katie.lacy@letsgetcoffee.co.uk, Author at Modish Living

How to measure for your dining room, a complete guide

Farringdon Reclaimed Wood Dining Table with Bench and Chairs in Room

Worried your dream rustic or industrial dining table won’t fit into your dining room? Too large a dining table will swamp the room, making it hard to use. Every dining table should be practical; thus, size is important. Here’s how to measure your dining room and whether your dream dining table is the best choice.

Measure the room

The first step is to measure the room and draw it out on a piece of paper. If you can draw it to scale, more the better especially if you have an awkward shape room or architectural features you need to accommodate, such as a fireplace with a large hearth.

The magic number…

… is 90cms. If you are using the dining room as the space where you will eat most days and entertain, you need a practical setting. Once you’ve measured your dining room, you will need 90cms between the wall or other solid objects such as your small sideboard or stylish cocktail cabinet, and the table. Anything less will mean guests doing lots of ‘breathing in’ and side-stepping to get to their chair. The optimum clearance between table and wall, however, should be 120cm if you can spare it.

At the table

Every diner needs around 60cm in width to enjoy their meal without knocking elbows with the person next to them. With the information you have so far, you are beginning to build a clearer picture of whether a 6-seater dining table is the way forward or whether you can go the all the way with an 8-seater dining table.

Consider an extending dining table

If you are struggling for space and won’t be using all 6 or 8 dining chairs every time you eat at the table, opting for a small extendable dining table makes perfect sense. Simply store the ‘spare’ dining chairs when not in use.

The unsung hero of the dining room is…

… the dining bench. If you need extra seating space and are comfortable with the ad hoc, informal nature of a dining bench, then go for it. You won’t regret it as a purchase.

Pay attention to the dining table legs

Whether you have acres of space in the dining room or not, you need to pay close attention to the legs of the dining table you choose.

There are beautiful dining legs and framework, all of which can be admired by your guests but not if they are knocking their knees or ankles on it.

If you want something slightly less predictable than the leg-in-each-corner approach, the Amalfi industrial dining table complete with spider leg is beautiful but can limit ‘extra’ seating space. If you want to seat people at the short end of the dining table but don’t want to let too much of the leg detail go, then the Amalfi u-bar industrial dining table is ideal.

However, the simplest solutions are often the best; thus, the Beam rustic dining table is ideal in a dining room that can easily accommodate its delightful features.

Don’t forget…

… doors need to open. Whether that is your small sideboard or cocktail cabinet, you must be able to access the contents without asking diners to move!

5 Ideas for indoor and outdoor shelving

Shelving must surely be the most versatile storage solution. Even better, shelving works both indoors, in any room, from the living room to the dining room, to the bedroom and bathroom. In the hallway, it solves a myriad of storage solutions too. There are also shelving solutions for outdoors too, making it perfect for the patio dining area to clustering herbs and plants.

Stylish shelving options

Shelving is the perfect storage solution for so many reasons. When it comes to space, if you don’t have a lot to play with or the dimensions and shape are awkward, you will find a shelving unit to fit.

The open nature of some shelving units is also perfect when space is minimal. The open flow of the shelves doesn’t block off space although you can use a wood bookcase, open or closed back, to zone spaces too.

Style is paramount. You may think of a storage unit or ladder bookcase as not being the star of the show – it doesn’t need to be – but as a supporting player, it is perfect.

Indoor storage solutions

From the living room to the hallway, the bookcase or shelving unit it a solution that works. An oak bookcase, for example, doesn’t mean storage just for books. For example, a combined storage approach of cupboard and shelving is ideal for many a room. The Mitcham oak bookcase certainly has stylish aplomb, perfect for the industrial style living room but is also perfect in the hallway too.

Also combining cupboard with shelving is the slimline, lithe features of the Rocco narrow bookcase. Perfect for when you have plenty of height in a room but perhaps are struggling to space in terms of width. As well as perfect dimension, its industrial style has a contemporary tinge to it too, making it perfect if you want to enjoy the minimal approach too.

