– In the Know –

The Well-Planned Dining Room: A Guide to Scale, Seating & Storage

A dining room works best when every piece relates naturally to the room around it. The table establishes the scale, the chairs determine comfort and movement, and storage pieces such as buffets, sideboards and display cabinets add both function and architectural presence. Getting those relationships right can make even a relatively simple room feel considered and welcoming.

For nearly 60 years, Kennedy Galleries has helped Toronto and GTA homeowners and interior designers furnish dining rooms ranging from compact city spaces to large formal rooms. Our collection brings together new, customizable, Canadian-made, vintage and antique furniture, giving clients considerably more freedom than choosing from a single style or manufacturer.

Start With the Table

The dining table is usually the largest piece in the room, so proportion should come before style. Before choosing a table, consider not only how many people it needs to seat, but how comfortably people can move around it once the chairs are pulled out.

As a useful starting point, allow approximately 36 inches between the edge of the table and nearby walls or furniture wherever possible. More room — often 42 to 48 inches — can make frequently used pathways substantially more comfortable.

Shape matters as well. Round dining tables encourage conversation and can work particularly well in square rooms or smaller spaces. Rectangular tables generally suit longer rooms and larger gatherings, while oval designs soften the visual footprint without giving up much usable surface.

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Seating: Comfort, Scale & Character

Dining chairs should be considered together with the table rather than as an afterthought. Seat height, arm height, chair width and the distance between the tabletop and seat all affect how comfortable the finished arrangement feels.

Upholstered dining chairs can introduce softness and colour, while exposed wood chairs create a lighter visual profile. Mixing an armchair at each end of a table with complementary side chairs is another way to give a dining room more character without making it feel overly coordinated.

For customizable seating, fabric, finish and detailing also allow the chairs to relate more closely to the architecture and other furniture already in the room.

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Storage That Completes the Room

A buffet or sideboard provides useful serving and storage space, but it can also balance the visual weight of a substantial dining table. In many rooms, it becomes the natural place for lamps, artwork, a mirror or objects collected over time.

Display cabinets and breakfronts serve a different purpose. Their height can add architectural structure to a large wall while providing protected storage for glassware, china and collections. Older homes in particular can accommodate these taller pieces beautifully, while cleaner-lined cabinets can give the same function to more contemporary interiors.

Explore Buffets & Sideboards   ·   Explore Display Cabinets & Breakfronts

A Dining Room Built Over Time

A successful dining room does not need to look as though every piece was purchased together. In fact, combining a new dining table with vintage chairs, an antique cabinet or a more contemporary sideboard can create a room with considerably more depth.

That is one advantage of seeing a broad collection in person. Scale, finish, wood tone and upholstery are difficult to judge from measurements alone. At our 40,000-square-foot Toronto showroom, tables, chairs and case pieces can be seen together, making it easier to understand how different styles and periods can work within the same room.

Whether you are furnishing a dining room from the beginning or looking for the one piece that completes an existing space, our team can help with proportion, seating, finishes, customization and the practical details that make the room work.