Choosing the right dining table
A dining table often becomes the heart of its space, a centrepiece that provides space for shared connections with friends and family. But should you get a round, square or maybe rectangle one? We’ve gathered some helpful tips on how to choose a table that’s best suited for your home.
As the natural focal point of a room, a dining table in the wrong shape or size can make the room seem smaller or unbalanced. The different types of tables have different benefits, but how do you choose the right one?
A good starting point is to ask yourself some questions; How many people do you need to seat on average? How do you want the room to flow? What is the shape and size of your room?
SIZE
The first and most important thing to consider is size. If the table doesn’t fit, it won’t do you much good. When considering what size table to get, measure the room or designated space, and take into consideration that the ideal breathing space between table, chairs and wall is 60-90 cm. When measuring always allow for the extra space chairs need to be comfortably be pulled out. Make sure to subtract this from your overall measurement. This will give you a target measurement for length and width of the table. To visualise how it will look you can put masking tape on the floor. Also keep the height of the table in mind. How will it sit in your space, can you move around it? The choice of chairs will also influence how much table space is needed.
If you sometimes entertain, but generally don’t need a bigger table or you’re tight for space, an extendable dining table is a great choice. Extendable tables come in all shapes and lets you customize the size of your table as needed. A good tip if you go down this path is to look for tables that have simple mechanisms. Less parts means less things likely to break.
SHAPE
Before moving on to deciding on a shape for your table, carefully consider what your needs are.
We found this illustration from Timeless Wrought Iron to be quite helpful. It shows examples of how seating looks with different sized and shapes of tables.
Image courtesy of https://www.timelesswroughtiron.com/
As well as considering the shape of the table, you need to think about how the various shapes will work together. How will a round table look in a small, square room?
Rectangular dining tables are seemingly the most common choice for many. Many dining rooms are rectangular and having a table that mirrors the shape of the room works well for creating a visual (and physical) flow. A rectangular shape is great for seating more than four people. Some of these also come as extendable tables, giving you the option to seat more people should you need to. And should you need to push it into a corner, its angular shape helps it take up less room.
A square table is best suited to a square room. Square tables create more intimacy for seating a smaller number of people. It is also a great choice for smaller spaces, like apartments where tables often have have to serve a multitude of purposes.
A round table generally fits in any shape room. Round tables are great for smaller gatherings as well as they create an intimate seating space where everyone can see each other. Round tables are similarly not well suited for large gatherings.
Oval tables are very similar to rectangular ones. Oval tables combines the intimacy of a round table with the linear design of a rectangular one. With its curved edges an oval table can create a better sense of flow in a room and is a great choice for people with small children that may bump into sharp corners on angular tables.
As with anything,what type of table you need or prefer all comes down to your personal wants and needs. Take some measurements, consider your room and the average usage the dining table needs to provide, and weigh up the pros and cons before deciding.
And if you’re still unsure, there’s no shame in asking for help. :)