Dining Tables

When shopping for furniture for our homes, the dining table is one of the very first tables on the list.  Whether looking for the more formal dining tables or looking for the casual style kitchen table for family breakfasts, our primary table and perhaps the most important table we will purchase is the one upon which we will share our meals.

Dining tables vary in size, style and materials used to construct them.  The styles are constantly changing, as has been the case for centuries, to reflect the tastes of the times. 

Among the first recognizable dining tables was the decorated Regency breakfast table which combined functionality with display.  The tilt top could be lowered during the day or evenings to show off the ostensible decorations and raised for meals.

It was during the 16th and 17th centuries that dining tables became prominent, evolving from the plank and trestle style of previous centuries to display ornate shapes, designs and woods.  It was also during this period of time that tables were designed for a specific function, either as a dining table or a console table or for any variety of other uses. 

The dining table as well as other varieties were commissioned by royalty and the wealthy and carefully crafted by cabinet makers.  These are the tables that have lasted for centuries and indicate to us the styles of each era.  By studying the tables and the development of specificity, we are given a glimpse into society as it evolved.  By the time of the 20th century, the dining table was a central piece of furniture in the home.

Early in the development of the dining table, wood was the material available.  By the mid-20th century, synthetic materials such as plastics and polymers were being used.  Today metal and glass form a modern combination.

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Read More About Dining Room Tables...

	This contemporary style round dining table is ideal for the more casual dining room, the breakfast room or the kitchen. As a dining room table, this round table is ideal for the smaller dining area which is less formal than some. [Read More...]