The dining table is the hardest-working piece of furniture in your house. It’s where you host holiday feasts, where your kids do their homework, and where you sort out your taxes. It’s a workstation, a craft station, and a conversation station.
The dining table is the hardest-working piece of furniture in your house. It’s where you host holiday feasts, where your kids do their homework, and where you sort out your taxes. It’s a workstation, a craft station, and a conversation station.
Because it serves so many purposes, buying the wrong one is a painful mistake. A table that’s too big chokes the room; one that’s too fragile will be ruined by a stray coffee cup.
Before you fall in love with a showroom setup, here is the essential checklist to ensure your new table fits your home and your lifestyle.
1. The Golden Rule of Spacing
The most common mistake buyers make is misjudging scale. A table might look small in a warehouse-sized furniture store but massive in your dining room.
The 90cm (3 Foot) Rule: You need a minimum of 90cm (36 inches) of clearance between the edge of the table and the nearest wall (or piece of furniture). This allows enough room for a guest to pull their chair out and sit down without feeling trapped. If you have a walkway behind the chairs, aim for 120cm.