A wood bookcase is such a versatile piece of furniture that it’s no wonder so many people opt for one or more in their home. If you want to ring the changes in terms of style but stick with the beauty of wood, a ladder bookcase is perfect. Popular for the bathroom, it is also ideal for the rustic living room or dining room too.

Outdoor shelving

For the outdoors, shelving makes the perfect solution too. For the outdoor patio area, shelving is perfect for clustering pot plants or for herbs at the kitchen door so the next time your cooking up a storm, getting to your fresh herbs is quick and easy.

You don’t always need height when it comes to garden furniture and so the stylish half-height wooden ladder for the outdoor storage is perfect.

For the outdoor dining area, a tall ladder bookshelf is ideal and if you love the beauty of rustic furniture, you will love the grandeur of this elegant piece. Tall, it may be, imposing it is not and so for anything from tasteful accessories to clustering pot plants, it is an elegant and practical addition for the garden.

Which of these shelving units and beautiful rustic bookcases are your favourites?

The Versatility Of Large Industrial Dining Tables

Oak Dining Table with Velvet Dining Chairs

Whether it is an informal, ad hoc get-together or a planned, formal dinner party, the large industrial dining table is the perfect solution for the dining room. Seating more than eight diners, a large dining table looks welcoming with more than a hint of something grand about it.

But how do you make your choice? What should you look for?

Simplicity is key but details matter

When opting for a large reclaimed wood dining table, simplicity is the name of the game, but to stay true to the industrial style, the detail matters. Without detail, it slides into the modern, contemporary style category and so the beauty of the spider leg of the Amalfi large industrial dining table is the perfect solution. Detail without clutter, it also stays true to the practical nature of the industrial furniture style.

Presence without being imposing

The larger dining table brings with its dimensions alone a very firm presence to the dining room. Rather than attempting to diminish it, why not welcome its size because it is for its larger seating capacity that you have chosen it?

The beauty of an oak dining table is not lost on anyone. It has a presence both in its leg design but also in the beauty of the wood itself. Nestle it into position with an industrial sideboard to maintain the industrial style and you will have a dining room perfect for any occasion.

Consider a dining bench

Seating is usually the main issue when it comes to any large dining table. For occasions when you know you will have more than you allocated seating, turn to the versatility of a dining bench.

But if you are thinking hard, wood benches, think again. The leather-clad dining bench with all the hallmarks of the industrial design is a stunning addition, comfortable too. Against the detail of the Rocco oak dining table, complete with industrial ‘leg work’, the industrial dining bench is perfection.

Truly rustic meets truly industrial

The industrial style is borne from the repurposing of industrial buildings. No wonder the meeting of raw metal with raw wood is such a traditional pairing in the industrial style. With the hint of luxury that is offered by the gleam of the polished, mirror metal, the 8 seater dining table from the Luxe Kensington Collection is an inspired choice.

Perfect seating

Faux leather or leather dining chairs are the perfect companions to the industrial dining table but if you feel you need more texture, switch it up with upholstered dining chairs. The key to successful and compatible dining chairs is to remember that detail is unfussy and doesn’t clutter the eye. For any of the large, 8 seater dining tables in the industrial range, grey upholstered dining chairs would make the perfect companions. Or if you feel you need more, go all out – there is no room for half-measures – and opt for the luxury of velvet dining chairs against the industrial dining table.

Imposing. Stylish. Practical. Beautiful. Who wouldn’t love this – and all the other large industrial dining tables – centre stage in the dining room?

Making a pet-friendly Airbnb home with hallway storage

Families come in all shapes and sizes. While some couples have kids in tow, other Airbnb guests will have their dog-children with them. Just as you would make your rental family-friendly, you need to consider how to make it pet-friendly. And coming up with hallway storage ideas is a great place to start.

Why the hallway is important

In terms of dog ownership, the hallway is probably the best place to store dog walking accoutrements, from dog leads to toys with reclaimed wood furniture bringing function and beauty to the space.

Dog bowls and other essential items

For the dog owner, travelling light can sometimes be problematic. Dogs can come with just as much paraphernalia as travelling with a small family. And so providing some of the basics is helpful.

