Dining Room Set Pieces: What's Included and How to Choose
What does a dining room set include? We explain the role of the table, chairs, console, bench and display cabinet, top materials, and set vs. individual pieces, using İmhotep sets.
Dining room set pieces come down to three basics: a dining table, chairs and a console. Most sets come with six chairs; some series pair five chairs with a bench instead of six chairs, and others add a display cabinet, a bar or an entryway console. Start with the table's size and top, move on to the chairs, then fit the style and storage pieces around them.
What is a dining room set, and what does it include?
A dining room set is a group of furniture made in one design language: a dining table, chairs and a console with matching wood tones and leg shapes. A "dining set" in the sense of plates and bowls is tableware, which is not what this article covers.
What a dining room set includes varies from series to series. At İmhotep, the set descriptions break the dining room set pieces down like this:
| Set | Pieces in the set | Companion pieces named in the descriptions |
|---|---|---|
| Prada Dining Room | Table, console, 6 chairs | — |
| Şato Dining Room | Table, console, 6 chairs | — |
| Verona Dining Room | Table, console, 6 chairs | — |
| Arizona Dining Room | Extendable table, console, 6 chairs | — |
| Elegance Dining Room Set | Table, console, 6 armless and 2 armchairs | — |
| Venedik Dining Room Set | Eight-seat table, console, 5 chairs, bench | — |
| Lükens Dining Room | Table, console, 5 chairs, bench | Display cabinet, bar, entryway console |
| Elvin Dining Room | Table, console, 6 chairs | Display cabinet |
| Versa Dining Room | Extendable table, console, 6 chairs | Display cabinet, buffet, TV stand |
The Louis, Lizz, Craft and İmhotep sets also consist of a table, a console and chairs. In Bodrum an entryway console completes the set; in Novel, a display cabinet, a coffee table and a side table do. How many chairs you need depends on the table's length; we cover sizes by number of guests in our dining table dimensions article.
Dining room set pieces one by one: table, chairs and storage
Each of the dining room set pieces has its own job: the table sets the seating layout, the chairs set the comfort, and the console and display cabinet set the storage. Here are İmhotep examples of how much room the pieces other than the table take up:
| Piece | Example | Width × depth × height (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| Console | Lükens Console | 200 × 50 × 118 |
| Chair | Lükens Chair | 48 × 48 × 100 |
| Bench | Lükens Bench | 140 × 42 × 46 |
| Display cabinet | Lükens Display Cabinet | 120 × 50 × 200 |
| Bar | Lükens Bar | 105 × 46 × 197 |
| Entryway console | Lükens Entryway Console | 130 × 44 × 80 |
Dining table
The table is the piece that sets the size of the whole set; look at its length, where the legs sit and whether it extends. An extendable table is practical if you only host a crowd now and then: the Arizona Dining Table seats six closed and eight or ten open. On the Verona table, the legs are gathered in the middle, which leaves plenty of room to move.
Chairs: with or without arms, and back styles
Armchairs usually go at the ends of the table and armless chairs along the long sides; the Elegance set has two armchairs alongside six armless chairs. You can also set the end chairs apart with fabric: according to the Prada Chair description, the two end chairs are upholstered in a beige linen-texture and patterned fabric and the other four in a velvet-texture fabric (colors can vary by swatch). The back style changes both look and comfort:
- Tufted back: Tufting is upholstery divided into sections with buttons or stitching to create a plump surface. The Craft chair has a tufted back; in Verona, the chair upholstered in blue linen has a tufted back.
- Cane back: Cane (Vienna straw) is an open-weave wicker made from thin strips cut from the outer skin of rattan stems. The Bodrum chair, made of oak, has a cane detail on its back; on the Lizz chair, the back can be caned or upholstered in fabric, as you prefer.
- Channel back: A back whose upholstery is divided into vertical channels; it is used on the Şato chair and on Verona's beige upholstered chair.
