How to style a reclaimed wood dining table
There are a number of considerations when it comes to incorporating a reclaimed wood dining table into an interior design plan. Will the table be the room’s centerpiece? Or softly compliment the overall room decor? Below are our thoughts on how you should approach interior design with a reclaimed wood dining table.
Table Size
The general rule of thumb is measure your dining room and subtract six feet from both the length and width--that is the maximum table size, which still allows three feet of clearance on all sides. Additionally with a live edge wood dining table, you may want to consider on what side the live edge will face in your dining room, and if you need to adjust your table dimensions to account for the wood’s live edge.
Leg Design
Choosing a leg design for your interior space is an important selection and personal selection. We offer a number of different design options to suit your personal tastes. However, for our live edge dining tables, we recommend a base that does not visually dominate the table and space. The wood top of a live edge dining table should be the focal point, not the table legs.
Chair Selection
In terms of design, a reclaimed wood dining table is very adaptable when selecting chairs. A contemporary look may match your table with brass or chrome metal chairs with white or neutral colored leather cushioning. For a rustic design, combine multiple chair sets that are worn leather, wood or metal. Clear acrylic chairs will add that mid-century modern flair, and allow the chair to disappear to the eye and focus on the beauty of your reclaimed wood table.
Lighting
Again, it is important to balance lighting selections with a reclaimed wood table. A large chandelier will draw your eyes into both the light fixture and dining table, the two both complementing each other with their scale. A longer dining room table (+96”) may require multiple chandeliers in order to match the overall length of the dining table.
Floor covering
A number of different types of floor coverings will compliment a reclaimed wood dining table, and the selection of floor covering may just be a personal preference or in the space already. We do recommend staying away from wood floor coverings that match the same hues and tones of a reclaimed wood table.
If you can’t change the floor coverings, area rugs are an excellent way to layer color into a dining room but you want to ensure the correct size rug is selected. A dining room table rug should be about four feet longer and wider than your table. This will allow about 18-24 inches on each side of the table and afford enough space for dining room chairs to stay on the rug when being pulled in and out. A bright colorful area rug below a live edge dining table will trick the eye into thinking light is being cast from below the table, and then again the table becomes the focus point.
Accessories
Accessories on top of a dining room table can be both aesthetic and functional, however remember that a live edge wood table is the centerpiece. Keep accessory elements simple and don’t over clutter your table. We recommend adding a decorative bowl, a single rectangular tray or row of small planters down the center; these items augment the overall interior design but do not steal the show from the reclaimed wood dining table.
Contact us at info@urbanwoodgoods.com if you have any questions regarding our table designs or for custom table designs.