Fitting the table to your space is important to ensure a comfortable and visually appealing room. A good rule of thumb is to leave a distance of 3-4 feet between the edges of the table and the surrounding walls or furniture, to allow for ease of movement around the room.
Choose a table size based on the number of people who will use it regularly; allow at least 2 feet per individual place setting. Consider a table with built-in leaves for expansion when needed for larger groups. Table width is also important, to ensure plenty of room for plates and serving pieces. A minimum width of 3 feet is a good guideline to keep in mind.
While rectangular tables are the most popular and often fit most easily in a rectangular room, a square or round table can be more beneficial for conversation.
Wood tables with carved detail work well in a more traditional setting while a mix of wood, metal and/or glass tends to be more contemporary.
To maximize your space, many sets feature storage drawers or shelving built in to the base – a great way to store table linens, small serving pieces or even favorite board games.
Be realistic about how you live and how you will use your table when choosing a style. Do you have kids? If so, durability and cleanability should be considered. Do you need a table that can accommodate many different-sized groups? Look for a table with multiple leaves for greatest flexibility. Remember that no matter how great it looks, a table is not a good value if it ends up gathering dust because it is too inconvenient, too large, too uncomfortable, too small or too hard to maintain. Chosen correctly, a table will bring your space to life for many years to come.