Open plan living and dining areas look absolutely fantastic and really help to create a sense of space inside the home but it can be difficult to know how to furnish them appropriately. This is especially true of the dining area. This is why we’ve put together some hints and tips to help you choose the perfect furniture for your open plan dining room. Read on for more.

Choose Furniture that Will Fit in Your Dining Room

Even if your dining room is very open plan, this does not mean that you can choose any sized dining setting to fit within it.  A setting that is too large will just dominate the space, and it is also very impractical as you and your guests will struggle to move around the table.  It is best to choose dining room furniture that fits the space. That is, if it is only a small space, a four seat table is best. If you want to entertain, choose an extendable table that can be extended only when needed.  Another piece of dining furniture that you may want is a buffet, to hold your crockery, cutlery, linens, and glassware.  There are now some buffets that have an incredibly slim profile so that they take up very little floor space. Place these against a wall in a dining room.

Play Smart with the Materials that You Choose

The trick to creating an open plan dining area that works is to choose the right materials for your furniture. If you choose the wrong materials, you can actually make your dining area feel cluttered and overcrowded.  Classic timber always works well but you can also try using glass or clear acrylic furniture. These don’t block the eye and help to create the feeling of space.  You can also use a combination of materials for something different. Wrought iron and timber are a classic combination or you can use steel and glass for a clean, contemporary line.

Choose a Complementary Style and Colour Scheme

As an open plan dining room often backs right onto the living areas, you will want to choose a style and colour scheme that is complementary to these areas.  Keeping to the same style (e.g. contemporary, classic, modern) and using the same colours in both areas means that you will create a “flowing” feeling that will tie the spaces together.  Essentially, design-wise, you should treat your open plan dining and living areas as one big room.  Don’t use a country style setting in your dining area if you have a minimalist living area, for example, as it will just look disjointed and out of place.