Arranging your dining area - our best tips

Your dining table is the centre of your house; there is always someone sitting around it. Breakfast, lunch, dinner or drinks. Working from home or playing games: your dining table can do it all. We offer our best tips for arranging your dining area with the ideal furniture.

A white TINGBY dining table with rattan white natural NILSOLVE chairs with chair pads in the dining room.

A red kitchen with a round wooden dining table and four grey TOSSBERG dining chairs.

A brown MÖRBYLÅNGA dining table with black ODGER dining chairs and a SINNERLIG pendant lamp.

A black INGATORP extendable dining table with BERGMUND dining chairs and a vase with artificial flowers.

A bright dining area with framed art, a PLATSA shelving unit and red-brown ÖSTANÖ chairs around an IKEA PS drop-leaf table.

Make room for all guests

Discover how much room you need around your dining table to place dining chairs and you need for eating.

Distance from a wall or a cabinet

Keep 80 cm distance from your dining table to the nearest wall or cupboard. This leaves enough space to sit and for someone to pass. And if you want to stretch your legs after a long meal, there is enough space to lean back without hitting the wall.

Distance to a kitchen unit

Between the dining table and the kitchen cabinets, a little more space is needed. With 120 cm, you will have enough room to sit comfortably and for someone to cook at the same time.

Room for plates and cutlery

Choose a table that fits the number of eaters. Setting the table for one person asks for 60x35 cm, for a placemat, plate, cutlery and glasses.

Room for elbows

With a minimum space of 60 cm for each adult, everyone can eat comfortably - no matter the etiquette.

The ideal dining area: 5 of our best tips

1. Choose an extendable table

Always room for unexpected guests, more oven dishes, or just crafting space for the kids? With an extendable dining table, you enlarge your table top in a minute.

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An extendable STRANDTORP table with dark grey ODGER dining chairs around and a LOHALS rug on the floor.

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2. Create a bar for a quick meal or a snack

A bar or a kitchen island is ideal for a simple meal. Think about breakfast or an afternoon snack. Also, a kitchen island is very cosy as you can talk to someone who is using the counter while cooking.

More kitchen islands

An off-white VARDAGEN pie dish in the kitchen

More kitchen islands

3. Choose comfortable dining chairs for long dinners

Long dinners taste better when you are sitting comfortably. Armrests, soft fabrics and cushions bring comfort to your dining chair.

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A dining table with dark grey MÅRENÄS dining chairs and a black and white STOCKHOLM rug on the floor.

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4. Add a bench to fit more people

Place a bench on one side of your table instead of chairs. A bench will fit more people than you think and people can choose their own seat. Also, it looks spacious in your home.

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A grey/metallic effect BILLY bookcase with glass-doors in the dining room

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5. Always keep a stack of stools within reach

Do you have an unexpected guest? Do you want to lay some things on a small side table? Stools are the answer. Stack them, put them aside and bring them out when you need them.

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