A natural gathering place for friends and family, your dining table is one of the most well-used pieces of furniture in your home. Whether hosting a holiday gathering, pulling out the board games for family night, or catching up with friends over brunch, your dining table is a long-lasting investment that serves many purposes.
When choosing your dining table, it’s essential to pick the right materials, style, and size for your space and design preference. Follow along with our dining table buying guide to ensure you find the perfect fit.
Including particleboard or wood veneers, engineered wood tables are generally less expensive, lighter, and easier to move. When cared for they can last for many years.
Hard Wood
Hardwoods like oak, pine, walnut, or mahogany are beautiful and durable. While they tend to be more expensive, wood dining tables can last a lifetime if cared for properly. The natural wood grain gives them character and depth, and they can be stained and painted to meet many design needs.
Ceramic or Marble
Ceramic is a manmade material composed of clay and other materials to give it the appearance of marble, while marble is a natural material mined all over the world. Both make for a beautiful and timeless dining table surface. Marble or ceramic tables require consistent maintenance and are perceptible to stains or scratches.
Tempered Glass
Tempered glass is easy to clean, super strong, and scratch resistant. Glass dining tables lend a sophisticated and modern atmosphere to dining rooms. Perfect for modern or contemporary preferences, they add to the illusion of space in small rooms. If the glass is not tempered, it can be prone to breaking, so always opt for tempered glass.
Metal
A unique tabletop choice that is growing in popularity, metal dining tables offer an industrial and chic appearance. They are incredibly durable and easy to clean, but metal tabletops absorb heat easily. Use table mats and coasters to prevent burns.
Other Dining Table Considerations:
Color
One of the biggest decisions when choosing a dining table rests on the color. Dining tables come in a variety of colors, including staple hues like black, grey, brown, and white.
The Base
Impacting aesthetics and function, the base of your dining table determines how the table looks and how you use it. If you want plenty of leg space, opt for a pedestal base. If you want a sleek and modern appeal, choose a table with straight trestle legs. Or, if you want an elegant and elevated look, go with curved or ornately carved legs.
Storage Features
Some tables include drawers or built-in storage shelving for napkins, placemats, and other accessories. Ensure that they are easily accessible and do not block desired seating arrangements.
Folding Tables
If you are low on space but want a table to sit down and take your meals to now and again, consider a folding dining table. These tables are designed to collapse and store against a wall when not in use.
Dining Table Size Guide
The size of your dining table ultimately depends on the size of your space and your seating needs. Consider the length of the table and the desired height when picking your perfect fit.
60 INCHES
Small Dining Table
Small dining tables seat around two to four people. Small tables are usually round or square shapes under 60 inches. You can also find small rectangle-shaped tables, as well as triangle-shaped tables that tuck up into a corner space.
80 INCHES
Medium Dining Table
Medium-sized dining tables seat around four to six people and measure up to 80”. Rectangle or long oval tables are perfect for medium-sized spaces and can fit a dining bench
along one side to provide more seating.
90 INCHES
Large Dining Table
Large dining tables seat around six to eight people and extend to 90” and above. Rectangle tables with extension leaves expand for more space and are great for large dining spaces and families.
Dining tables commonly come in three different heights to meet your seating preferences.
Standard Table Height
A standard table height rises to 30”. They pair perfectly with standard-height dining chairs .
Counter Table Height
Counter-height dining tables generally rise to 36”, which pairs with counter-height chairs and stools.
Dining tables come in different materials and styles to blend in with your design preferences and match other already existing furniture in the room. Depending on the style, your table can influence the mood of the room.
2.
Consider the Size
You want ample space to walk around all corners of the table and when the chairs are pulled out and filled with friends and family.
Before buying a table, measure your space to see where the table will fall. You generally want about 48” of space between the edge of the table and the wall or any nearby furniture.
Round or square tables fit best in small spaces, while rectangle or large oval tables work well in larger rooms.
3.
Consider a Dining Set
When choosing your dining table, you generally have the option to add matching dining chairs. A dining set ensures that the chairs and table are matching in height and style.
Dining sets may include other pieces, like a sideboard or display case — giving your dining room greater functionality and flow.
Find the Perfect Dining Table for Your Space
Whether you want an intimate, space-saving table or a large rectangular dining table for hosting lots of family and friends, we are here to help you find the perfect fit. Browse the curated collection of quality dining tables in different materials, colors, and sizes on furniture.com.