Maybe you remember my last DIY dining table, maybe you don’t, but the bottom line is that I finished my new DIY dining table and it’s perfect! And I could not be more excited to share it and my collaboration with Tierra Y Fuego (who sponsored this post) with you!
When I started feeling like my last dining set was just not fitting the bill anymore, I decided that this time, I would build one from the ground up, perfectly suited to my house and my family. After looking at what seemed like hundreds of designs and patterns online and not finding what I wanted, my husband and I set to designing our own set.
DIY Dining Table Criteria
The criteria I was working toward fulfilling were:
- Fit the room better. Our dining space is honestly not very large and it’s square shaped. So the long dining table just wasn’t affording enough space to move around.
- Lots of seating. I wanted to be able to have gatherings at my house with all of our family and friends and have a large group be able to sit at the table.
- Comfortable seating. I CANNOT sit on hard chairs anymore!
- Kid friendly. I needed something that was easy to clean, both the table and seats.
- Beautiful and inviting. I wanted a statement piece, something that set the tone for the whole room and the house. I wanted it to be the center of attention in the house because it is the center of the house physically but also because mealtime and togetherness is very important to me.
My Dream DIY Dining Table
Square for Square
In order to accommodate the square shape of the dining area but still seat a decent amount of people, we designed a square table that would seat eight people, two on each side. The table is 4 feet by 4 feet. This is actually pretty large for the space, and had I not planned for that with the unique bench design, it probably would be too much for the space.
Unique Benches
As far as the seating, I opted for four benches because it was just getting cumbersome having so many chairs around. Now, usually you will see dining sets with only two benches because that’s all that will fit under the table. But my husband and I came up with a way that we could have four benches that would all fit completely under the table, leaving ample walking room when the table is not in use. The benches are designed with a 45-degree angle on each side, so that the ends of the benches don’t interfere with each other when they’re pushed in.
Kid Friendly
Kid friendly, aka easily cleanable, was SUPER important to me. So I paid attention to the way the wood on the tabletop was sealed and most of the tabletop is actually glazed tile, super easy to clean. For the benches, this time, I went with a vinyl, waterproof and wipeable for the win!
Hacienda Fiesta!
As far as beautiful and inviting, this is obviously a “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” situation. For me and my family, a very special place and a place that we have had amazing memories and visit frequently is Mexico. So when I started thinking about what I wanted for my kitchen and dining room, I decided to lean toward a hacienda-type feel. You know, there’s a lot of gray and white farmhouse going on, and that is just not our style. I wanted a bright, fun, and happy kitchen and dining area.
So I painted the walls a deep yellow color called Saffron Strands. That really got us going towards the direction of Mexico. We have warm wood kitchen cabinets and unique wood doors over our sliding glass doors, and we have a dark brown linoleum floor. And I wanted my DIY dining table to be able to be the focal point of the room and tie everything together, bring that feeling of Mexico to the space.
Talavera Tile
This is where the tile comes in. I’ve always LOVED Talavera tile, which if you don’t know, is a bright, handmade tile with origins in Mexico. I decided that Talavera would be the perfect touch for my DIY dining table and my kitchen as a whole.
Tierra Y Fuego
I considered going down to Mexico to get the tile myself, but our schedule just wasn’t going to allow for that, so I set out to find the best that I could online. And I came across an amazing company called Tierra Y Fuego, who was generous enough to collaborate with me and provide the tile for this table! Their selection was absolutely gorgeous and massive. I had such a hard time choosing what I wanted for my DIY dining table because I loved everything they had so much. Another nice thing is that they don’t have a minimum quantity that you have to order, so it’s even great for small projects like this!
I really can’t say enough good things about Tierra Y Fuego. Their customer service was awesome. I had a couple of questions, so I emailed them and I got exactly the information I needed, quickly and very personably.
Their shipping was very reasonably priced and quick, and their packaging was top-notch. I was a little bit nervous about ordering tile online due to the fragile nature of the product, but I figured that they had it under control as this was their business. And I was right, super packaging meant that everything arrived safely!
Most importantly, the tile was gorgeous and of amazing quality. The colors were vibrant, patterns stunning, there was no cupping of the tiles, and despite the handmade nature, the tiles were very consistent in their sizing.
So with the help of Tierra Y Fuego, my DIY Dining Table is even more beautiful than I had envisioned. And it’s definitely become the center of our household. We’ve already had one party, and it was awesome to have tons of people sitting around it and enjoying each other. Mission accomplished!
Go Forth and Build!
So if you’re looking to add a unique piece to your dining room, be sure to scoop up my free DIY dining table and bench build instructions, complete with diagrams, cut lists, pictures, and dos and don’ts!
And if you need some color in your life, big or small, be sure to check out Tierra Y Fuego for your next tiling project! You won’t regret it!
As always, check out my updates on Facebook and Instagram and feel free to peruse Homebody Hall for more ideas on how to make your house a home, on a budget! Happy creating!
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