The Table

The most inviting table is one that's easy to sit at and look at — whether for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day or for the annual holiday blowout. A round table with a pedestal base creates more room for extra guests, encourages group conversation, and means no one has to knock knees with a table leg throughout three courses. This wooden table from Crate & Barrel has a 45-inch diameter and, with a 17-inch leaf, extends to a 62-inch oval. Crate and Barrel Winslow dining table, $349, www.crateandbarrel.com.

The Lighting: Hang the light fixture so that the bottom is 30 to 36 inches above the table. Update a traditional wrought-iron chandelier or personalize a new one by swapping the shades. (Wrought-iron chandelier, $319, Williamsburg Marketplace, www.williamsburgmarketplace.com.) For a more modern look, use an oversize paper lantern to cast a soft, glowing light. (House of Rice paper lantern, $26; and lighting hardware, $12: www.houserice.com.)

The Chairs: Classic Windsor-back chairs complement the table's traditional lines, while their turned wooden legs echo the curves of its pedestal base. (Restoration Hardware Windsor side chairs, $210 each, www.restorationhardware.com.) The clear lines (and bright color) of the chairs used in the modern setting inject a playful pop to the room and mirror the round lantern. (Room & Board Jake chairs, $99 each, www.roomandboard.com.) For extra comfort, add seat cushions.

The Rugs: Floor coverings in any eating space should allow guests to comfortably push their chairs back and still be on the rug. Use them to introduce pattern and alter the room's look. Low-maintenance flat weaves are easier to clean than deep piles, and patterns are more forgiving of spots and stains than solids. (Traditional: Plaid colonial rug by Capel, $625, see www.capelrugs.com for store locations. Modern: Somerset flat-woven rug by Kaffe Fassett for Dash & Albert, $374, 413-496-9700 for store locations.)

The Wallpaper: A grass-cloth covering on the walls creates a rich texture and can be traditional or modern. Even better, it doesn't require any tedious lining up of patterns. (Brewster Wall-covering Asian Influence Collection, $30 a roll, see www.brewsterwallcovering.com for stores.)

The Sideboards: A surface that is at least the height of the dining table (typically, 30 inches) but no higher than 42 inches is just right for a buffet spread, or for displaying objects when you’re not entertaining. The traditional sideboard has two 15-inch drop leaves and a drawer for storing flatware or table linens. (Pottery Barn Francisco sideboard, $399, www.potterybarn.com.) Feel free to mix finishes in the same room; here, the black finish balances the white table. A simple table acts as a very minimalist sideboard in the modern setting. (Ikea Lack sofa table painted white, $30, 800-434-4532.)