How to buy a dining table you’ll love for years
Looking for just the right dining table? The perfect place to share a meal with family and friends, your dining room table is an investment that will do a lot of heavy lifting in your home. Daily meals. Possibly some home or office work. Maybe a science project or two. But most importantly, a place where many happy memories are made by spending time with loved ones.
So, what does the perfect dining table look like for you? Small or large? Round or rectangle? Wood or glass tabletop? The Amart team has helped thousands of customers choose a dining table that meets their needs and suits their space. So, we’re sharing our top tips with you here in our dining table buying guide.
Choosing the right dining table shape for your dining room
If you’re like most people, a rectangular dining table is what comes to mind when you think of a dinner table. That’s because most dining rooms are rectangular and, naturally, a rectangular shape works well for this reason. However, there are plenty of reasons to consider other shapes of dining tables, such as round, square, and oval. Here’s some information about each shape:
Rectangular dining tables - rectangular tables are best for people with larger families or who like to entertain. The rectangular tabletop lends itself nicely to sharing food and drink amongst many people and allows for flexibility to use bench seats to fit more people around the table than conventional dining chairs.
Square dining tables - a square table looks best in a square-shaped dining area and creates a close, even proximity for people dining around the table. Depending on table size, you can seat four people at a small table, eight at a large table, and so on. An expandable square table will become a rectangle to seat even more guests.
Round dining tables - the hero of smaller spaces! Round dining room tables are compact due to their curves so they can be a good choice for allowing walkway flow in an open-plan living room. Round tables are better suited to smaller gatherings, creating an easy conversation amongst diners due to their close proximity.
Oval dining tables - you don’t see many oval tables these days. They are a great option for formal dining rooms and can seat more guests around the ends of the table due to their rounded edges.
What to consider before choosing a dining table
There are a few essentials to keep in mind on your search for the perfect dining table. Here are a few factors to get you started:
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Shape - which table shape will suit your room?
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Size - measure your space carefully and mark it out with tape to get a firm idea of the size you want. Remember to leave 90cm clearance from the table edge for each chair to be pulled out.
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Material - Consider your lifestyle and budget when choosing from our range made with timber, timber look, glass top, steel, metal or MDF materials.
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Extendable dining table - A table with an extendable functionality like the La Salle Mk3 2200 Extension Dining Table is the ultimate way to scale up your daily use dining table for dinner parties.
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Style of table - are you looking for something to suit your current interior design style? Or do you need a classic style that won’t date?
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Table height - The standard height of a dining table is between 71cm and 76cm. Keep in mind the exact height of your table when choosing dining chairs.
Glass dining table vs wood table
Which to choose? Glass or wood? Both materials have excellent selling points.
Glass dining tables brighten the room by reflecting the available light and making the space look and feel bigger because you can see through it. Glass tabletops have a sophisticated look and are popular in modern homes but can also be adapted to classic styles depending on the pedestal/table frame you choose. What’s more, cleaning up spills and mess is a breeze because they’re easy to wipe clean.
Wood tables exude comfort creating a welcoming atmosphere with their natural wood grain and warm colour. They are durable, often becoming a piece that is handed down over generations. Solid wood can be turned into various interior design styles, or you can choose a timeless piece that will endure through passing design trends.
Matching your dining table to your interior design
At Amart, there’s a dining table to match every interior design style. From open-plan Hamptons living areas to the light woods, creams, and tans of Scandi décor. There are large, solid wood tables like the contemporary Argento 2700mm Dining Table which form a focal point in the room, drawing people to come together for meals. Or you could go glam luxe with the Saladas Dining Table featuring a white marble-look top and sturdy black metal legs.
Another option to consider is classic pieces of furniture like dining tables and sideboards you can update over time with dining chairs in a new theme. The rectangular Settler 1800 Dining Table or the round Kalaban Dining Table are both solid, classic options.
Cleaning and looking after your dining table
Now, you’ll want to keep your dining room furniture looking sharp for years to come. This will require a little regular cleaning and maintenance. Different materials and styles of tables require slightly different cleaning techniques. Here are some cleaning tips:
Timber and timber-look: Wipe your wooden table with a slightly damp cloth. For anything stubborn or sticky, add a drop of dish soap to some warm water and rub the spot with a sponge. Dry your table with a soft cloth after wiping. Also, keep in mind that water and heat can damage timber. So don’t position your table directly next to a heater and try to mop up spills immediately or they may leave a watermark.
Glass: To clean your glass dining tabletop, use a generous spray of glass cleaner and around 5 paper towels bunched up. Give your table a good rub, then fluff your paper towels and wipe the table again to get any bits you may have missed. Buff the glass with a soft, microfibre cloth to finish.
Marble-look and MDF: Use a mild all-purpose cleaner and cloth to wipe your tabletop then give it another wipe with a damp cloth to remove any residue from the cleaning product.
Metal: Metal tabletops and table legs can be wiped with distilled white vinegar or a mild cleanser like dish soap in water. Avoid harsh soaps as this can tarnish the metal.
Choosing the right dining chairs for your dining table
Do you have your tape measure ready? Good, you’ll need it. When buying dining chairs that aren’t within a dining table set, it’s important to not only choose the right style but also the right dimensions. Let’s start with size.
The height of your chairs is important because you don’t want to sit too low at your table. And, equally importantly, you need to make sure your dining chair back is taller than the tabletop by at least 10cm so that they don’t disappear under the table.
Dining chair width is also important because the wrong chair can mean you won’t fit as many seats around your table as you’d planned. Depending on the dining table design, the legs can obstruct a dining chair. So, measure the distance between the table legs to work out how many chairs will fit along the length of the table, ensuring a sufficient gap between the chairs for access and elbow space while dining.
With size taken care of, let’s look at the style. A dining table and dining chairs don’t have to be the same material. Think marble tabletops with upholstered or leather chairs such as a Loire Dining Chair. Or a timber table with a dining chair featuring a timber frame and a woven fabric seat. The Wishbone Replica MKII Dining Chair, while still timber, is broken up by the woven material. So, bringing a different material in via your dining chair can lift your look and create visual interest.
Making smaller spaces look bigger with the right dining furniture
Small space? No problem! Here are some big ideas on what you can do with small dining rooms, nooks, or dinettes.
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Table shape - a round or square shape might give you more options for taking up less space. However, you could also consider a rectangular tabletop and run seating down the sides only, freeing up space at the head and end.
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Material - A glass tabletop will be less of a visual barrier than a solid tabletop. You could pair it with a dining chair that has a low or cut-out back such as the Elsa Dining Chair.
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Zone - Cement the purpose of your dining space by hanging some wall art above the table and putting down a floor rug under your dining suite.
Accessories to decorate your new dining table
Your perfect dining table is in place. Now it’s time for some decorations to brighten up daily meals. You might like to try:
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Placemats and tablecloths - these are attractive and protect your new table from scratches.
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A fruit bowl - bursting with the colours of nature’s candy.
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Vases - filled with fresh, dried, or artificial flowers.
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Candle holders or candelabra - for a candle-lit dinner.
If you’re having a dinner party, you could create an ambient space by running real or artificial plant greenery up the length of the table and threading some battery-operated fairy lights through it.
At last! The dining table of your dreams. Bon Appetit!
