How to Choose the Right Dining Table for Your Family

Size the table to the clearance, not to the number of guests you occasionally host. You need about 90 cm between the table edge and the nearest wall so a chair can be pulled out and someone can walk behind it. Measure that first.

Per seat, allow about 60 cm of table edge. A six-seater therefore runs roughly 6ft x 3ft; a four-seater about 3ft x 3ft or 4ft x 2.5ft. Round tables seat people more sociably and have no sharp corners, which matters with small children; rectangular tables fit narrow rooms better.

Choose the top for how the family eats. Solid timber is the most durable and can be re-polished after years of use. Veneer gives the same look for less, but cannot be sanded back as often. Toughened glass is the easiest to clean and suits a modern room, but shows every fingerprint.

Chairs decide comfort. Cushioned seats suit long meals; plain timber is easier to clean with children. Check that the chair slides under the table when pushed in — if it does not, the room will feel crowded.

If the dining area is tight, a wall-side or corner layout recovers a surprising amount of floor.