What is a Breakfast Table?

If you are in the market for a breakfast table then you might be wondering what the difference is between breakfast table furniture and dining room table furniture. While it is possible to use furniture for these room interchangeably, there are certain characteristics that are better suited for a breakfast nook and others that are better suited for the dining room.

First, breakfast tables are generally less formal than dining tables. If wood is used then it is a lighter wood or stained lighter. It is very unusual to find a dark cherry breakfast table or a teak breakfast table. Light colored woods like pine or oak are more common. In addition, you will typically not find breakfast nook sets with ornate carvings like you might in a dining room set. If there are carvings, then they are just small decorations and not ornate at all. Finally, it is very common to see materials that are used in breakfast nook tables in the dining room. For example, you will be hard pressed to find a dining room table with a tile or Formica tabletop.

In addition to the fact that those kinds of materials are less formal, they are also easy to clean. That is another attribute of any good breakfast nook table. It must be easy to clean because you typically do not use a tablecloth with it and spills are going to happen. You want to be able to wipe your breakfast nook or kitchen table down with a sponge and some general household cleaner. Dining room sets normally need more special care and products. This characteristic is especially important if you have children. Materials like tile, glass, plastic, and treated wood veneers are good surfaces that are easy to clean.

One final difference between breakfast tables and formal dining room furniture is that it is generally smaller and more comfortable. Dining rooms are meant today for formal occasions and large gatherings. Your breakfast nook is typically only for the use of your family on a daily basis. It does not need to be as large. You want there to be room to move around the table comfortably, even when people are sitting. Plus, the chairs usually have cushions to make them more comfortable and you rarely find cushions in a formal dining room.