How to Find the Right Size Dining Table for Your Space

Your dining table is an inseparable part of your kitchen. It’s an essential component of every home, and it’s hard to imagine a cozy and welcoming house without the key element: a place where the whole family gathers to talk, exchange thoughts, discuss their day, and have a nice and homemade meal. While buying a table, we take many things into account. We’re looking at the design and the material, we’re comparing it to the overall appearance of the kitchen, and the living room, and whether it can fit with the rest of the interior or not. But we often forget to think about the size, besides the number of people who can dine at it. Why does it matter, you might ask? For many reasons actually, mostly as the size can determine the type of social life you’ll be having besides family dinners. Maybe you want to host a party, maybe you want to invite guests?! There are many reasons, but all in all, we are still left with the how. How to find the right size for your space? In the text below, we’ll discuss exactly that and more, so read on! 

Measure Your Space

Before making the final decision on what dining table you want to buy for your kitchen, first, you’ll have to get that old and dusty measuring tape and take some dimensions. Ensure to account for all dimensions—length, width, and height. Leave ample space for movement around the table; typically, at least 36 inches (91 cm) from the edge of the table to the walls or other furniture is recommended. Why? It’s easy to fool the eye while looking at tables in a nice and well-lightened salon with many different designs and colors. Depending on the setting and broader context, the dining table might look bigger or smaller than it is. The same thing applies if you’re looking for a dining table online. Every description of the product gives you the exact dimensions of the table itself, so to create a real picture of how it would look in your dining area, you’ll have to do some math first. 

Consider Seating Capacity

The size of the dining table is solely dependent on its purpose beyond just a place where you sit down to have your morning cereals. Whether you have a small or big family, or whether you have a lot of friends or relatives you love inviting over, it depends on the seating capacity of the table and the overall size. Now, understandably, space plays a role. Not everyone’s living space is the same, no matter how much you love being a host. For that purpose, there is a convenient and interesting solution. The practicality and functionality of an expanding dining table allow you to buy a relatively small table perfectly suitable for your nice yet humble kitchen space and make it bigger when guests are coming over. For those struggling with a lack of dining space, giving these expandable tables a chance might just be the solution you’ve been looking and praying for. For everyone else, simply take into consideration what your plans are soon and buy a table for two, four, or even eight people. 

Choose the Right Shape

No, believe it or not, it’s not just about the size of the table but the shape as well. Have you heard about King Arthur’s Round Table? Who hasn’t? The idea is simple, a round table offers more seating area while taking up relatively less space than a square or rectangular one. The shape of your dining table should complement the room’s dimensions and layout. Rectangular tables are classic and suit most spaces, particularly longer rooms. Square tables are ideal for smaller, square-shaped rooms, providing an intimate dining experience. Round tables can create a cozy, inclusive atmosphere and are great for small to medium-sized spaces. Oval tables are also an interesting choice; they are somewhere in between the round and rectangular ones, and offer a compromise for those having trouble settling for a specific shape. 

Account for Room Layout and Flow

Now, considering the overall layout of the whole kitchen or dining area, this part goes without saying. When we talked about the dimensions and necessary measures beforehand, we also mentioned how the dining table should be far enough from the kitchen not to disrupt someone’s movement but near enough if hot food needs to be placed there immediately. Now, this is a layout. Having a proper layout and considering it means making the whole area function. For example, If your dining space is part of an open floor plan, consider how the table will interact with adjoining areas like the living room or kitchen. Now, taking these small details into account before making the decision and buying the table can help you get a good idea of how the dining table is going to look in your home and how people will interact with it. The idea is for the dining table to be a place where people love to sit, but if they’re trying to avoid hitting it all day long, they might not be so thrilled about it after all. 

Balance Style with Practicality 

While size and shape are essential, you’ll have to think about how to style the dining table with the whole area while making it practical. The last point on the list is basically thinking about everything at the same time. The table needs to be in tune with the rest of the living area, together with all the other components, while serving a specific purpose that is practical and well-planned. A bulky, ornate table might overwhelm a minimalist room, while a sleek, modern table might look out of place in a traditionally decorated space. You get the basic idea. Considering the use of the material, the wood goes better if the whole kitchen is made from natural elements such as marble and stone, while the cupboards are furnished with oak wood. Also, make sure it’s easy to maintain and clean. 

Who would have thought choosing the size of a table could be so tiresome and require so much thinking and planning ahead? Sure, it takes some time but once you have it all figured out, it’s easy to finally enjoy a nice meal with the family.