Dog owners suggest things like water bowls and food bowls means they don’t have to bring them from home. And while most pooch parents travel with plenty of ‘muddy towels’ for use after walking and swimming in the sea or the local lake, they would also like to see old towels for use with dogs, something that many Airbnb rentals provide.

Washable soft furnishings

To attract guests, you want to show just how great your place is to stay whether that is a holiday with the dogs or an overnight stay with work. No matter who your guest is, cleanliness is crucial, and your next guest won’t be too keen on finding dog hair attached to the bed covers.

Washable soft furnishings are clearly a wise investment. When it comes to the entrance of your home, washable hallway rugs are a great move (great for getting rid of the dog ‘smell’) but also perfect for adding colour. A hallway runner is ideal for trapping dirt and dog hair, so it doesn’t travel through the rest of the home.

Hard floors are also better when you have the intention of welcoming guests with their prized canines. Easier to sweep and mop, they are certainly much better for not swallowing time in terms of cleaning. While you can wash carpets, this isn’t an easy thing to do if you plan on doing it often.

Hallway storage

From a hook for dog leads to a tall chest of drawers to hide away the obligatory ‘poop bags’, ball and ball thrower, frisbee, whistle and everything else you need to keep a dog entertained, the hallway is a great place for it to be stored out of the way. It also makes sense because as guests and their dogs arrive and leave, they can grab what they need for the next adventure, canine treats included.

Shoe and boot storage

Many dog walkers will have a specific set of footwear for walking the dog which means hallway shoe storage is important. From dog-walking boots to wellies for wet weather and puddle-splashing with their pooch, the hallway should be the place you encourage them to store them. Hallway shoe storage protects your floors, carpets and rugs from abrasive mud and debris being trampled into them.

The small details

Small details show thought, and so a supplying something like a hallway bench for dog owners to put on and take off their shoes is most welcome. A delightful lamp to illuminate the space is practical as well as welcoming, along with making a fuss of their delightful dog companions.

Scandinavian Style Oak Dining Tables Under £800

The Scandinavian style is a beautiful one, streamlined, minimal and yet warm and welcoming. Its simplicity is key to its success, a factor that works well in the dining room. If you have a nordic landscape planned for the dining area, a Scandinavian oak dining table and chairs will be top of your list.

Why choose a Scandinavian oak dining table?

As a wood, oak is robust and yet so very beautiful that it suits every home. Better still, there is a beautiful oak table to fit every budget. Considering how long you’ll have the table in your dining room, investing in a beautiful dining room table is the foundation of your dining room.

Delightfully versatile, how you dress the dining table can also help make it the practical piece of dining room furniture you need.

1 Opt for the largest oak table you can

If you regularly entertain or have a large family opting for an oak dining table and chairs that is large enough to accommodate everyone is clearly essential. A 6-seater dining table makes perfect sense – not too big to swamp a room, it still offers plenty of seating options. Its light colour and light frame make the Scandinavian oak dining table the perfect choice.

If you have the space – you need about a metre from the back of the dining chair and the nearest object to form a corridor around your dining table – you could opt for a larger dining table, such as an 8-seater dining table. Mix it up with the industrial dining table style if you want the block table top but without the heavy leg and frame.

Quick tip – struggling for space in the dining room? Opt for a round oak dining table. Anything circular promotes the flow in a room, making it easier to move around the space.

2 Dining seating

The lightness of the frame means that dining chairs should emulate this. Anything too blocky will look too heavy against the lithe frame of a Scandinavian styled oak table.

This doesn’t mean you can use coloured fabric upholstered chairs – far from it! – but consider the tone and ‘weight’ of the chair.

A great solution is the dining bench. There is a utilitarian appeal to a minimal bench that sits well alongside the oak dining table. A table flanked by an oak bench on either side is a superb solution to the busy kitchen diner and doesn’t swallow floor space either.

If you don’t want a too matchy-matchy finish between the Scandinavian dining table and chairs, you can always switch it up a little with a sprinkling of the industrial style. Working well with an oak table, the lighter metal frame of an industrial dining chair adds a little extra zing.

3 Dressing the dining room

The dining table is the not only essential piece of dining rooms furniture you need. Alongside the table and dining chairs, you need storage solutions with the small oak sideboard coming in at the top of the list.

