There is no household where life does not revolve around the dining table. The lady of the house spends hours preparing meals that are loaded on it to be shared with the family and often with guests and visitors. The dining table simply accommodates all this activity quietly and uncomplaining.

Perhaps the most used piece of the furniture, it experiences more life than any other piece in a home. Along with its mates, the dining chairs, it in fact deserves much more attention that it normally receives. While being called a dining area, perhaps this area should rightly be called the living room. Can you think of a life without a dining set?

Why is it so special? Let us look at other cultures to see how they eat.

The surprising fact is that the vast majority of people of the world do not use a dining table at all. Dining tables in the Continents of Africa, and Asia are a recent introduction to a small minority of their citizens. People sit on the ground perhaps on a mat and the food is served on plates or plantain leaves or stitched leaves etc. In some cultures, the plates may be kept on mats or small square tables but it is not common to do so.

While the Chinese and Japanese have elaborate customs and rituals to follow while dining, in the rest of East and South Asia, diners are simply served as they keep eating. In the Islamic countries and cultures, sitting on the floor and sharing food from one central platter is quite common. In this case, the platter or platters are replaced with fresh ones as the meal progresses. This custom is to reinforce the spirit of one-ness among the believers.

Europe introduced the concept of dining on tables for climatic reasons and the custom got exported to the Americas. In both the continents, dining tables have played an important part in the lives of people living there from time immemorial. Today, all cultures, particularly the urban parts of them, have taken to the use of dining tables for the convenience it offers and to be modern.

Are we just talking about a piece of furniture then? On the contrary, the dining table has been the focal point of millions of family histories. It has seen more life than any other piece of furniture in homes, and very possible activity has taken place on it, or around it. It has had to be looked after, repaired, cleaned and polished more than any other piece of furniture in every home.

Assuming that you do not have one yet, don't you think that it is time that you acquired one immediately?

You have a wide range of options to choose from. Rectangular, square, oval or round shaped. Made out of wood, molded wood, wrought iron, metal with matching tops or glass topped. A wide variety of colors too are available. You can choose the color to match the other furniture, or the color of the walls or the curtains, the choice is yours.

Perhaps it is all too much for you! You can consider taking the advise of a professional interior decorator, a sensible choice. If however the matter challenges you, choose with passion. The dining table and chairs will be part of your life from now to an unforeseeable future.