving something different, something striking, something that your guests will remember and be impressed by.
• Conversation.  It is important to remember the obvious here – round dining room tables are, at heart, still dining room tables, a place for us to eat at.  Since it is common to eat in groups, whether family meals or a dinner party conversation can play a big part in our enjoyment of the meal.  With no ‘ends’ and everyone able to face each other round dining room tables help encourage conversation as much now as they did in the mythical court of Camelot.
• Space.  With more traditional rectangular tables space is wasted thanks to the corners, there are areas that people are unable to sit at.  With round dining room tables there is no wasted space, everyone is able to sit next to each other without gaps or angles getting in the way.
• Centrepiece.  Because round dining room tables are, rather obviously, curved they work best in the centre of the room.  They curve away from all the angles that rooms traditionally have allowing more space to walk past them – great for serving meals, replenishing wine glasses and the like!

The Many Uses of dining Tables

Many people think of the dining table, and indeed the dining room, as being just for eating meals.  Of course dining tables of all shapes, such as square dining tables, are designed for being eaten off of – but there are a huge amount of more uses that you can put a dining table to than that.

So to help fire your imagination let us take a look at what sort of activities you can use your square dining tables for.

Uses for Dining Tables

1. Eating.  Well it had to be stated really didn’t it?  Square dining tables, round dining tables – pretty much all tables designed to be used in the dining room are, as their name suggests, designed for dining.  So gathering around the family or friends for a meal is the main use that you can put your dining table to.
2. Working on.  A square dining table can also be used much like a office desk.  You can rig up computers there, write, lay out designs or drawings.  Depending on the size of your dining table there are a massive amount of work uses that you can put your square dining table to.
3. Drinks.  Square dining tables are much like the sort of tables that you find in cafés or restaurants – perfect for having a few drinks around, whether glasses of wine of cups of coffee.  A site down at a table with your drink and perhaps a book to read can be a great way of unwinding.
4. Board games.  The large surface area that dining tables provide can be utilized by those who love board games.  Cracking out Monopoly with the kids and playing it on your dining table means you have a big enough space to put the game and get everyone who is playing around it easily – importantly with seats rather than making them sit on the floor!
5. Card games.  It is no secret that casino’s use tables to host their games – it is the easiest way to get the players involved and comfortable.  Even better square dining room tables ensure that the players are never given an ‘angle’ on another players cards, they are always facing away from the cards and towards each other.

Of course these 5 are just the start – there are huge numbers of uses you can put your dining table to, give it some thought and I am sure you will realise just how versatile this wonderful piece of furniture can be.