How to choose a dining table?
The dining table is the piece you spend the longest sitting at in a home, so before buying it is worth measuring the room and honestly estimating how many people usually eat at it. Here is what to look at when buying a dining table.
- 01
Measure the space first, then the table
The most common mistake is a table that is too big for the room. You need about 90 to 100 cm around the table on every side that is used. That is enough to pull out a chair and let someone walk behind the person sitting. Measure the room, subtract that space, and what is left is the biggest table that realistically fits.
- 02
Allow about 60 cm per person
So that elbows don't collide and everyone has room for a plate and a glass, allow about 60 cm of table width per person. For four people that is a table about 120 cm long, for six it is 160 to 180 cm, and for eight it is 200 cm or more.
- 03
Choose the shape for the room, not just for taste
A rectangular table fits most rooms most easily and is best for narrow rooms. A round table works nicely in a smaller space and is practical when people keep getting up and sitting down, because it has no corners and it is easier to squeeze in one more person. The downside of a round table is that with a large diameter, the middle becomes out of reach.
- 04
Get an extending table if guests come only occasionally
If you need a small table every day, but a few times a year the whole family sits down together, an extending table covers both cases. Check two things: whether it is stable when open, and where you will keep the extra leaf while it is not in use.
- 05
Choose the material to suit how you live
Wood (solid or veneer) is warm, forgives everyday marks and is easy to refresh. Glass and ceramic look more modern and are resistant, but they show every fingerprint and crumb, and glass can feel cold. If there are small children, choose a surface that wipes clean easily and a table with rounded edges.
Frequently asked questions
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