Food writer and cook Melissa Hemsley knows just how powerful the ritual of eating together can be. Growing up, she experienced mealtimes as more than just food; they were about togetherness and community.

She recalls late-night dinners with her army dad, where even ten minutes together in pyjamas felt grounding. Fridays in her childhood home were filled with her mum’s friends cooking together, sharing laughter, and making sure no one left empty-handed. These moments taught her that the table is about connection first, and what’s on the plate second.

With that spirit in mind, Melissa shares five simple, practical tips to help you create calmer, more meaningful mealtimes.

1. Get everyone involved from the start

Source: Melissa Hemsley

“The ritual begins before anyone sits down, from laying the table to putting out some simple nibbles like chopped veggies and a dip. When everyone plays a small part, it turns the meal into something lovely you’ve created together, rather than a job that falls to one person. I always say busy hands make for happy hearts, and when people are chopping, pouring, or carrying plates, they’re already engaging and preparing to spend time together.”

2. Make a family meal plan

Romsey larder | @countrysidecottagediary

“Once a week, sit down as a family and sketch out a rough meal plan. It doesn’t need to be fancy, just ideas everyone can pitch in on. It helps with budgeting, reduces stress after a long day, and makes everyone feel invested in what’s coming to the table. When people have had a say in what’s being cooked, they’re more likely to look forward to it and enjoy eating it together.”

3. Create a calming dining environment

Bentley dining table | Bentley bench | Kingham chairs | Belgrave display cabinet

“Phones, laptops, even the dog begging under the table can all distract from what should be your moment to connect. Instead of strict bans that can cause more stress, gently set things aside and focus on creating a pleasant atmosphere. Play some gentle music, light a candle, or simply clear away the day’s clutter. A calmer table makes for happier conversation, and even better digestion.”

4. Cook once, eat twice

Source: Melissa Hemsley

“Plan meals that roll over into the next day, a curry that tastes even better reheated, or a big pot of sauce that can become pasta one night and a pie filling the next. I call these ‘leftovers on purpose’. They don’t just save money, they make life easier. After all, who doesn’t love less faff in the kitchen after a long day? Knowing you’ve got something delicious ready to go makes you more likely to sit down together again, rather than grabbing something separately or skipping dinner altogether.”

5. Eat a little earlier

Oaklee dining table | Otis chairs | Richmond dresser

“Bringing mealtimes forward, even slightly, means everyone arrives at the table with more energy and time to unwind afterwards. It’s about flexibility and finding the time that works for your family’s stage of life, but eating earlier can make the evening feel calmer and less rushed.”

Melissa’s stories remind us that mealtimes are about more than food; they’re about connection, comfort, and community. By creating small rituals, planning ahead, and making your dining space inviting, you can turn everyday meals into meaningful moments.

At Oak Furnitureland, we design dining tables and chairs built for real life, from midweek suppers to big Sunday gatherings. Because when the table feels special, the moments around it do too.

Ready to create your own mealtime rituals? Explore our dining furniture collection. For more inspiration on food, family, and mindful living, follow Melissa Hemsley on Instagram and subscribe to her Substack newsletter for recipes, tips, and stories straight from her kitchen.

Lead image source: Melissa Hemsley

The post 5 Tips for making mealtimes distraction-free, with Melissa Hemsley appeared first on Oak Furnitureland Blog.

To make things easier, we’ve put together a list of things to consider before making any purchases, to ensure that your dining area has the style, and functionality that it deserves…

Your dining room shape and measurements

Brompton larger dresser | Brompton dining set | Brompton nest of tables

Whether you’re making new additions or replacements to your existing dining room, or designing from scratch, you’ll first need to measure the room itself.

Not all dining rooms come in an easy rectangle. It’s recommended to map the room out to scale on paper, including walls, walkways, and other furniture so that you can visualise how best to style your furniture. Alternatively, using masking tape, or cardboard if the room is carpeted, is a great way to work out the placement of your dining room pieces, and really experience the feel of how they will sit within the room.

When drawing out the room, don’t simply measure the size of the structure and furniture, think about the functionality of the room. Have you left enough room for doorways and drawers to open? Can people push their chairs back to get out? Is there enough to pass behind the pushed out chairs? And what about doors? To ensure the best entrance to your dining area, we advise leaving 120m square from the doorway.

