A farmhouse table for a Knutsford dining room

Measure the room, then take off space all round for chairs to pull out and for people to pass. Mark the table's footprint on the floor with tape before you commit. It quickly shows whether a long table will work or whether a shorter one would serve the room better.

Older houses often have floors that slope or dip, and a table with four legs will rock if one is short of the floor. A small, discreet packer under one foot is the usual fix. Avoid cutting legs down, since that alters the table permanently.

Many were made for hard daily use, which is part of their character. Use mats under hot dishes, wipe spills promptly, and expect marks to build up over time. Ask Sara about the finish on a particular table so you know how it is best cared for.

Windsor chairs are a country form with a hooped back, turned spindles, sometimes a pierced central splat, a shaped saddle seat and turned legs. They are light enough to move around a kitchen, which is part of their appeal, and they sit comfortably at a farmhouse table.

Old tops are often boarded, and wood shrinks and swells with the seasons, so a narrow gap between boards in a dry spell is normal. It usually closes again when the air is damper. A table that has moved a little over the years is not a faulty one.

Not at all, as old tables and chairs were often gathered separately, and a mixed set can look more relaxed than a matching one. Choose seats of a similar height that will not catch on the frieze. Ask Sara what she can tell you about whether chairs and table belong together.

A corner cupboard uses a part of the room that otherwise stays empty, so it adds storage without taking much floor. People use one for glasses, china or small books. Check that the angle of the back suits your corner, and that the door can swing open without hitting a chair.

Often not, since many tops are boards fixed to a frame and some lift off, which helps through a narrow door. Carry the top and frame separately, wrapped in blankets, never dragged by a corner. Ask Sara whether the top of a table you like is fixed or lifts off.

Old tables sit at a different height from modern ones, and a deep frieze under the top can limit leg room. Measure from the floor to the underside of the frieze and compare it with the seat height and the arms of your chairs. Chairs with arms may not tuck in at all.

It does not need one, but a rug can help. It lets chairs slide quietly, protects the floor from scraping and softens noise in a room with hard floors. Choose one large enough that the chair legs stay on it when people sit back, or the chairs may tip at the edge.