Upgrading your home from college crash pad shabby to grownup chic can be an exciting process.  The cost of high quality furniture, however, can be rather intimidating.  Here are a few suggestions on how to choose an oak dining room table that will compliment your home for decades to come.

When choosing your dining table, there are several important factors to consider.  Your dining furniture needs to be the correct size for your dining room, a shape that is attractive for the shape of the room it will be used in, and a style that reflects your personal taste.  Budget is also an important consideration when making these decisions.

Start by drawing a layout of your dining room in scale.  Using graph paper to do this will make the job easier.  You can include the chairs and other pieces of furniture to get an accurate idea of what the room will eventually look like.  Don't forget to draw in pencil so you can make changes as you go along.

Current recommendations are to choose a table similar in shape to your room.  If you have a square room, a square or round table is appropriate.  For a longer room, you can choose rectangular or oval oak tables.  Remember that round or oval tables seat more people in the same amount of floor space than a square table would.

Not enough thought is given to the size of the table.  Often people choose tables that are inappropriate for the size of the group that will be seated.  When seated at the table, diners need close to two feet of space each to avoid overcrowding.  If you are going to have varying numbers of guests, consider an extendible oak table.  You will be able to seat your immediate family while it is in its folded up state, but expand it to serve all of your company at the same table.  Whether you choose a fixed dining room table or extendible table, you need to ensure that there is a minimum of 2.5 to 3 feet available for walking around the perimeter of the table.

Once the size of the table has been chosen, the next step is to decide on the style.  People are no longer limited to simple styles, the selections are limitless.  Some popular styles of tables include Amish, mission and pedestal oak tables.  Searching online will help you to learn about different options and will give suggestions on which type will look best with the rest of your furniture.

It generally pays to get the best quality furniture that you are able to.  In this case, solid oak is the most durable option.  Compared to materials with shorter life spans, such as pine or glass, making sure to buy oak will guarantee you a table that lasts as long as your home.  Whether you choose to purchase a fixed table or an extendible table depends on your entertaining needs.

Keeping size, shape, style and budget in mind, you can choose an oak dining room table that will be the highlight of your dining room and serve your family for decades to come.