I don’t know about you, but I
have wild daydreams about being able to host epic dinner parties for upwards of
fifty people at my home – with everyone sitting at the same table, exchanging
stories and eating delicious food (that I cooked myself and is Top Chef worthy,
of course!). But, the reality is that the size dinner party I can host is
directly proportionate to how many people I can fit in my dining room.
This is one of the top
questions I get from clients: how do I pick the right dining table for my
space? So, I wanted to share all my best tips with you!
The Basics
There are three main
measurements to keep in mind while looking for a table:
·
The
width of the table should be a minimum of 3 feet – this allows plenty of room
for both place settings and serving dishes.
·
Leave at
least 42 inches (about 3 ½ feet) between the dining table and the wall (or
other furniture in the room) – this means your guests won’t be slamming their
chairs into the walls whenever they get up!
·
When
considering how many will be able to sit at the table, allow each person about
2 feet – plenty of room for eating without their elbows touching their
neighbors.
Once you’ve got those
measurements in mind and figured out, you can start to decide on the shape and
size of your table.
Round Tables
Round tables are great for
smaller spaces because you can fit more people around a smaller round table –
no corners allow people to sit around all edges. To maximize the seating space
at a round table, go for one with a pedestal base – no legs around the edges
means no legs getting in the way of more chairs.
A 3-foot round table (that’s
3 feet in diameter!) with a pedestal base can comfortably fit 4 people (and you
could probably squeeze in a fifth without it being too uncomfortable!). For
round tables with pedestal bases, for every extra foot in diameter, you can
comfortably add another 2 guests.
So, if a 3-foot table fits 4
people, a 4-foot table can fit 6, a 5-foot table can fit 8, and so on.
The biggest drawback to round
tables is that once they start to get larger, it can be harder to reach the
food on the table. So, for smaller spaces, circular is the way to go! For
larger spaces…
Rectangular Tables
Rectangular tables will be
your best bet in a larger space – especially if the room is long and narrow.
The minimum length of a rectangular table will be about 4 feet – this takes
into account the minimum width of the table being 3 feet.
A 4-foot long rectangular
table will comfortably fit about 4 people. And, for every extra foot and a half
in width, you can comfortably add 2 more guests.
So, if a 4-foot table fits 4
people, a 5-6 foot table can fit 6 people, a 7-foot table can fit 8 guests, and
so on.
Other Things to Keep in Mind
·
If you
choose a wider round or square table, consider a lazy susan for easier access
to the center of the table.
·
When
looking to save space, go bigger on the table and smaller on the seating: try a
bench on one side of the table that can pushed underneath when not in use.
·
Don’t
forget about the leaves! Consider the size of the table when it’s fully
extended to make sure you’re able to use it at full size in your home.