But again, opting for ‘lighter’ pieces in terms of both colour and design is key to allowing the oak dining table to be the star of the show.

Detailing is key. If you want the dining table to stand out, opt for one with statement legs or frame such as in the case of an oak dining table with interesting industrial legs. Or go all in; opting for a Scandinavian style oak table with slightly chunkier finish with a frame that sits well with the dining benches.

Which Scandinavian oak dining table would you choose?

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How to create welcoming Airbnb bedrooms for families

Travelling with small children is no easy feat and that’s why for many parents looking for a get-away, a family-friendly Airbnb rental fits the bill. The whole house needs to be family-friendly but there is no denying the importance of the bedrooms. With the rustic style as a backdrop and a flat weave rug on the floor, you’ll have no problems creating relaxing, welcoming, comfortable bedrooms for your guests.

Cosy & comfy

The beauty of reclaimed wood furniture is that it oozes exactly what you are trying to achieve in the bedroom – a cosy, comforting space – and so no wonder that the rustic style is considered the perfect backdrop.

You need excellent quality mattresses, as well as sumptuous covers and bed linen, essential for a good night’s sleep. But you also need to appeal to the eye – the bedroom needs to look instantly welcoming, comfortable and comfy (and clean).

A reclaimed wood bed has it all. It’s just perfect for any room, from the single bed frame to the statement light wood king-sized rustic bedframe in the master bedroom, adding a sense of grandeur is more than possible with the rustic style.

Add vibrancy with colour

People are on holiday – they want a little excitement, craving things outside of their normal routine. Colour is perfect – from the depths of purple or navy or even a deep, deep red to the airy wispiness of pastel shades, the rustic style with reclaimed wood furniture in the bedroom delivers every time.

“Everything as it should be”

For a bedroom to be appealing, everything needs to be available for your guests that they would expect. A wooden blanket box is not only ideal for spare blankets, pillows and throws but a perfect addition in a child’s bedroom with a few toys for them to enjoy. A rustic reclaimed wood bookcase is also perfect for bedtime story books.

Home from home

The essence of comfort is having everything you need in the style of home-from-home comfort. And that means a comfortable cosy bed to sleep in as well as plenty of bedroom storage options. Just as versatile as the wardrobe is a large chest of drawers in the bedroom. For the holidaying parent, a large chest of drawers in the bedroom allows for everyone’s clothes to be organised and easily found in the rush to enjoy what the locality has to offer.

Details matter

The smaller details make such a big difference. Thoughtful additions never go unnoticed. Imagine, for example, the delight of your guests sitting at a dressing table with drawers complete with excellent lighting and oversized mirror!

And there is the addition of ample seating in the bedroom, something that can be an afterthought. A wooden bench in the bedroom works really well, as it does in the hallway. A great place to sit when taking shoes on and off, or lining up bags, packed for the next day’s activities.

How to create a family friendly Airbnb kitchen area

Chelwood Reclaimed Wood Furniture in Dining Room

The popularity of Airbnb knows no bounds and for the family, it is the ideal way of finding a great holiday rental in a great location. But what makes for a family-friendly kitchen-dining area?

It’s worth taking time to consider the look and appeal of the kitchen diner, especially as busy parents browse online to book their ideal holiday rental in the right spot. Photographs that shed the very best light on your Airbnb rental is clearly a great place to start but what is it that parents will look for in the family-friendly dining-kitchen area?

1 Cleanliness of the space

There is no denying that aside from stylish furniture and accessories on the surface, parents will often look much deeper. Essentially, they’ll be assessing to see just how clean the dining-kitchen space is. As well as de-cluttering the kitchen and streamlining the dining area, taking time to deep clean the kitchen and the dining space is critical, from the wooden dining chairs to the cabinet fronts.

2 Small essential details

There are additions to the kitchen diner that are a must to make it the most family-friendly space possible;

High chairs – a great addition is the use of a high chair, perfect for sitting alongside the uber-stylish rustic dining table or the breakfast in the kitchen. There are some amazingly stylish high chair options available, many of which will complement the leather bar stools at the breakfast bar too. Great for al fresco dining too.
Welcome pack – aside from additional furniture options, a welcome pack of goodies and treats is ideal for helping calm the frayed nerves of travel-weary toddlers (and their parents). A welcome touch that your guests will love.

