Uncomfortable Chairs

If you’re planning to make your dining room a spot where people hang out over a meal and keep chatting long into the night, a hard, uncomfortable seat isn’t ideal.

Consider swapping in chairs with a cushioned or upholstered seat—or just adding on a chair cushion.

Chairs That Don’t Fit Around the Table Properly

While we’re talking chairs, make sure that the chairs you choose actually fit under and around your table. “You don’t want them to bump into the dining room table legs,” Helft says. “If you’re using armchairs, check how high the arms are, and how low the table goes. It could potentially go lower than the arms, and you won’t be able to push the dining chairs underneath.”

One potential fix: Helft recommends choosing a pedestal table, where you won’t have to worry about the legs. Just be sure that there’s enough table overhang beyond the pedestal to sit and ensure your legs fit.

Too-Small Rugs

An area rug makes your dining room more cozy and put together. But a too-small one means that chair legs can catch on them when you’re pulling chairs in and out.

“We like dining room rugs to be large enough that when the chairs are pulled out, all the chair legs stay on the rug,” Goldberg says. Ideally, that requires at least two feet of additional rug past the edges of the table.

Too-Large Round Table

Round dining tables have come into vogue, as they can be more flexible for dinner parties of different sizes and allow for easier conversation with everyone at the table. But in order to fit a larger group, the table may become too big. “A lot of people choose a 72-inch table,” Helft says. “At that size, you will really not be able to reach anything in the center of the table.”

Choosing a Table That’s Too Narrow

Dining room tables have been trending a bit narrower lately, with some as narrow as 40 inches, Helft says. But a table that narrow can make it hard to fit your plates, glasses, and any food or centerpieces you have in the center of the table. If at all possible, look for a slightly wider table to give everyone a little more breathing room.

Too Much Clutter

Whether it’s a stack of papers that’s found a home on your dining room table, excess dining room chairs pushed off to the corners, or a large collection of collectibles, it can make your dining room feel cluttered.

Helft recommends getting rid of extra chairs, and use high-quality folding chairs, which can be stored elsewhere, instead. If you do need to store paperwork or other non-dining room items, opt for closed storage like a sideboard or cabinet to avoid a cluttered look.

And while you should definitely showcase special items like vintage china, Goldberg recommends a careful edit of them. “When people display too many pieces of dinnerware and furnishings that have been passed down, the room can feel cluttered,” Goldberg says. “Feature special pieces in the dining room to really highlight the favorites.”

Lighting Fixtures That Are Too High

When you’re hanging your dining room chandelier or light fixture, you’ll ideally want it to be a little lower than you expect—just 32 to 34 inches higher than your table, Helft says. “You shouldn’t hang it close to the ceiling like your other light fixtures—you’re missing the point of it,” Helft says. “The fixture serves you by lighting up the food when you’re sitting, not when you’re standing.”