Dining rooms are a great place to bring back some authenticity in our home. We should choose materials and furniture that make us happy and work for our lifestyle. Where to start ? Authentic tables will lead the way.

The Sensory Aspect.

A great farmhouse wood table is a wonderful addition, for example. If we have the space for it that is. The organic feel brings a sensory peace to the hands calmly resting on the top. And they absorb sound quite effectively. Their distressed look is easy on the maintenance as well. Which is not to be disregarded ! The solid surface of authentic wood tables does not have to look perfect. It does not have to be perfect. Having indents, scratches of all sorts, bring its story back to life. And it lets us know that it is ok if we take part in those imperfections over time as well. It is forgiving.

Now, for those of us who would rather preserve the integrity of the piece and protect it with a glass top, it will understandably encourage brightness to circulate within the room. With the light reflecting on it and spreading its shine all around. But, Sunday dusters, beware ! It will require to be wiped clean quite often as it is not as forgiving as other surfaces could be. For hand prints and spots of all sorts alike. Also, the rather cold feel can be quite a trade for those of us who like to sense the elements of our everydays. And the edges could also become quite uncomfortable after some time sitting around chatting or going about. So, in the end, plain good old wood is always a safe choice and a sound finish to look for.

The Sustainable Aspect.

Needless to say that a well loved and previously owned piece will win the hearts and the special sustainable star anytime. Deciding to reuse an authentic table that might have taken another path otherwise is mindful, yes, but also very sustainable. By reusing a previously loved piece, we save it from the landfill where it could eventually have landed. So there again. Saving on the resources necessary to discard it. Transportation, manpower, sorting facilities and landfill resources management. Quite a footprint !

But it does not mean that the table has to be an heirloom inherited from our grand-parents either. What if we don’t have any sitting around ? No biggie ! We go get it on the used market. Because second hand market is always a winner ! Sourcing our authentic tables second hand means that nothing will have to be fabricated to replace the item we purchased, since it is not part of a set inventory. Nothing having to be made translates into no additional resources having to be used to produce, transport, store and resale. And that is without forgetting the fact that  resorting to the used market is easy on the wallet. So it means our budget can go a little further for a solid wood piece that will likely be worth much more than some prefabricated counterpart. What’s not to like ? Think about all your second hand marketplaces around metro and even province wide. It can be a great goal for a road trip. To go discover a new part of our gorgeous province, with a purpose. As long as we have a truck to bring it back…

Size For Success.

Now for our pick, we should size it wisely. If our interior is rather humble in square footage, then we should make sure that the piece we decide on is not overwhelming. We can opt for authentic tables with a leaf too, a very cool system that has the ability to be scaled down when not in full use. But we don’t have to be too shy either on the dimensions of our table. A table is a key piece of our homes. It serves as, well, a serving spot, yes. But it is so much more. It is where we do our homework, where we lay out our ingredients when cooking up a feast. Where we display our financial life, skinny colorful papers with balancing figures, when it is time to fill our income taxes. It is where we sit with our lists, to write the Christmas cards. Where we make decorations, prepare cookies, set plans and start over. It is where we share a cup of coffee with a slice of homemade lemon cake. Where we display an array of watercolors as we reconnect with a childhood passion, where we sort all the pieces of our new jigsaw puzzle…

So having a large table where we can spread our wings and enjoy society all the same, within our own home, is a luxury. A comfort and a luxury. No matter how small our place is. And it can make quite a statement if we decide that we would, indeed, rather use hand square footage rather than floor square footage.

Sitting Chart Reinvented.

As for sitting power, benches win with flying colors. Very low key and virtually invisible, they do not take any of our visual space to trim down our interiors. And they are yet the most efficient furniture around when it comes to fitting guests around the table. A storage bench will even go further and do double duty so we can have extra blankets and pantry items at hand at all times, but discreetly. Even outdoors cushions will find a good hiding spot during the off season, so we can showcase them again next year, spotless and crisp.

We all gather daily around that dining table. So why not make it extra special and boost our emotional health while sticking to green living, at its best !