Whether you are just married, pregnant with your first child, or simply furnishing your first home with a separate dining space, choosing furniture for your home that can accommodate your growing family is important. Families can’t afford to replace furniture frequently as children grow or more arrive. When you keep long-term needs in mind, you’ll have a much easier time finding the right dining set for your household.
Here are a few key features to look for in dining sets that will grow with your family.
Stable side chairs of average height
Even if you want stately armchairs for the ends of your table, the side chairs should be arm-free and fairly basic. They should have a sturdy base with enough weight to easily remain upright, even with squirming children seated upon them. This type of dining chair will easily accommodate booster seats designed to be placed in an adult chair, particularly the ones that strap to the back of the chair for added safety.
Dining tables with extension leaves
Did you know that some dining tables can change size as needed? There are many dining tables available with adjustable tables. These dining tables have separate leaves that add up to two place settings per side. These are a great option for fluctuating households or those that host family gatherings and holidays.
More than the versatility that these extendable dining tables provide is the benefit of having a table that grows with your family. If you only have 3 people to seat now but have high hopes for a larger family in the future, getting an extendable table lets you use the same one for many years to come.
Choosing the right materials and construction
Durability is a big factor when you choose a dining set to be used with small and growing children. You might think that a heavy, solid table with a stain-free surface is the only way to go, but there are cheaper options that work just as well.
First, dining tables of solid wood are extremely durable, as well as beautiful when well maintained. Although they can be stained and scored easily with frequent use, the wood can also be sanded and refinished to have a like-new table when the children are old enough for such things to no longer be a concern.
Another popular option is hefty tables of engineered wood with veneers, Formica, or other easily cleaned finishes. These tables are much more likely to withstand spills and marks, but they won’t last as long as wood dining sets. Over the years the veneer or other applied finish will begin to peel away, and the furniture will need to be replaced.
The option that most parents automatically write off as inappropriate for children is the glass dining table. Glass with children? Yes! Glass dining tables aren’t made with the same kind of glass as the windows in your home or the tumblers in your cabinet. Rather, glass tables are made with tempered glass that is at least 4 times stronger than regular glass. This is the same type of glass used by the automobile industry, and like car windows, the glass breaks into fairly harmless pebbles rather than shards. The chances of a child breaking the glass table are minimal, but if it were to happen in the worst-case scenario your child would still be safe.
Check out a dining room table sets catalog for more options.
Leave a Reply