If you’re going for a whole new fresh look and are unsure of what furniture would work best in your dining room, take a look at what you should consider when buying dining room furniture.

Choosing the right size dining table

Hove dining set | Hove sideboard

When choosing your dining table, it’s important to think about how it will sit in relation to the rest of the room. There’s nothing worse than having to squeeze past furniture to get seated or to walk through the space, so make sure you leave enough room. Allow a minimum of 70cm space between the table edge and the wall or other furniture, or up to 90cm if you want to create a more spacious feel.

So how do you measure a dining table? The size of your table will ultimately depend on the space that you have. Simply measuring your room and subtracting the 70-90cm from each side will give you a guide to work with – but make sure to factor in other furniture such as dressers and sideboards. This will then help you to decide the number of place settings that your space will afford you.

For more on specific table sizes and how these will work in your space, find out how to choose the right size dining table.

How should your table look?

Brooklyn dining set | @bellway_easton

It’s not just the measurements you should think about. How do you want the space to feel? If you’re primarily using the room for intimate family meals, consider an extendable dining table to allow more space when entertaining, studying or even doing crafts.

If you’re working with a small space, bear in mind that your table should be no narrower than 90cm to allow for comfortable place settings. If you’re concerned that your space may not be adequate for this, it’s worth exploring a round dining table, or placing the table against a wall for the use of three sides.

You’ll of course also want to consider how the table looks and feels. A chunky rustic dining table may make a small room look overcrowded, in the same way that a large space may drown out a small square dining table. It’s also worth noting that bigger tables make intimate conversation far more difficult, so determine the feel you’re going for before you buy.

For more on the shape of your dining table, take a look at how to choose the right dining table and chairs for your home.

How to measure your dining room chairs

Romsey dining set | Romsey dresser | Romsey tallboy

When it comes to finding the right dining chairs for your space and dining table, there are a number of logistics to consider. If you choose a dining set, you can rest assured that the table to chair spacing has already been calculated for you. If you’re choosing your own, however, you’ll need to consider the depth and width of the dining chairs, as well as the space necessary for table settings.

Standard table heights are typically between 75 and 80cm. For the ideal seating experience, allow for between 26 to 30cm between the seat and the top of the dining table so that your guests can sit comfortably under the table. You may need to increase this distance, however, if you opt for an armchair style of seating, to accommodate the arm rest.

Finding the right chair spacing

Richmond dining set | Richmond dresser

So, how do you position your dining chairs? We recommend leaving between 60cm and 80cm per place setting, to allow for enough elbow room as well as shared space. Do also ensure that you leave at least 38cm of depth for each placement, as well as 13cm between this placement and the counterpart on the opposite side of the table. You want to make sure you have enough space for dishes, glasses and bottles when eating!

If you feel that you don’t have a big enough margin around your dining table to fit chairs, why not consider benches? They’re an ideal space-saving solution as they can simply be tucked away when not in use. But do ensure

Take a look at the Dining Table Size Guide to find out which Oak Furnitureland pieces would work best for your desired seating numbers and room space.

Adding accessories to your dining room

Islington dining set | Islington sideboard

A great dining room rug can really add texture and depth to your dining room. When placing it under your dining table, ensure that you leave at least 60cm each side of the table to allow for chairs to be pulled out seamlessly. It’s also recommended to match the shape of your rug to the room or the shape of the table, particularly if it’s round.

When measuring up your dining room, don’t forget about the lighting. If you’re looking to make a statement with a chandelier or pendant lighting above the table, ensure you’ve calculated the proportions. As a rule of thumb, leave between 75 and 85 cm between the table top and light feature, and ensure that the shape and diameter doesn’t overwhelm the size of the table.

How to get your furniture into the dining room

Knightsbridge dining table | @rachelducker

Now that you’ve worked out what furniture will fit in the room, you’ll have to work out how you’ll get it in there before making the purchase. Ensure that you measure both the hallways and doorways that need to be accessed to place the piece into the room.

If your desired space is not on the ground floor, ensure that you also measure any lifts or stairs for clearance height. Do note that most of our furniture is delivered fully assembled, so the full measurements of the piece will have to be taken into consideration when assessing the delivery of your furniture to your chosen room.

