Your kitchen and dining room areas are likely to be a major social hotspot in your home, especially with open concept floor plans.

Functionality and comfort are just as important as style where your kitchen and dining areas are concerned - and the following tips should help you make some wise choices about buying furniture.

Basic Details in the Beginning

When you're starting to shop for your kitchen and dining areas, focus on the largest pieces before everything else. Your table will likely fit this description (more on this in a moment). Once you've chosen these pieces, you can put your focus on selecting lamps, racks, sideboards, and cabinets.

Always keep the size of your dining area in mind when you're thinking of how many chairs you'll add. Think about whether an additional large piece like a sideboard or a few smaller pieces would fit the bill just as well. When you plan out your furniture purchases in advance, you'll be able to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Consider mapping the layout on paper or with an online room planner for best results. 

Coordinating Your Colours and Styles

Colour coordination is key to making any style work. One trick many designers employ is basing most of their colour scheme on a colour from the biggest pattern in the room. Use varying shades of the same colour in a layered look, with dark shades on the floor, medium shades on the walls, and light shades on the ceiling.

Your styles don't have to match exactly but should complement each other. Layering rugs and wall art is one way to avoid clashes. Also, consider mixing items in an eclectic way, like pairing vintage décor with contemporary décor.

Selecting a Table

With so many table types out there, you'll want to do a lot of thinking about which one is right. Sufficient seating and space are just as important as the overall look. How do you make this most important choice?

Choosing a table with a top that's at least 36 inches wide should accommodate the food and place settings perfectly comfortably. Your guests should have enough space when seated, and they should also have room to walk around the table.

Make sure you also measure the distance between the chairs and your walls and other furniture. Taking this step will help you avoid dinging your other furniture or the walls when guests get up. 

Here are some suggestions for making your choice:

• Round tables. If you have larger pieces in addition to your table and usually only have family at meals, a round table can help you make the most of your space.
• Rectangular tables. Tables in rectangular shapes work particularly well for entertaining and make food more accessible.
• Square tables. This shape is ideal for more intimate dining, but a table with leaves makes it easier for you to increase the number of guests.

Taking these factors into account will help you choose the best table for your needs.

Choosing Chairs and Stools

A common assumption is you must use chairs that match your kitchen or dining room table. This isn't always the case, but one thing you must bear in mind is your seating height makes a big difference in both functionality and comfort. Making sure the seat height is about 12 inches below the surface of the table or bar provides maximum comfort for most.

For dining room chairs, having enough to seat the number of people your table is designed for is what you should focus most of your attention on. If you must use additional chairs, consider stackable options you can tuck into a corner when not in use. Should you ultimately choose a smaller table, consider chairs with a transparent design.

Stools for your kitchen island should, ideally, match the material used on the countertop you chose. Colours that match or at least nicely highlight materials like granite will give your kitchen a well-balanced look. Don't be afraid to experiment a little with the basic stool design, or even mix and match them. 

A Few Last Things

One of the key things to keep in mind about decorating your kitchen and dining space is you'll spend a lot of time here, as you do in the living area. However, one of the biggest differences is that you're likely to change your seating arrangement around based on how many guests you're expecting when hosting a dinner. 

Take a look at ideas for your living room furniture next! This will be especially important to coordinate with your kitchen and dining area furniture if you have an open concept layout. 

With these factors in mind, you'll be able to make the best decisions about how to decorate these spaces in your home.

Photo credits: table