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Oct 29, 2023

How to Choose the Ideal Dining Table

Each week, Mansion Global tackles a topic with an elite group of designers from around the world who work on luxury properties. This week, we explore how to pick the right size, shape and style of

Each week, Mansion Global tackles a topic with an elite group of designers from around the world who work on luxury properties. This week, we explore how to pick the right size, shape and style of dining table.

Dining rooms are associated with holiday dinners, special occasions and the more mundane evening meal, but today, many have become more dynamic in their role, sometimes serving as a home office or homework station.

That means it’s important to weigh several factors when picking out the perfect dining table. Of course, style is important, however, elements like size, durability and function ideally should come first.

“Dining tables are very functional pieces of furniture and you should consider your lifestyle and stage of life before making a selection,” said Bethany Adams, founder of Bethany Adams Interiors in Louisville, Kentucky. “Ultimately, the two most important questions to answer before you make a decision are ‘how big is my space?’ and ‘how many people do I regularly want to seat?”

Here, we offer tips from design professionals to help you figure out what else needs to be considered when choosing the right dining table.

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Keep Comfort in Mind

“Chances are, you want your dining space to foster stories and interesting conversation, so make sure your design/decor sets the stage. Apply the design principle of harmony and blend of different elements. For example, if you choose a wood table, maybe opt for metal or leather upholstered chairs.

“Historically, we have dressed dining rooms as a formal space, but today, we need more comfort and less formality. Instead of only using the dining room on special occasions, bring out the China and the good glassware daily. Stop saving space (or things) for a special occasion. Life is a special occasion. Use up beautiful space and use your beautiful things every day. It’s a little easier to achieve if it is designed with comfort in mind.

“The dining room can also be used as a flex space. If it is designed with comfort in mind, it could flex as an office, homework station or even family game night (we love dominos on our table). Opt for chairs with cushions, a warm table—like wood or stone over glass—and include ‘feel good art.’”

—Leigh Spicher, national director of design studios for Ashton Woods Homes, headquartered in Atlanta

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Assess the Space

“You not only want the table and chairs to look good in your space, but you also want it to be comfortably functional when guests are seated. A good rule of thumb is to have three feet of clearance from the table to the wall or any other piece of furniture, such as a sideboard or hutch. This will ensure ample space for someone to move around another seated guest.

“Quick tip: Measure the width of the room and subtract 6 feet from that; now you’ve got your ideal table width. Measure the length of the room and subtract 6 feet; there’s the ideal length. From there, you can see if your room requires a narrow table or if you’ve got extra room and can even add another piece of furniture, like a buffet. If you’re adding, remember to retake the measurement from the wall to the front of the piece of furniture instead of wall to wall so you are looking at the available table space.

“A great way to double check is to use painter’s tape to mark the outline of the table on the floor and bring over a couple of chairs to really visualize the table in the room. Pull out the chairs as though you’re enjoying an evening at the table with friends and see if there’s enough space to walk around it.”

—Laura Chappetto Flynn, owner and lead designer of Element Design Network in Hinsdale, Illinois

Consider the Shape

“There are endless styles of dining tables. We commonly see them come in three shapes: rectangular, circular and oval. A circular dining table is a great choice for a dining nook where there isn’t a lot of room to begin with or a large, very square dining room where the eye needs a break from the harsh angles. A rectangular dining table is a great choice for long dining rooms or for open-concept floor plans where there is space between the kitchen and the living room for a dining table.

“When you want a long dining table but want to soften a space, an oval table is a great option as it doesn’t compromise on length, but it has softer edges. When choosing the material and the color of the table, you can look to the rest of your design to pull ideas from.”

—Emma Beryl, founder of Emma Beryl Interiors in Brooklyn, New York

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Infuse Your Style

“Ask yourself what is the feel of the room you are trying to create. The table is a central player in the room and there are so many options. If your style is natural and organic, an oak live edge wood table might be the perfect fit. If it’s more traditional, select a rectangle or square with a darker wood finish. For contemporary or modern, look for materials that are lighter in color and have an alternate material that is used, such as concrete and or marble. Lacquer is saved for the glamourous. Lastly, if you have an artistic flair, look for custom-created designs that reflect you.”

—Kristen Fiore, owner and principal designer at Kristen Elizabeth Design in Granite Bay, California

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