You should now be ready to get creative with the configuration and styling of your dining arena! Shop our wide range of dining room furniture to find the perfect piece for you and your home. Share your dreamy dining updates with us on Instagram and tag #OakFurnitureland #GrowYourHome in your posts.

The post Your dining room measurement guide appeared first on Oak Furnitureland Blog.

Read on for our top tips on all of the different ways you can create a multipurpose dining room to work around your needs.

How to make a dining room more functional

1. Create a flexible home office

Parquet desk | @elliesdecorandmore

With many of us having to work from home more than we used to, a good home office is becoming more of a necessity. Transforming your dining room into a work area is probably the most obvious choice, particularly if you’re pushed for space or budget as you can just use the dining table as a desk. All you need is a convenient place to store your work equipment and access to a power source.

Alternatively, you can add a desk to your dining room to create different zones for work and pleasure. If you don’t want to see your work during the evening you could get a fold-up desk or a curtain that pulls across to hide the area. Make sure to measure your room first – here’s our handy guide on how to measure your dining room.

2. Get creative with a music room

Another great use for a multipurpose dining room is to combine it with a music room. If you or your kids play instruments, or want to start learning, dining rooms can be a great space for playing and storing your musical equipment. Smaller instruments can be stored in a sideboard or cabinet, or you could even make a fun display and hang them from the wall.

Is it odd to have a piano in the dining room? Not at all, in fact it’s actually traditional. Before smart phones and TV, playing live music after dinner was a popular way to entertain guests. Fitting a small upright piano in the corner of your dining room makes it multipurpose without using up too much space, and can add a touch of grandeur to your decor.

To create this multipurpose room, all you need is somewhere to sit while you play and storage space for stands, instruments and sheet music.

3. Become a host with the most with a guest room

Jasmine sofa bed

If you don’t typically use your dining room, why not repurpose it as a guest room? The best way to do this depends on what you’ll use the space for the most.

If you think you’ll use it more as a guest room, then consider having a fold-up dining table, either attached to the wall, or one which you can slide into or behind cupboards. With this option it may be best to use a sofa bench instead of dining chairs, as that could go at the end of your guest bed and still work in a bedroom setting.

If you’d like to keep a dining space as an option for socialising or family events, then consider getting a sofa bed which can fold up as a comfy seating area, and be pulled out when guests are staying. For this you’ll need somewhere to store the bedding, and a side table that could work as a bedside table.

When styling this multipurpose room, use the same colour schemes for both dining and bedding decorations, as this will save yourself a lot of time and money changing out accessories.

4. Level up with a study space

St. Ives extending dining table | @mrs_roobottom_home

An easy and teen-friendly way to multipurpose your dining room is as a study space as this requires very few changes. You just need somewhere to store any placemats or decorations that you would have on the dining table, a close power socket, and some upright and comfortable dining chairs for sitting on while they work.

Hide any ugly textbooks or scrappy notes in a sideboard with closed storage. Again, make sure to think about where your charging cables will cut across, and hide extension leads behind cupboards and seating. An extendable dining table could work best for this, as you could have a small daily study space during the day and a large dining table for entertaining and eating in the evening.

5. Tidy up with storage

Parquet sideboard | @atnumberfourteen_

Worried you might have too many things in your dining room for all of these activities? Storage is your answer. The space around your dining room table gives you loads of room for built-in or freestanding storage. Use cupboards, shelves or sideboards to store any miscellaneous items that you want regular access to. Just make sure to consider whether or not you want your things on show when choosing between open and closed storage options.

If you get a space-saving dining table, like an extendable or fold-up table, you can make even more space for large storage furniture. Get some inspiration for some stylish storage solutions in our handy blog about decluttering.

6. Give yourself a second living room

Morgan sofa | @life_inside_our_home

There is no rule to say that you can’t put a sofa in your dining room. Sofas and lounge chairs can soften your dining room and make it feel more comfortable and relaxing. Adding a sofa is also a great way to fill an awkward or empty space in a long dining room.

It can also make the space multipurpose, as when you’re not using the room for meals you can still relax in it. If you’re short on space, use a padded sofa bench instead of dining chairs. Just make sure you get a sofa that is high enough that you can eat at the table, or consider installing built-in benches with cushions as a more permanent option.

