Your dining room is one of the gathering places in your home, which means that it will need to accommodate different people, large groups, and serving dishes. Round and square dining tables are the most popular options because they allow for a good amount of seating as well as enough space to eat, craft, or work. Let’s dive into more about each dining table shape and how they can impact your dining experience.

Small Dining Areas

Small dining rooms need to make the most of the space in order to have a cohesive vibe without feeling cramped. If you have a smaller dining space, round tables often fit well because of their smaller size and rounded corners. Many different sizes of round tables can work for a small dining area, especially if you can fit 6-8 people comfortably around the table. 

With a small dining area, moving food into the dining area and getting everyone seated can be difficult with a large table. Round options will prevent sharp corners from jutting out, causing injury or blocking traffic flow. A round dining table can help the space feel more cozy, especially with a breakfast nook or small dining space.

Extension Options

Many dining tables have extension options that will make them bigger for family events or birthday parties. While most tables can come with one or two leaf extensions, round tables often have fewer extension options. Round tables that extend can often fold in half and be put away, but the leaves aren’t stored inside the table, making it hard to keep them out of the dining room during gatherings. Square tables often have multiple leaves that can extend the table to twice its size. The leaves can but stored underneath the table top, helping to shrink the table when you need less seating and won’t take up additional storage space.

Intimate Cozy Dinners

If you are someone who enjoys conversation around the dinner table and cozy family gatherings, a round table will be more beneficial for your home. Round tables are often seen as relaxing and smaller, creating a cozy and intimate feel. Seating around round tables is closer together, which makes for a more intimate setting, but can also come with some negatives. Smaller families, those with small children, or those who only have immediate family around the table, will love round tables. Round tables can be extended into oval shapes with leaves for bigger gatherings, but they still have less seating space than square/rectangular tables. 

Cons Of Round Tables

Before you purchase a dining table, it is important to look at all the pros and cons of every available option. When looking at a pros and cons list, it is important to keep in mind that everyone’s situation can be different, and some of these concerns may not impact you. 

Some cons of round dining tables include:

• Smaller seating areas
• Difficult to reach toward the center
• Less surface area
• Less formal ambiance
• Doesn’t accommodate benches for seating
• Can’t be pushed against a wall for additional space
• Not ideal for long or narrow rooms

Cons Of Square Or Rectangular Tables

Now that we know the pros and cons of round tables, let’s look at the cons of square dining tables. Some cons of including a square or rectangular table in your dining room include:

• Concern for a cramped space as the table extends
• It could make the room feel smaller
• Sharp edges and corner hazards
• Conversations from either end of the table could be difficult
• Don’t flow well in irregularly shaped rooms
• Not the most welcoming option

Purchasing Dining Tables From Sugarhouse Furniture

Sugarhouse Furniture has many different shapes for dining tables, so that you can find one that fits the size of your dining room and meets the needs of your family. When you have company over, you will want to gather in a space to chat, play games, eat, or complete a project. Even if you don’t host gatherings too often right now, it is important to plan for the future. 

Sugarhouse Furniture crafts all of our furniture with the future in mind. Our mission-style furniture is made with the highest quality wood and comes in different styles and colors to accommodate every personality. Before choosing a dining room piece, you can work with our team to discuss your concerns and current home layout to find the best table shape for you. Check out our dining tables or come in to speak with a team member today!

While wood furniture is a long-lasting and sustainable investment, it can be difficult to maintain, especially with children or pets. Unsealed wood or lighter colors may show imperfections more easily than those that are sealed. While it is almost impossible to completely prevent damage to your furniture, there are some ways you can maintain wood furniture with kids. Proper care helps your furniture have a longer life and more visual appeal. Here are some tips on how to hide scratches and imperfections.

Follow The Manufacturer’s Guidelines For Maintenance

Many furniture manufacturers will provide maintenance and cleaning tips that help the furniture last. Those who crafted the furniture will know what cleaners will damage the wood, how to repair small damages, and may have industry secrets they can provide to owners of the pieces. When it comes to natural wood, it can be hard to really repair dents and scratches. Proper cleaning can help limit severe damage from occurring, especially sticky hands or thrown toys from children.

Some simple guidelines to follow for cleaning wood furniture include:

• Using simple cleaners and avoiding bleach
• Use a microfiber cloth to wipe debris or cleaner
• Use mild soap or wood cleaner for spills
• A damp cloth or a microfiber cloth will be enough to clean the dust

Use Slip Covers

While not the prettiest option, slip covers or edge covers can help protect your furniture until kids and pets are a little older. Modern slip covers are able to protect the top of your furniture pieces or fragile edges, without completely compromising the look of the wood. Even if they do look slightly unappealing, it is a small price to pay for good-looking furniture later. 

Furniture Markers

Furniture markets are an easy way to cover up some scratches or stains. These markers come in many different colors, including ones that match natural woods, so you can fill in and conceal imperfections. Similar to paints, you may need to blend and add with multiple makers to get a result that blends seamlessly. One thing to note is that the markers can not fill in deep scratches or holes; it is only helpful to replace where the stain has lifted. Furniture markers are also a good option for furniture restoration, saving sections from looking lackluster or covering up condensation rings.

New Paint Or Stain

If a marker is not enough to cover up the damage, or you want to keep further damage from showing up, applying a darker stain may be the best option. If you have kids or pets with dark hair, putting a dark stain or paint on your wood furniture can help to disguise any mess they may leave behind. Before applying paint or stain, you should sand down the wood to ensure optimal results. Sanding will also remove some of the imperfections from your wood furniture.

