‘Tis the season to gather with friends and loved ones, around the fire place, the Christmas tree and perhaps most importantly, the dining room table. With the Holidays still a few days away, why not take this opportunity to revamp the most important gathering space in your home. If you’ve been pining over that dining room set for the past few months, debating over how elaborate to go with the buffet, now’s your chance to make that decision! Here are a few examples of how you can spruce up your dining room this holiday season.

The Table – The Long and Short of It

Most of us would agree that for many families the highlight of the holidays involves gathering around the dining room table, indulging in a delicious meal with loved ones. Whether you choose to have a small intimate holiday dinner or plan on having the entire extended family over, you’ll need to begin by determining which table and style best suits your lifestyle.

If space is available, a large table capable of seating 8 to 10 people is ideal. A leaf extension can be added for parties and removed for daily use. This leaves enough space for you to prepare the table with your favourite china and stemware and ample room for a spectacular centerpiece. Most importantly, it allows your guests to eat comfortably with the ability to move around freely (without the fear of knocking over that glass of red wine).

Alternately, a small table can work just as well, allowing for an intimate and cozy feeling among guests. While square or rectangular styles may be the most common, consider a round or oval table for your dining room upgrade. A round table will add an unexpected element of surprise to the room, giving the gathering a ‘restaurant chic feeling’ perfect for conversations among guests.

With many various styles available, you can also determine if casual or formal best suit your home. Dark wood styles are perfect for formal homes and events, while lighter wood allows for a laid-back holiday get together. Finally, consider a bench as an alternative to regular chairs. Currently in trend, bench seating is popular because it allows for several people to fit on one side of the table. It is slightly less traditional and will give your dining room that “magazine” ready look.

Display Your Feast on an Impressive Buffet

Let’s talk about what may be considered the real star of any dining room: the buffet. It’s beautiful and practical. As a place to display your elaborate meal, the buffet (or sideboard) allows for a visually pleasing presentation of your dinner (Pro Tip: present all of the food in serving pieces of a single color, such as white, to allow for a clean and unified look).

Equally as important as its appearance, is the buffets use in freeing much needed space from your table. Keeping the table clear of large serving pieces and cake stands makes conversation and movement easy, without having to pause and ask “pass the potatoes”! With so many styles and sizes to choose from, you’re guaranteed to find the perfect buffet for your home.