Solid wood dining room furniture is the best you can get due to its strength, rigidity and hard-wearing properties. However, there are many different woods than can be used, and many different designs, so here is some advice on choosing the furniture for your dining room that best suits your needs, with specific reference to your tables and chairs.

Before purchasing dining room furniture, you must first decide on how many people you want to seat at your table. This depends on the size of your dining room. Most dining rooms can accommodate six to eight chairs, two to four chairs each side of the table and one at each end.

You may want a small dining table for regular use, but can be extended for special occasions such as dinner parties or seasonal celebrations. You generally have two options to make a table larger, one with table leaves that can be pulled up when needed, or those with separate leaves that can be added as required.

A major factor in determining how many chairs you need is the shape of the table, either oval, circular or rectangular. Rectangular tables are easier to extend for large numbers of guests.

Once you determine the shape and size of the table you can select the number of chairs you need. Most suppliers of solid wood dining room furniture offer you the chairs to match the table design, although there is no reason why you cannot purchase your table from one maker and your chairs from another.

If you select the same wood, then the manufacturer is immaterial. It is not uncommon for people to find a table with which they instantly fall in love, but don't like the chairs that come with it. In such cases, keep looking until you find chairs that you are happy with.

Choosing the wood for your dining room furniture is not an easy task. Maple, oak and walnut are the most popular woods for dining tables, however, you should base your choice on the style of your dining room. If you are looking for solid wood dining furniture for an antique look, then walnut is the best choice. You may not find solid walnut tables, but the base of the table will likely be solid oak with a beautifully varnished or glossy French-polished walnut veneer on top.

American black cherry is always in fashion, and many homeowners prefer this to the traditional hardwoods. If you prefer that type of antique look there are dining tables with beautiful Queen Anne style legs and a highly polished top to choose from. You will pay extra for a walnut finish, but the beautiful patterns of the grain is well worth it.

Insure that the construction of the furniture is first rate. Solid wood dining room furniture must be constructed using traditional jointing techniques. If you see metal or plastic connectors, screwed or nailed butt joints or even screwed pocket joints, then expect to pay a budget price. Check under the table and chairs and make sure that the joints are dovetailed or mortise and tenon. These are traditional woodworking joints, stronger than any butt joint and will last a great deal longer.

Although you may believe the jointing methods used not to be important, cheap joints might also indicate that corners have been cut in other aspects of the furniture.

Solid wood dining room furniture will grace any dining room, but insure you know what you want in advance, and seek out the manufacturer that best meets your needs. Don't be talked into purchasing a 'discount' dining room set unless you are sure it is not damaged.

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