Set Boundaries With Your Children

Solid wood furniture is often not the best option when you have little children, especially with the furniture’s sharper edges. Children may not understand that their toys, food, or bottles with damage the furniture, so you will need to explain it to them or watch them closely around your heirloom pieces. It can be difficult to keep children away from these pieces at all times; if they are older, they may be able to understand the consequences of potentially damaging the wood furniture. 

Buy Furniture Specifically For Your Children

When you have a solid wood table or dresser, children may be upset when they are prevented from using it. Buying children their own plastic set of furniture can help them have a designated spot for messy activities or meal times. This protects your wood pieces from damage while helping them feel more independent. A kiddie table or play kitchen will help them develop skills without worrying about the longevity of your furniture.

Pieces From Sugar House Furniture

Sugar House Furniture offers thousands of wood furniture pieces that can complement any home type. Our solid wood furniture pieces are built to last for many years, even as you go through life changes and have kids. Well-maintained and cleaned wood furniture will last through stains and scratches.

From tables to dressers to vanities, Sugar House Furniture has something for every homeowner’s type and style. Our mission-style furniture is built to make a statement, with ornate carvings and unique wood grain. Visit our warehouse to see all of our different options that will complement your home design.

If you’re moving into a new space, getting married, or simply want to expand your sleeping space, you may need guidance on choosing the perfect bed size for your needs. Finding the perfect-sized bed depends on a few factors, not just on the size of those using it. Here are some considerations that can help you choose the right size mattress and bed frame for your needs.

Typical Mattress And Bed Sizes

Before we get into choosing a mattress type, let’s look at common sizes and what they can be used for. 

• Crib: Best for newborns to young toddlers. 26 inches wide by 52 inches long.
• Twin: Often used for preteens, shorter adults, or after a toddler has grown out of their crib. 38 inches wide by 75 inches long.
• Twin XL: Used in dorm rooms or in apartments for taller adults. 38 inches wide by 80 inches long. 
• Full: Used for couples who don’t need a lot of space, single people with small pets, or as Murphy/pull-out beds. 54 inches wide by 75 inches long.
• Queen: Best for homes with couples, adults, and those who have children and pets sleep with them. 60 inches wide by 80 inches long.
• King: Best for those who like lots of room while they sleep or who have multiple children who sleep with them and their partner. 76 inches wide by 80 inches long.
• California King: The largest mattress size available, which fits two adults, dogs, and children alike. It also works best for tall and large families. 72 inches wide by 84 inches long.

Height

Shoppers should first consider their height and weight, as well as anyone else who will be sharing the bed. While most mattresses are about the same length, except for crib mattresses, they will vary in width. Those who are larger may want to have more wiggle room during the evening, or may have pets or a partner sleeping in the bed with them as well. Full-sized beds could work for a single person, but Queen or King-sized beds are best for married or cohabiting couples, or single people with pets. 

Room Size

While having more room to spread out during the night or relax after a long day seems appealing, a large mattress may not fit in your bedroom. Even if the mattress will technically fit inside the space, a bed size that is too large could restrict movement throughout the room, making it difficult to get ready in the morning or clean in the small spaces.

For example, King or California King mattresses will not look cohesive in an apartment or small home. The recommended room size for a Queen-size bed is 10 by 11 feet, while a bedroom for a King-size bed is at least 12 by 12 feet. Following this guide will help you fit the bed and other furniture pieces more comfortably 

Those Who Sleep With Children Or Pets

It isn’t uncommon for adults or teens to sleep with their pets at night. Not only do they feel more comfortable with their furry companions, but pets are often safer sleeping near their human counterparts. Other adults may have their young children sleep with them for a similar reason. Larger bed sizes like Queen, King, and California King will work best for those who want to have multiple people sleep with them at night. 

Ability To Move/Adjust

Someone will need to move a mattress and bed frame into your living space, so choosing a size could also depend on the hallways, turns, and door height. If you want to make it easier on yourself or on movers, choose a mattress size that can be able to hauled through elevators, hallways, or garage doorways. 

What Mattress Size Is The Biggest?

The California King is often regarded as the biggest mattress size; however, there is other sizes that have surpassed this type, including the Texas King, Wyoming King, and the Alaskan King. The Alaskan King is 108 inches by 108 inches, which is almost 20 inches more than the California King. Most home stores or mattress stores don’t offer this in-store, so they may have to be specially ordered or from a specialty mattress store. 

Oversized mattresses are often not the best for single-family homes or apartments because of their size. Some specialty stores have crafted even bigger mattresses for families or people with disabilities. If you need these accommodations, you may also need to find a nontraditional home to fit the larger mattress. 

Can A Full-Size Mattress Fit In An SUV?

Larger SUVs can accommodate a full-sized mattress, but it may require some maneuvering. No matter what size mattress or bed frame you choose, it is easier to haul them in a moving truck or trailer. If necessary, angling the mattress or folding it slightly can help it fit in your SUV for simple moving. 

Bed Frames From Sugar House Furniture

We believe that your bed is one of the most important pieces of furniture you can own. It needs to be comfortable and long-lasting in order to serve you and your family. We carry a large selection of bed frames in different sizes, styles, and colors. Sugar House Furniture crafts all of our pieces with the highest quality materials and attention to detail, so you know that you are getting the very best. Check out our bed frames and our other products to boost your home.