Family-Style Seating

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August 13, 2010

Makeover your family dinner routine, starting with table! We’ll help you adorn your dining area with simply inspiring touches that take family meals from everyday to extraordinary. Getting everyone to the table on time? We’ll leave that up to you.

Step One: Update the Table
Oh, the stories the family table could tell! The daily dinner table doesn’t need to be fancy or formal, it should have a casual, broken-in feel. To make it your own:

Think about painting each of the legs in fun, complementary colors that match the décor theme of your kitchen.

Personalize each place at the table with a painted placemat. Use chalkboard paint to create a writable surface or have each family member choose a signature color. Simply use painter’s tape to mark off a square at each place at the table, wipe the area clean, prime, paint and let dry.

Step Two: Choose Chairs or Benches
Chances are, everyone in your family has a place at the table where they sit every day. Make their spot extra special with these ideas:

Check out yard sales, thrift stores or your local furniture shop for great deals on unique, mismatched wooden chairs. Pick a different chair for each member of the family, and make them look like a perfectly matched set with a bright coat of spray paint. We love white as unifying color, but green also makes an especially fresh statement in the kitchen.

Bring some togetherness to your table with benches instead of chairs around your table. Benches with storage are perfect for housing linens close to the table or create your own cushioned bench using the same technique detailed in our easy upholstery article.

Step Three: Add Personalized Accents
Make every meal feel special with quick and easy accents at the table: personalized table

Whether it’s from your own flowerbed or a grocery store bouquet, clip a few fresh flowers and create a mini arrangement at each place setting. Use a different bloom for each family member and place in a set of small eggcups, sugar bowls or even ramekins.

If you want to forego painting your table surface, keep things fun with a writeable tablecloth. Try brown or white craft paper and set out crayons for doodling. Another option is oilcloth fabric, which can be written on with chalk and wiped clean with warm, soapy water. We like the modern look of black oilcloth and white chalk, but it can be found in lots of other colors and even patterns.

Choose a bowl, bottle or vase that can be placed in the center of the table and updated with different items throughout the week, month or season. Get the family in on decorating the table by having everyone switch off creating the centerpiece.

Recipe Suggestions
From picky eaters to adventurous palates, Home Made Simple has you covered with recipes for every need and night of the week. Here are a few suggestions to get you started: