What To Look For In An Amish Dining Set
If you like the look of wood furniture, then you may want to purchase a dining set from the Amish. Such a dining set will generally come with chairs and a table. The Amish are known for good craftsmanship, and generally, you can count on furniture purchased from them to be sturdy and well-made. However, there does tend to be some variation in the sets available. How do you go about choosing one? Here are the key things to consider as you do.
Stain or Finish
If the furniture is finished, ask the vendor about the finish that was used. A dining set usually faces a lot of spills and liquid exposure, so ideally you want a table that has been finished with some type of waterproof or water-resistant product. Hard wax finishes tend to work well. Or, you may see some tables and chairs finished with stain and a polyurethane coating.
Wood Type
Ideally, you want an Amish dining set that is made from some hardwood species, such as cherry or hickory. You don't really want one made from pine or cedar. While pine and cedar look nice when they are new, they are softwoods and will get beat up easily. Most Amish furniture makers know this and do not sell tables made from pine or cedar for this reason, but it's still something to look out for. Some people do like these inexpensive tables for outdoor use. For an indoor dining room, you definitely want hardwood that will stand up to scratches and scuffs.
Table Height
Commercial furniture makers tend to make tables and chairs at one standard height, but the Amish do not always follow these standards. This is nice because it lets you choose a table and chairs at a height that suits your stature. It also means that you need to try a dining set before you buy. Make sure the table and chair heights are comfortable for you and workable for everyone in your family. If you have family members of radically different heights, you may be able to have a custom set made with a few taller chairs and some shorter ones.
If you keep the key factors above in mind as you shop for an Amish dining set, you should end up with one that you love. Then, all there will be left to do is decorate, prepare a meal, and enjoy it with those you love most.