Must Have DiningTable Styles For Every Home

Not only is your dining room table the focal point of the room, it’s also the site of many happy family occasions. Birthday party celebrations, long talks with a friend over a cup of coffee, family night gathered around a board game… your dining room table plays an important part in your home. Your table should suit your family size, your lifestyle and your decorating theme.

Choosing A Dining Table Shape & Size

The most popular dining room table shape is rectangular, though round and square tables also have their place. While your personal preference is key to the shape you choose, general guidelines are:

• What Size Should A Dining Table Be? A square or rectangular room that is medium to large can handle any shape table as long as the table is sized properly. There should ideally be several feet of room on all sides of the table, allowing guests to freely scoot back, stand up and walk to and from the table.
• What Dining Table Works Best In A Small Room? A round table works well in a small space. With no corners to maneuver around, diners can easily access all spots around the table.
• What Dining Table Works Best In A Long, Narrow Room? No surprise, a long room looks best balanced with a rectangular table.
• What About Square Dining Tables? Square tables are also a good choice for a small space, and can even be pushed into a corner if you only have one or two people regularly using the table.

There are two factors to consider when deciding on a table size: how many people are in your family, and the size of your dining area.

How Many People Can Fit At Different Sized Rectangular Dining Tables?

    36 x 48 inches seats four

    36 x 72 inches seats six

    36 x 96 inches seats eight

How Many People Can Fit At Round Or Square Dining Tables?

    36 inches seats four

    48 inches seats six

    60 inches seats eight

Guidelines For Dining Table Sizes

• There should be at least 32 inches of space between the table and the wall so diners have room to pull their chairs in and out.
• There should be at least 38 inches of space for people to walk around the table.
• Measure your available space, and then decide on a table that will hold your family comfortably, yet fit within the confines of your room. Buying even the chicest table won’t be enjoyable if you can’t fit in the room to sit at it.
• Tables that expand with additional leaves are the best option for occasional entertaining.

Choosing A Style Of Dining Table

No matter what your decorating style, there is a dining table to match, and a wide variety of materials to choose from. Wood is the most popular material for tables, though you can also find plastic, metal, glass, stone and combinations of any of these.

Farmhouse Dining Tables are a country tradition, and are usually oval or rectangular. They are most often made of pine, and frequently have painted legs and supports. This is a relaxed, classic style for a country, rustic, lodge or coastal home. Want to make your own farmhouse table? Try securing weathered wooden planks to the top of a traditional table, and sandpapering or even hammering the legs to match. Stains can give lighter wood an older, rougher appearance.

Traditional Dining Tables are often made of dark, elegant woods like cherry or mahogany. Depending on the style, they can be quite ornate, with carved legs and feet, or curved and delicate supports. A formal dining room is the place for a traditional table, which are most often rectangular or oval.

Pedestal Dining Tables are round, with a single central support instead of four legs. These are a nice choice for a small room, and no one is stuck sitting straddled on a table leg. You can find pedestal tables in many different materials and styles, though generally they are most suited to a casual theme like Cape Cod, country, lodge, western or retro.

Contemporary Dining Tables can be any shape, and often feature glass, stone or plastic in their design. The style is most often sleek and unadorned, similar to minimalist style. Use these in a sophisticated, modern dining room.

Drop-leaf Dining Tables have a hinged end that can be raised or lowered to adjust the size of the table, and are usually rectangular, changing to square when the leaf is dropped. These are great if you have a small room, but like to entertain. The style is usually casual. Use a formal tablecloth to dress it up for special occasions.

Trestle Dining Tables have two or three trestles linked by a supporting horizontal brace. Though most are typically a rustic, heavy style, there are also sleek, contemporary trestle tables made of glass, metal or stone. Depending on the material you choose, a trestle table can be at home in any style room from primitive country to streamlined modern. This is a good style if you need a very large table, since the trestle supports give a sturdy, balanced look to the table.

As the star of your dining room, the table needs to be chosen with care. You don’t want a table that is so large diners have to squeeze around the edges, nor do you want a table that is too small to comfortably fit your family. Your table should complement the decorating style of your home, and be made of materials that suit the room, the table, and your lifestyle. After all, your dining room table is where you will create many family memories.