Buying a Dining Table

Dining tables are the Energizer bunnies of the furniture world—they just keep going and going. The piece you buy today is likely to remain in your home (or in your family) for many years, and will see you through multiple residences and several decorating schemes. So when buying a dining table, choose carefully.

“Don’t make a purchase over a weekend, because this is something you’ll be living with for years,” says Seattle interior designer Amely Wurmbrand. Wurmbrand suggests visiting many furniture stores before buying a dining table, or perusing a Web site like homeportfolio.com, picking a model you like, then finding out what retailer carries that brand in your community.

Before you shop, consider the following issues:

Size

The dining table should be scaled appropriately for the room: a small dining room looks best with a small table, a big dining room demands a big table. To allow adequate space for seating and circulation, make sure there’s at least 48 inches between each edge of the table and the nearest wall or piece of furniture. If traffic doesn’t pass behind the chairs on one side of the table, 36 inches should be sufficient on that side.

Ideally, the dining table should measure 36-42 inches across. Narrower than that leaves no place in the middle for food; wider than that makes conversation difficult with the person seated opposite you.

Capacity

Although the table should be scaled to the room, it should be scaled to your needs, as well. How often do you plan on using the table, and how many people will you be seating there? If you host frequent large dinners, you’ll need a large table. If you plan on using the dining table primarily for family meals or small gatherings, a smaller table will work better. (There’s nothing inviting about four people dispersed around a 12-foot table.) If you only entertain large groups on an occasional basis, consider buying a smaller table that can expand with leaves. To figure out how many people you’ll be able to seat around a given table, allot 24 inches in width for each diner.

If you have a large dining room but most of your entertaining is confined to small gatherings, consider getting two square tables. That way, you’ll fill the space, but need only dine at one table.

Shape

Rectangular tables are most common, but many people prefer sitting at a round table because it’s much more conducive to conversation. “A round table creates more of a social atmosphere,” says Seattle interior designer Christine Suzuki. However, round tables are best for small groups. A round table that’s big enough to seat 10 probably won’t fit in your dining room, and opposing guests will be so far away it will defeat the whole purpose of buying a round table.

If you have your heart set on a round table but want to be able to accommodate large groups, consider getting a round table with leaves that can expand the table into a racetrack shape.