7. Have a living room/dining room/office combo

Feeling ambitious, or short on space? Put three rooms into one with a multipurpose dining room, lounge and home office. This is more simple than it sounds, you just need to think carefully about your layout and use clever furniture. A sofa against the wall can double up as living and dining seating, and an extendable or fold-up dining table and a fold-up desk tick both work and dining options.

This creates a really flexible space, but to keep it cohesive, stick to a shared colour palette throughout and indicate different zones through rugs, furniture, lighting and contrasting textures.

8. Make memories with a playroom

Parquet dining table | @hausfifteen

A dining room can make a great playroom for young kids. Why not use your multifunctional dining table as a space for them to do their colouring in?

To keep their play safe, ensure that your dining table is too high for them to climb on top of, or use a fold-up dining table. Store all of the toys you want for the playroom in closed storage in a sideboard or cabinet. Your dining room wall decor could also double up as playroom art if you can find fun but classy prints that work for both kids and adults.

If you need more space for play, keep a wall clear and temporarily push the dining table against it to make more room, and lay a cosy rug or foam playmat for them to sit on.

9. Relax in your own library

Boston bookcase | @sandpiperbarn

If you’re a bookworm you may have always dreamed of having a library, but where do you find the space? A library is in essence just large bookshelves and a good place to sit, so it’s definitely something you can create in a dining room.

Cover a wall top to bottom with built-in or freestanding bookshelves, and put a comfy reading chair, side table and floor lamp in the corner of your dining room. This is a great solution if you’re looking for small dining room ideas or ways to fill odd nooks, as built-in bookshelves don’t take up too much room but can create a big impact. Plus, it can be great fun to style them with not just books, but vases, house plants, candles and picture frames, which add a homely feel to the space.

10. Combine with your kitchen

Hercules dining table | Scroll Back dining chairs

Combining your kitchen and dining room is a fantastic way to save space while keeping functionality. One way to do this is by installing benches in the corner of a room with comfortable, custom-made cushions, with a dining table next to them.

If you have a breakfast bar but want a larger table for entertaining, you can also use a fold-up dining table on a free wall of the kitchen, and use either a sofa bench, built-in bench or dining chairs for seating.

Hopefully this has inspired you to create your dream multipurpose dining room. If you make any changes to this space we’d love to see them – just tag us Instagram or use the hashtag #OakFurnitureland.

The post How to make a multipurpose dining room appeared first on Oak Furnitureland Blog.

From redesigning your home, to simply adding a piece of furniture to your living room, these are all the resources you need to size up your home.

Your dining room measurement guide

The dining room is the centre of so many home activities, whether it’s family time or an area to host guests. In our dining room measurement guide, we’ve drawn together a list of considerations when it comes to measuring up your dining room for style and purpose.

Here you’ll find how to:

Measure your dining room
Choose the right size dining table
Measure your dining room chairs
Measure your dining room for accessories
Ensure your dining furniture will fit through your room’s entrance ways

Your living room measurement guide

Finding the perfect arrangement for your living room furniture can be a real challenge. Do you have enough space for that beautiful accent chair? What kind of coffee table should you get? To avoid a living room configurement faux pas, take a look at the lliving room measurement guide, and perfect your arrangement.

Learn:

How to measure your living room
To choose the right size coffee table, and where to put it
To choose the right size sofa, and where it should be placed
Where to put your armchair
To choose the right size TV stand and where it should go
To get your furniture into the living room smoothly

Your bedroom measurement guide

Over the years, the bedroom’s role has shifted. For some, it’s not simply the place to sleep and get dressed, but also their home office, makeup station, their workout space, and where they lounge to watch tv. With this in mind, it’s become more important than ever to ensure that your bedroom furniture is mapped out so that designated areas don’t overlap and clutter your bedroom. Discover how you can maintain the peace and tranquility of your bedroom with the bedroom measurement guide.

Find out:

The best place to put your bed
How to arrange your bedside tables
Where your wardrobe should go
How to measure up additional storage pieces
Where to place your dressing table or desk
How to measure your room’s entrance ways for swift furniture delivery

Your hallway measurement guide

The hallway is often the first thing that you and your guests see when they walk through the front door. Yet the hallway is perhaps the most forgotten room of the home when it comes to design. Rather than making a great first impression, many make the mistake of over cluttering their hallways with furniture, or alternatively leave it sparse and unwelcoming.

