A dining table earns its keep: meals, homework, working from home, the occasional craft disaster. It’s worth choosing carefully. Here’s what actually matters.
Get the size right
Allow about 60cm of width per person for comfortable elbow room, and at least 30cm of depth each side. Just as important, leave around 90 to 100cm between the table edge and the nearest wall or furniture, so chairs can pull out and people can walk past. Measure the room before you fall in love with a table.
Shape for the space
- Rectangular is the classic: it seats the most and suits long rooms.
- Round is sociable and forgiving in tight or square rooms, with no sharp corners.
- Oval gives the capacity of a rectangle with a softer footprint.
Material and top
Teak is our pick. It can be sanded and refinished, so years of life only add character. Look for a substantial top and well-made joinery at the legs and aprons, because that’s where a table is tested every day. Avoid thin veneers over board for a piece that takes this much use.
The base matters more than you think
Four-leg, pedestal or trestle: each changes how many people you can seat and where they can sit. Pedestal and trestle bases free up the corners; four legs are sturdiest for very long tables.
Buy for the decade
It’s tempting to size for today. Instead, think about the next few years. A table that comfortably seats six most days but extends or fits eight when needed will serve you far longer. Buy the piece you’ll grow into, in a material that ages well, and it becomes the heart of the home rather than a thing you replace.
Written by the Rohm team.