Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner or having friends over for a holiday brunch, your kitchen and dining room are likely the center of all the action. Investing in quality dining room furniture for entertaining holiday guests will ease your stress and help you enjoy the day.
Dining Room Furniture for Entertaining
Side Tables
Side tables are the ultimate piece of furniture for entertaining. When guests are over, they can transform into a buffet, providing more room for drinks and food. When the party is over, the storage space is ideal for keeping serving ware, extra plates, napkins, and other items used for entertaining. Decorate the top of the side table to create a focal point in your dining room or kitchen.
Shop Side TablesDining Table with Leaves
Another must-have item for holiday entertaining is a dining table that can expand with the addition of leaves. Dining tables typically feature one of four types of leaves:
- Standard Leaves – the leaves are stored separately from the table and are added and taken out as needed
- Butterfly Leaves – the leaf is stored in the table
- Drop Leaves – there are hinges on either side of the table that hold a leaf that can be locked into place when needed
- Perimeter Leaves – perimeter table leaves are designed to extend round tables
Seating
Guests or not, your dining room needs seating. However, if you frequently entertain guests you may want to take them into consideration when choosing your dining room seating. Purchasing chairs that are on the smaller side will help you squeeze as many around the table as possible.
If you have a table with leaves, a bench is a perfect item for when the table is fully extended. When the table is at a smaller setting, keep the bench against your dining room wall and use regular dining chairs in its place. The bench can be dressed up with pillows and a throw blanket to become a statement piece in the room as well.
Shop SeatingBar Cart
Keep the wine, liquor, and beer on a bar cart to create a drink station that is visually appealing and keeps guests out of the kitchen. Purchase a cart with shelves so you have more room for glasses, an ice bucket, and cocktail mixers. When not being used for a party, a bar cart is still a nice addition to any kitchen and frees up counter space.
Shop Bar Carts
Kitchen Island
A dinner for 20 or a 4th of July party can quickly reduce any amount of counter space you already have. If you have the room, a kitchen island will increase prep space, offers storage, and can become a buffet if necessary. A couple of stools and the kitchen island can serve as additional seating as well.
Shop Kitchen IslandsChina Cabinet
In addition to storing your china, serving dishes, and other lesser-used items, china cabinets can be tailored to the occasion and season. Show off holiday ornaments or garland, decorate with pumpkins, or dress the cabinet up for a birthday party. Just remember to clean any glass so it’s sparkling before guests arrive!
If you’re unsure how to display your china, follow these guidelines:
- On the top shelf, set up groupings of wine glasses, vases, or other glassware. Many china cabinets have lights above the top shelf that will the glasses to sparkle
- Set up some decorative plates along the back of the second shelf
- Organize some teacups and saucers in front of the plates
- Display artistic bowls, vases, or other large items on the bottom shelf
Purchase a china cabinet as a set so it matches your dining table or choose a unique piece that shows off your style. If your dining room is on the smaller side, china cabinets can also be placed in a living room as a focal point of the space. Regardless of where your china cabinet is, remember to clean any glass so it’s sparkling before guests arrive!
Shop China Cabinets