Console, display cabinet, bench and bar
The console is the storage piece of the dining room: serving platters, linens and flatware go in its drawers and behind its doors, and its top works as an extra surface while serving. A display cabinet is a glass-front cabinet meant for showing things off; the Lükens Display Cabinet and Elvin Display Cabinet have molding and glass details. A bench is a backless seat placed along the long side of the table. In the Lükens Dining Room set, the bench sits alongside five chairs, and the series also includes a bar with a serving shelf. We explain the difference between a console, a buffet and an entryway console in our what is a console for article.
What material should a dining table be? Top and leg options
Common dining table tops are solid wood, wood veneer, marble, glass and ceramic; legs are mostly solid wood or metal. İmhotep tables use wood, veneer and marble; according to the descriptions:
| Table | Top | Legs | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prada Dining Table | Spruce (all spruce) | Spruce, turned legs | Wire-brushed, walnut tone with patina |
| Venedik Dining Table | Spruce | Hornbeam | Top dark walnut patina, legs cream distressed patina |
| Lükens Dining Table | Solid veneer | Hornbeam, cabriole (lükens) legs | Top dark walnut, lower parts black with copper rub-through |
| Versa dining table | Solid spruce veneer | Spruce, turned legs | Walnut color with patina |
| Craft Dining Table | Solid oak veneer | Stainless metal, antique brass finish | Dark walnut tone |
| Louis Marble Dining Table | Tundra gray marble | Hornbeam | — |
| Bodrum Dining Table | Tundra gray marble | Oak | — |
Wire brushing removes the soft fibers of the wood with a wire brush to bring out the grain; patina is a painting method that gives the surface a layered, aged look. A solid wood top is solid wood through its full thickness (often glued-up staves); veneer is a thin layer of wood glued onto a supporting core. At İmhotep, the Lükens top is described as "solid veneer," the Versa top as "solid spruce veneer" and the Craft top as "solid oak veneer," which means the surface of these tops is veneer. Ask about the veneer thickness and the core material beforehand.
| Material | Strength | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Solid wood top | Can usually be sanded and refinished when worn | Hot and wet items can mark the paint and finish; moves somewhat with humidity |
| Wood veneer top | Consistent grain across a large surface; usually moves less | Limited sanding allowance after a deep dent, compared with solid wood |
| Marble top | Heavy and cool; usually more heat-resistant than wood surfaces | Can scratch, etch with acids and stain from colored liquids |
Marble tops and metal legs
Because marble contains calcium carbonate, acids like lemon juice and vinegar can quickly dull the surface; because it is porous, wine, coffee and oil can leave stains. How much it is affected depends on the type of stone and its surface treatment; ask about care before you buy. The Bodrum Dining Room Set and the Louis set have tundra gray marble tops. Metal legs look leaner thanks to their slim profile; on the Craft Dining Room Set table, the stainless metal legs are finished in antique brass.
Style: classic, country and modern dining room sets
A dining room set's style is shaped mostly by leg shape, finish and chair details: carved legs and distressed finishes usually point to classic and country, while clean forms and metal legs point to modern. The lükens leg is an S-shaped cabriole leg that curves outward at the knee and tapers toward the foot. The table lists only sets and products whose description uses a style term:
| Set / product | Style / fit per description | Wording in the description |
|---|---|---|
| Lükens Dining Room | Classic | "bringing classic details together with natural wood texture" |
| İmhotep Dining Room Set | Classic | "carrying the classic furniture tradition into today" |
| Louis Dining Room Set | Classic, natural | "both classic and natural approaches to decor" |
| Venedik Dining Room Set | English country, classic | "an elegant take on English country style," "shaped by classic lines" |
| Arizona Dining Table | English country | "inspired by English country style" |
| Versa Dining Room | Country | "the natural spirit of country style" |
| Prada Dining Table | Modern, sophisticated, eclectic | "modern, sophisticated and eclectic decor" |
| Bodrum Dining Room Set | Modern, natural | "both modern and natural interiors" |
| Craft Dining Table | Modern | "the modern lines of metal" |
| Şato Dining Room | Modern touch | "adds a modern touch to the design" |
Country style is a rural-rooted approach that highlights natural wood texture, distressed finishes and fabrics such as linen; we go into detail in our country style furniture article.
A full set or individual pieces: which suits you?