‘What to do while you are here’ pack – guests with toddlers will appreciate information about local amenities and activities that are toddler-friendly. As well as paid-for activities, include information such as local parks for a kickabout with the ball or adventure playgrounds that are local to you. Parents really appreciate the ‘inside information’ for the locality.

3 Stylish AND practical (and functional too)

With toddlers running about the place, parents will want a space that is safe but is not characterless or devoid of all style. Reclaimed wood furniture is the epitome of style and offers so much choice that making a final decision can prove tough…

Robust, rustic dining table – reclaimed wood is possibly one of the toughest materials to opt for when it comes to kitchen and dining room furniture. With a solid appearance, a large, roomy 6-seater dining table is fantastic for your guests to gather around – especially with wipe-clean leather dining chairs.

Easy to use storage solutions – parents need quick access to essential items and so arranging the kitchen-diner along logical line makes sense. As well a sideboard for plates and dishes, consider adding a stylish glass cabinet for displaying stylish accessories.

Standford Reclaimed Wood Display Cabinet

Make more of the space – the kitchen is the heart of the home and probably the space in which your guests will spend much of their time. Making it a versatile space is essential. As well as seating around the rustic dining table, consider adding informal seating areas such as informally styled leather bar stools or a dining bench.

If you opt for the rustic style and for reclaimed wood furniture, the kitchen-dining room will automatically become the stylish attractive space you want it to be. Add the small details that families look, and your Airbnb rental will be even more popular!

How to prepare your living room for Airbnb families

Louis de Poortere Farrago Rug in Living Room

In order for your Airbnb to appeal to parents with young children, it needs to tick many boxes. But what are they and how can you style your living room so it is appealing to the family-focused traveller?

1 Style and character…

… but that doesn’t mean you should leave personal items scattered about the place. Family-friendly rentals are those that offer style and functionality, without losing all its character. Just like the rest of your home, consider continuing your style to give your home a cohesive finish. The rustic style is perfect – functional, robust, warm and welcoming, reclaimed wood furniture is perfect for any Airbnb property.

2 A space to lounge

When creating a family-friendly living room in an Airbnb rental, you want it to be a space that oozes in informality, welcoming your guests to relax and unwind after a busy day sightseeing.

There are many ways to do this;

Seating – a deep, sumptuous sofa is essential, as you would expect, with options like a brown leather sofa is ideal for not only keeping clean but withstanding the rigour of use. Alongside the sofa, armchairs are a must. The traditionally styled wingback armchair declares an instant sumptuous appeal. Opting for a brown leather armchair brings the same benefits as the leather sofa.

Layers of light – adding different lighting options adds layers of light for your guests to use. Softer lighting is perfect for movie night or for helping the kids to relax after a fun-filled day but there are also times when the need for bright light is essential.
Wi-Fi and technology in general – from controlling lights with voice command to making sure that everyone has access to Wi-Fi is also a welcome detail that guests like to have taken care of in the Airbnb family-friendly living room.

3 Dress to impress

The assumption is with anything aimed at families, that the detailing doesn’t need to be as stylish as in other settings or that parents aren’t looking for the extra hints of luxury and opulence.

But the opposite is true. Adding textures is perfect for adding a sense of luxury to the living room because, without it, it can look flat. Build the family-friendly living room with beautiful living room rugs, making sure you opt for one that is the optimum size for the living room.

Use other reclaimed wood furniture to frame the pieces in the room such as a reclaimed wood coffee table that is smaller than the overall length of the brown leather sofa you have opted for.

4 Choose reclaimed wood furniture pieces that sing…

… because that way you can use these pieces on your social media platforms, highlighting just how wonderful sumptuous, welcoming and family-friendly your living room is. Statement pieces such as a bookcase with doors is perfect for the living room, adding a ‘certain something’ to the landscape that oozes appeal, a great place, we think, to offer books and leaflets on what to do in your local area, activities that are perfect for families with small children and so on.