In our hallway measurement guide, we’ve compiled the best tips and tricks on how to measure your hallway and arrange your furniture, so that you can really let your hallway shine. Discover:

How to measure your hallway
How to use narrow storage features
How to maximise space under your stairs
Ways to light up your entrance space
How to create the illusion of space with mirrors
Which colours will work best in your hallway
How to declutter your hallway with minimalism

These resources should help you map out your home and find the best arrangement for you and your space. If you’re interested in new furniture additions for any room of your home, take a look at our ranges here.

And make sure to tag us in any new arrangement transformations with #OakFurnitureland on Instagram! We love to see how you use our furniture in your homes.

The post How to measure your home appeared first on Oak Furnitureland Blog.

When Oak Furnitureland approached me about sharing a typical day in the life of our dining table, I couldn’t wait to share just how multifunctional our dining table now is. It is truly the hub of our home and the focal point throughout the day.

I have the St Ives extending dining table together with the Curve Back chairs in truffle. I chose this table firstly for the aesthetics, I love the tactile natural oak and the contemporary light grey painted legs and thought this would compliment my home perfectly. The stand out feature is that it extends when needed to comfortably seat eight, making it ideal for larger family gatherings. The chairs are extremely stylish and comfortable.

I have a home Instagram account Mrs_Roobottom_Home and my followers know that I like to dress my dining room to compliment the season. I have recently changed over to my Easter décor to bring some fresh spring colours into the home. I find that the dining table is the perfect area to dress with fresh flowers and beautiful linens.

During this period, in addition to the normal meals we enjoy, I have found that I am also using my dining table for many more uses;

Home schooling

Home schooling my eldest and colouring / craft work with my youngest. The dining table gives us enough space to comfortably spread out.

Working from home

Date nights

I am able to set the room up for a romantic meal and the beautiful table gives it a sense of occasion.

Celebrating birthdays

We have recently celebrated my youngest’s birthday and the dining table was the focal point for his party at home. He was so excited to come into the room and see the table with all its decorations.

The thing I love most about the dining table is that it is where all our family events at home take place, it is for brunches, lunches and dinners and where precious memories are made.

Discover the full collection of dining sets that Oak Furnitureland has to offer now.

The post How to make your dining table multifunctional appeared first on Oak Furnitureland Blog.

One month before

1. Choose, and decorate your tree

Gainsborough sofa | @gemmanicoleathome

Choosing the perfect tree and decorating is surely everyone’s favourite Christmas task. If you need some help with deciding which type of tree to go for, read our blog post on how to choose your Christmas tree, which is full of advice on the different types of trees. It’s a good idea to get your decorations out a few days before putting the tree up so you can see if any lights or baubles need replacing or whether you need to invest in a few more.

2. Work out your logistics

Shay bed | Shay bedside table | @greigehardinteriors_

Whether it’s for Christmas Day itself or the days and weeks in the run-up, now’s the time to agree on your schedule and organise any logistics. If long distance travel is a factor, you need to look into this as soon as possible and be mindful of contingencies for unexpected weather, school plays, parties or other disruptions. Confirm, and reconfirm where everybody needs to be – and when.

This is also a good time to start thinking about your guests. Has everyone RSVPd and are there any special circumstances that need looking into. Do you have the right furniture and bedding? Are there any issues with parking? The sooner you know, the more time you have to prepare.

3. Write your letters

 Unsplash | Annie Spratt

While managing busy lives we often see Christmas communications as an extra hassle – but devoting some time to this festive task can turn it into one of the most rewarding and communal aspects of the season of goodwill. Kids love writing their annual letters to Santa and you can enjoy writing cards and emails to both close friends and those you rarely contact but would love to hear from you. If you have time you could even craft the cards yourself or with your children as a lovely activity to share as a family.

4. Plan your Christmas menu and start batch freezing

Parquet dining table | @thelightshesees

Whether this is the year you decide to try something a little different or you simply want to perfect last year’s feast, make that list and check it twice! Don’t forget to ask your guests about any dietary requirements or preferences and dislikes so you know everyone will be catered for.

Be sure to choose a menu that you can prepare a few days in advance. You don’t want to spend the whole day away from your guests, plus it’s fun to do the peeling and chopping as a family on Christmas Eve. Don’t forget to research some tasty leftover dishes to make after Christmas Day, should there be any, that is! It’s also a good time to make some gingerbread, mince pies and un-iced biscuits that will keep in the freezer if well wrapped.