If you are furnishing the room from scratch, a set makes more sense; if you already have a table or console you want to keep, choosing piece by piece does:
- A set: Wood tone, leg shape and fabric match from the start, and the proportions of the table and console have been worked out together. In Venedik, the table and console are both 215 cm long (the width figure on the product page); in Lükens, both are 200 cm.
- Piece by piece: You keep a piece you already own or deliberately choose different chairs for the table; for harmony, keep the wood tone or fabric color in common.
- A middle path: You buy the table, chairs and console first and add a display cabinet, bench or bar later. In series with companion pieces, such as Lükens and Versa, this route is open. A piece added later may not match the wood tone exactly; note your original choices and order from the same swatches.
Should it match the sofa set's series?
It doesn't have to; but if the living and dining areas share one space, the same series creates a cohesive look. At İmhotep, the Arizona, Craft, Elegance, Elvin, Lizz, Louis, Lükens, Novel, Prada, Şato and Venedik series include both a sofa set and a dining room set; Verona also has a corner sofa set (Verona Corner Sofa Set) next to its dining room. For example, the Prada Dining Room belongs to the same series as the Prada sofa and bedroom sets.
Dining table decor: centerpiece, runner and chandelier
For dining table decor, a low centerpiece, a well-proportioned runner and a chandelier hung at the right height are enough. General tips:
- Centerpiece: It should not block the view between people sitting across from each other; it is usually kept under 30 cm.
- Runner: A narrow cloth running the length of the table's center; a 15–20 cm overhang at each end is common.
- Chandelier: With a standard ceiling, its bottom usually hangs 75–90 cm above the tabletop; the higher the ceiling, the more that distance increases. Its diameter is usually chosen between one half and two thirds of the table's width.
Summary: choosing dining room set pieces
In short, the order of choices is:
- Table size based on the number of people and the room.
- Top based on use: solid wood, veneer or marble.
- Chair arms, back style and fabric.
- Storage: is a console enough, or do you need a display cabinet or bar?
You can browse İmhotep's dining tables, chairs, consoles and display cabinets in the dining room category. If you would like to compare wood tones and fabrics in person, you are welcome at our showroom in Siteler, Ankara (Karacakaya Cad. No:141/A); we are open weekdays 08:00–19:00 and Saturdays 09:00–18:00.
Frequently asked questions
What is a dining room set?
It is a group of furniture made in one design language: a dining table, chairs and a console. The pieces share matching wood tones and leg shapes, and often the same fabrics, so the room comes together in one go. Some series add a bench, display cabinet, bar or entryway console.
What does a dining room set include?
The standard set is one dining table, one console and usually six chairs. At İmhotep, the Prada, Şato, Verona and Arizona sets follow this layout; Lükens and Venedik have a bench alongside five chairs. In Lükens a display cabinet, bar and entryway console are companion pieces; in Versa, a display cabinet, buffet and TV stand.
Is a marble dining table practical?
Yes, with some care. Marble is heavy, cool and usually more heat-resistant than wood surfaces; at İmhotep, the Louis and Bodrum tables have tundra gray marble tops. On the other hand, it is softer than granite: it can scratch, lemon juice and vinegar can dull it, and liquids like wine can stain it. Using coasters and wiping spills right away is a good idea.
What material should a dining table be?
For a table in heavy daily use, a solid wood top is the easiest to renew; when it wears, it can usually be sanded and refinished. For a large surface with consistent grain, choose veneer; for a cool, striking surface, choose marble, but watch for scratches and acid etching. Wood legs look classic, metal legs look leaner.
Should you buy a full set or individual pieces?
If you are furnishing the room from scratch, a set is easier, because wood tone, leg shape and fabric match from the start. If you have a table or console you want to keep, buy piece by piece and tie things together with a shared wood tone or fabric color. You can also add companion pieces later.
Should a dining room set match the sofa set's series?
It doesn't have to; if the rooms are separate, repeating the wood tone or one fabric color is enough to link them. If the living and dining areas share one space, the same series creates a cohesive look. At İmhotep, eleven series, including Lükens, Prada, Venedik and Craft, offer both a sofa set and a dining room set; Verona has a corner sofa set alongside its dining room.
