How To Find The Perfect Dining Table For Your Space
Choosing the ideal dining table is a big decision and is a common challenge for most homeowners. Space, functionality, and design are all aspects that inform your decision when choosing which table suits your home and style.
What is the function of the dining table?
Will you be hosting large dinners, or do you prefer smaller intimate affairs? If you’re a big fan of dinner parties or have a large family it means when it comes to table size the bigger the better. If you prefer a more intimate gathering, then a smaller more compact table is the right choice for you. Alternatively, you can have the best of both worlds with an extendable table.
What style of dining table suits my dining room?
Rectangular Dining Tables
This is the most popular shape when it comes to dining tables, and it makes sense why. They generally have clean lines and plenty of surface area which means they look stylish but are also extremely functional, even the smallest rectangular table can fit 6 people around it. Rectangular dining tables are also perfect for narrow rooms, especially if you only have 4 people to sit around it as you can easily place it against the wall allowing for a lot more floor space.
Square Dining Tables
If you have a square-shaped room, then a square-shaped dining table is probably the correct choice for you. A benefit to having square tables is that they provide intimacy and a satisfying solution to seating a small number of people. It can be off-putting to have large a rectangular table if there are only two or three people present for most of your meals—a larger table can make the space seem cold.
Round Dining Tables
Round tables are another perfect solution for smaller or square-shaped rooms. They are perfect for small gatherings as everyone can easily see each other and converse.
Oval Dining Tables
These dining tables are very similar to their rectangular dining tables except with rounded corners. They occupy less space with their curved corners. These types of tables are perfect for narrower or smaller rooms.
Extendable Dining Tables
Extendable dining tables are like the chameleons of dining spaces, offering a seamless way to adapt to your changing needs. With handy features like extension leaves or foldable designs, these tables effortlessly shift from your everyday, compact setup to a larger, more spacious arrangement when it's time to entertain or host family gatherings. Generally, these tables come in rectangle, oval or round designs.
How big or small is your dining space?
There is no exact science to deciding what type of table will suit what size room, but a general rule of thumb is that smaller rooms are better suited to round or square tables as they take up less space, and narrow rooms are better suited to slim rectangular tables and large rooms will generally have larger rectangle table. Oval tables can suit both big and small rooms as they’re a hybrid between round and rectangular.
What other elements do you need to consider?
Dining Chairs - Dining chairs are where you can really make your table unique to you with a wide range of fabrics, colours and styles available. Measure the height of the chairs to make sure they will fit under the table. If you’re tight on space using a bench is a great way to save space.
Space around the table - Leaving space around the table is important to ensure that you and your guests can easily walk around it and can comfortably pull their chairs out from under the table. You should leave a minimum space of 70cm between the wall and the table edge or up to 90cm if you want to create a more spacious feel.