Two weeks before

5. Prepare your home for guests

Parquet bed | @lattes_with_lou

Bed count? Check. Plenty of bedding and towels? Check. If you need extra seating, consider borrowing or investing in some benches or nests of tables, or opt for a sofa bed. Make sure there’s plenty of spare toiletries, blankets, pillows and extra lighting for spare rooms.

When it comes to Christmas treats, more is always best. Why not mix up the traditional drinks and nibbles that you’ll know they love with some new, unexpected delicacies? The worst that can happen is that they’ll want to head back to the old favourites – and as you’re very prepared, you’ll have an abundance of those anyway!

6. Start your wrapping

Unsplash | Erica Marsland Huynh

As with writing cards, put some time aside for present wrapping. Have a drink and treats to hand and this will become another festive highlight. As the big day nears, have a full-time wrapping station set up in a cosy corner. This may stop the clear tape going missing and minimise mess!

7. Prepare entertainment for the little ones

Evgeny Atamanenko | Shutterstock.com

There are so many options for kids’ entertainment at Christmas. As long as you consider the ages of the kids, create options for even the most unexpected weather conditions and don’t assume everyone is going to get along the whole time, then you should be fine. Ask the kids in advance what they would like to do, rather than assuming. Encourage them to make up games alongside the old favourites. Be prepared for some downtime by flagging a few appropriate film releases on your streaming service.

8. Add the cosy touches

St. Ives TV unit | @thedaviesnest

Cosy throws, flickering scented candles, string lights glinting around the window, mistletoe hung in the doorway and of course snacks… need we say more?

A few days before

9. Do your final checks

St. Ives nest of tables

Have all the presents been wrapped? The food ready and waiting? Have you got all of the ingredients for your family’s recipe for mulled wine?

This is the time to go through all the prep and shopping lists that you have been working through in previous weeks and double check that nothing has been missed.

10. Set the table

Rushmere dining set | @from_the_dufayes

This is something kids often enjoy helping with and is a really nice thing to have done and dusted before the big day itself. It also means you and your family get to enjoy it in its full glory and make any last-minute adjustments.

11. Put the presents under the tree

St. Ives dining set | St. Ives dresser | @mrs_roobottom_home

If you have a nosy spouse or a curious child, you might want to leave this task until the very last minute. After all, you’ll want to keep your gifts a secret until Father Christmas arrives.

If this isn’t an issue then there is no reason why you can’t put the presents out early and admire all your handy work. So, there you have it. The ultimate Christmas checklist. We hope you have a very merry festive season and make sure to tag us on Instagram using #OakFurnitureland.

The post The ultimate Christmas checklist appeared first on Oak Furnitureland Blog.

Contrast with textures

A lot of people are hesitant to mix and match texture, but it’s key to creating visual interest. We tend to gravitate towards spaces that give our eyes multiple elements to examine, which is what @171_hendy_house have done so beautifully. The mix of copper in the triple pendant, the industrial inspired Tosca Wall Clock, and the Rustic Oak of the Hercules Dining Table, layered with the jute placemats, complete this room. 

Cosy up

We love how @lovestartsathome has created a cosy and inviting dining area which kicks a super-stylish punch in their open plan kitchen diner. Texture is everything. Adding a huggable chunky blanket to our Arched Back Dining Chairs brings the contrast of warmth and opulence into this inspiring space.

Collectively coordinated

Pick a colour and accessorise, it’s that simple. @myarundelstory has taken inspiration from the rich light grey paint of the St. Ives range, using a table runner to coordinate their chosen theme. Finished off with touches of greenery on the sideboard and table instantly brings life to the room.

The dark side

When done right, dark walls can make a room look energising and full of life. @sandalwoodhome has created the perfect contrast with the dark wall paneling bringing depth and the white upper walls and accessories offering balance. The wood of our Dorset dining table complements the look flawlessly and is perfect for when you’re expecting extra guests as it extends. 

Have you incorporated Oak Furnitureland pieces into your home? Join our community on Instagram and share your decor and styling with us using #OakFurnitureland.

Lead image: @rachelducker

The post As styled by you: dining rooms appeared first on Oak Furnitureland Blog.