Start with everyday life – not just with the goals

The right dining table is rarely just the one that looks best in a picture. It's the table that suits the way you live. How many people sit at the table every day? How often do you have guests? Will the table also be used for work, a place to be creative or do homework? And would you prefer a table that stands light and elegant in the room – or a table with more weight and calm?

Many people choose a table based on how many people they can squeeze around it. But in practice, it often makes more sense to choose a table based on how many people you want to sit comfortably at on a daily basis – and then consider flexibility if you often have guests.

How many people can sit at a dining table?

A good rule of thumb is to allow at least 60 cm per person along the edge of the table. In practice, however, it is always a combination of the shape of the table, the width of the chairs and how airy you want to sit. Chairs with armrests take up a little more space, while a table without a frame provides better legroom and makes it easier to get the chairs all the way under the table.

This is also why two tables with almost the same dimensions can be experienced very differently in use. We have tables in different sizes, all of which can be extended with extension leaves. Our circular tables Full Circle are available with diameters of 98, 108 and 118 cm.

Full Circle is a good example of a table that feels calm and space-saving in everyday life, but can be extended when you have guests. The round shape makes the table social and soft in the room, and the long bevel makes the tabletop seem light.

How many people can sit at Come Together?

• Without additional plates: 6 people sit comfortably
• With 1 additional plate: typically 8 people
• With 2 additional sheets: typically up to 10 people

How many people can sit at Harmony?

Harmony is available in 88 x 148 cm, 98 x 148 cm and 108 x 148 cm and can also be expanded with extension leaves. This makes the table ideal if you want a soft and elongated shape, but at the same time be able to adjust the table to different needs.

• Harmony 88 x 148 without plates: 4–6 people
• Harmony 98 x 148 without plates: 4–6 people with a little more space
• Harmony 108 x 148 without plates: 6 people often sit comfortably
• With 1 additional plate: typically 6–8 people
• With 2 additional sheets: typically 8–10 people

Harmony with pull-out (can be extended with up to 2 pull-out leaves)

Why does a table with extension leaves make so much sense?

An extendable dining table is often the best solution if you want a table that is suitable for everyday use but can still accommodate more people when you have guests. This is also why round and oval dining tables with extension leaves have become so popular.

For everyday use, you get a table that looks calm and balanced in the room. When you add leaves, you get extra seating without having to live with a very large table every single day. As a rule of thumb, one additional leaf often provides space for about two extra people.

Round, oval or rectangular dining table?

The shape matters more than many people think. Not only for how many people can sit at the table, but also for how the table is experienced in the room. The most important questions we usually ask our customers are: size, shape, space around the table, daily use, do you have chairs with armrests and do you need the flexibility that an extension and additional leaves provide.

How much space should there be around the dining table?

A table can physically be in a room without it feeling right when you first live with it. That's why it's a good idea to think about the air around the table from the beginning. This makes it easier to pull out the chair, sit comfortably and move around without the dining area feeling cramped.

• If you have access behind the chairs, think more generously.
• If you have chairs with armrests, allow for a little extra width.
• If you have a kitchen, drawers or cupboards close by, remember the daily movement in the room.

Material selection: What does the material mean for the dining table?

When choosing a dining table, it's not just about shape and size. The material matters just as much.

Solid wood

A solid wood dining table is often perceived as warm, vibrant and natural. The surface has depth, grain and small variations that make the table feel like a real piece of furniture rather than a completely uniform surface. It is also a material where joinery details can really come to the fore, such as bevels, joints, roundings and a well-thought-out edge profile.

The advantage of solid wood is that it can be maintained, repaired and, in many cases, sanded down again if it gets scratches, marks or general wear and tear.

Veneered wood

A veneered dining table typically consists of a core that is covered with a thin layer of real wood on the surface. This means that you still get the feel of wood in the visual expression, but often with a more uniform and calm surface than with solid wood. The disadvantage is that veneer is usually less tolerant of deep scratches and hard wear, because the surface layer is thinner.

Linoleum

Linoleum is often used as a surface for dining tables, typically laid on top of a wooden or board structure. It gives a more matte, soft and subdued look than solid wood surfaces, stone and lacquered surfaces. Linoleum often feels pleasant and warm to the touch, and it can give the table a more quiet and refined character in the room. The disadvantage is that it is not as hardy to sharp objects, impacts and very hard wear.

Stone

A dining table with a stone surface, such as marble or granite, often gives a more exclusive, cool and distinctive look. Stone has weight both visually and physically, and it can make the table stand very solidly in the room.

The advantage of stone is that it is often very robust against heat and daily use, depending on the type of stone. The surface typically appears elegant, architectural and more permanent. The disadvantage is especially the weight and that it can feel cold.

Plastics and composite materials (e.g. laminate)

Plastics and various composite materials can be used for dining tables, especially where low weight, high uniformity or a more informal and practical look is desired. They can be very resistant to moisture and easy to clean, and they often make it easier to move the table around.

The advantage is often functionality, low weight and more uncomplicated everyday use. The disadvantage is that the material rarely has the same depth, warmth or texture as wood, stone or linoleum.

Uniformity or play in the material?

Some people prefer a dining table with a calm and uniform surface. Others like to see grain patterns, nuances and small variations. It's all about taste and how it interacts with the rest of the room.

What color dining table should you choose?

The color of the dining table has a lot to do with the overall atmosphere in the room. A dining table takes up a lot of visual space, and therefore it will interact with the floor, walls, chairs, kitchen doors and the lighting in the room.

The best advice is to rarely try to match the floor exactly. It often looks better when the wood tones harmonize than when they try to be exactly the same.

Our advice for a new dining table if you are in doubt

• How many of us sit at the table every day?
• Do we often have guests?
• Would we rather have a light and elegant look or a more solid look?
• Do we have chairs with armrests or do we have tall people who often sit at the table?
• Should the table be expandable with additional leaves?
• Should the table match the floor and kitchen – or should it have its own character?

The choice often becomes easier when you start from your everyday life and then from your space.