The perfect dining table exists. But the reason that so many people struggle to find it is that perfection changes from home to home. A dining table that may be ideal for one space may not work well in another for many reasons. This can make furniture shopping very stressful. But don’t worry, we are here to help.
We have put together this guide to buying a dining table to help you figure out what your perfect dining table looks like so that you can shop with confidence…
The first thing you need to do before you start shopping is measure your space. Dining tables can be deceptively large, so this is very important. If you don’t measure your space, then you may end up with a piece that does not fit in your space.
Get out your tape measure and measure the length and width of your room. Then you should subtract 6 feet from these measurements to get a target dining table length. We recommend 6 feet because you and your guests will need a minimum of 3 feet of breathing room from the walls to be able to move around the table comfortably, and since you may plan to place a cabinet against a wall, it is best to add an extra 3 feet of breathing room to balance the space visually.
From here, you should try to visualize what your dining table would look like in your space. We suggest that you use painter’s tape to block out the area you plan to put your dining table, fill this space with furniture of a similar size and place a table cloth over it so that you can better imagine a dining table in that space. Take a step back and see how you feel. One tip we always give our customers is to change the cloth that you cover the makeshift table space with to one in a dark color like black or brown if you plan on purchasing a piece with a dark stain. A hardwood dining table with a dark stain carries more visual weight in a room than a piece with a glass tabletop. So this will help you decide what materials to rule out early on.
If your dining room is too small to use the 6 feet rule, then we suggest that you add the search term small to your search so that you find dining tables in the right size range for your dining room. If you have a large extended family and you like to host dinner parties, but you don’t have a lot of space in your dining room, then we suggest that you purchase an extendable dining table. With an extendable dining table, you can seat your entire family comfortably and still make the best use of your space on days you aren’t entertaining by resetting the extension of the table.
Once you know your ideal dining table size, the next step is to determine what table shape works best for you. Since square and rectangular dining tables are the most common type of dining table currently on the market, you will have a vast array of beautiful tables to choose from if this is the style for you. However, round or oval dining tables can give you more space to move around your room since it cuts off the corners. We recommend oval dining tables for tighter, rectangular dining areas for this reason. This style of table is ideal for anyone that likes to throw parties. Conversation flows easily when sitting at an oval table since there’s no head of the table inviting formality into the space. With round and oval tables, you are only limited by the perimeter of the table when it comes to seating guests, so it’s easy to tell how many dining chairs you can reasonably fit in your space- making forming guest lists easy.
However, we always recommend that you purchase a square or rectangular dining table if you are trying to create a formal atmosphere or if you’re furnishing a long narrow room since it draws the eye to the room’s end from the moment you enter. This makes it look bigger than it is in reality.
Many people overlook the importance of table support when trying to find their ideal dining table. But after speaking to our design team, we knew that this guide to buying a dining table wouldn’t be complete without a section detailing what table supports are available.
Tables with legs or legged tables are the most common type of table on the market since they are so easy to assemble. We recommend legged tables to anyone that wants to create a classic dining room look in their space, but if you want to be flexible with your guests, then we suggest that you purchase a table with thinner legs as it will be easier to squeeze in an extra chair as needed.
Pedestal tables give you the flexibility that you need to add more people to the table. We recommend tables like this to our customers all the time, but we always tell our customers to be wary of larger pedestal tables because they are often less sturdy than those with four legs if the base is not weighted down properly.
Trestle tables give you the best of both the pedestal and legged table as they are both stable and formal. However, they limit the number of people you can have at your table since you cannot seat people at the end of the table/ space at the ends of it. Still, they work well for families with young children that use highchairs to access the family dining area and for small families who prefer intimate mealtimes.
If you get the chance to see your chosen table in person, we suggest that you and your family sit at it to see if your legs hit the table’s support. This will help you confirm whether or not you’ll have enough space for your knees when you scoot all the way in. If your whole family cannot make it to a showroom, then we suggest that you test if you can sit cross-legged at the table comfortably. This will allow you to see if any of your taller family members will be able to fit their legs under the table comfortably.
No guide to buying a dining table would be complete without emphasizing don’t give in to trends. A good table should still be in style for at least 5 to 10 years after purchasing it. If you choose a piece that is intricate in its form with a lot of odd details, it’s likely that you will wake up one day and wonder why you bought it. We always recommend that you choose a piece that is simple and sturdy. Line this type of dining table with statement dining chairs or decor if you want to make a statement, as these pieces are much easier (and cheaper) to replace than a piece than a large statement dining table.
If you aren’t sure what style of dining table you like, then visit us in store. We will be happy to talk you through the options available to you by showing you examples of dining tables in casual, coastal, cottage, modern, rustic, transitional, and traditional styles in our showroom. If you can’t make it to our store, then visit our website, where you can browse our entire collection of dining tables with ease. We are confident that you’ll find a piece you love in our collection.
The last thing you need to take into account is the type of material your table will be made out of. There are two materials that most dining tables are made out of:
Wood: Solid wood dining tables are a staple of American interior design. These tables are ideal for anyone with a growing family as they are durable enough to last a lifetime with the right care. However, they can be very expensive, so start saving now!
Glass: These tables create a feeling of space within a room thanks to their ability to reflect light and create dimension in a space. Although glass isn’t susceptible to damage from excess moisture and water, it can be scratched by daily wear and tear or crack from exposure to heat. It also shows every fingerprint, so it needs to be cleaned often.
We know that choosing what type of dining table to purchase for your home can be stressful, so we hope this guide to buying a dining table takes some of that stress away. If you still have questions or you just don’t want to go on your design journey alone, visit our store today. A member of our team will expand on the points we made above and help you design your dream dining room using the furniture in our store as an example of what to look for in a quality dining table. We carry a huge collection of dining room furniture for your Union home, so we know you’ll fall in love with a piece from our collection. Come and visit our furniture store today.