You want your dining room to offer comfortable seating, especially for when you have guests. It’s a plus if it is done in style.
How Do I Choose The Right Table
It’s nice for folks to feel appreciated, and it’s also good to be practical. How can you combine the two without sacrificing quality in a dining room table? To begin with, it certainly helps to know a little about what’s out there.
Let’s talk generalities first…
Circular tables do a great job of making all seated guests feel included. Your immediate neighbors and those across from you all feel equally involved.
Square and rectangular tables have advantages. Depending on how many guests you need to accommodate, the tables can be combined to increase seating capacity. They also line up well, whether you’re working with two or ten, and they can push up squarely against the wall, allowing for an efficient layout that can accommodate a much larger party.
Typically, a table of the standard size of 36 by 48 inches will suffice to seat four people.
For six people, you would need a rectangular one at 36” x 60”.
Beyond that, you’ll start looking at tables that are 36” x 78”, which may accommodate up to eight guests.
Naturally, after you’ve found an appealing table, you must first be certain that it will fit. Scope out the space you have to work with and take it from there.
Select a table that will comfortably sit in the area. Measure it precisely and do the math.
Ideally, you want between three to four feet from the table’s edge to the wall or nearby furniture. Spaciousness will be especially appreciated by the guests who have to walk around others who are seated to get to their own seats.
Extendable tables are great for their versatility. In particular, Gateleg tables have flaps that 
fold out. Other types include tables that separate from center allowing an additional middle island to be inserted.
If you have a family of four, you can dine on it every night, but when you have guests, you can adjust it to accommodate up to eight.
You’re all set if that’s the number of people you’ll ever host.
However, if there’s an occasion when the number of people could outnumber the seating space, simply set up a collapsible table as an addition with a tablecloth concealing its dinky folding design.
If your table is to serve primarily as an eating or workspace, you may want to forgo any type of lacquering. An un-tampered wood that could easily be re-oiled or painted is even better.
You want it to last for years, so your best bet is a practical hardwood surface that doesn’t ding easily.
Try mahogany, walnut, maple, or oak. Tables made of engineered or composite woods, such as those at a lower price point, are also available, but be wary—they aren’t nearly as durable.
Of course, you may decide to avoid wood types entirely and go with a glass table. Glass fits well with nearly any decor and brightens nearly any space.
Plus, since it is safety-tempered, it will be scratch-resistant and won’t shatter in a dangerous display of flying shards. They’re not the tables of decades past. They’re quite safe.
Another alternative is the impressive look of marble. Tables crafted from it are undoubtedly beautiful, but they are equally bulky and heavy.
You must look after them carefully, as they are prone to being stained or cracked. Red wine is a particularly nasty culprit, so tablecloths and placemats are recommended.
Despite this, marble makes quite a statement if you want a luxurious table for the long run and you’re willing to maintain it.
We’ve been discussing some pretty profound—and solid—choices. But what if you need a 
table that can be moved easily? Maybe you need to get up and go fairly often and are unable to lay down any real roots.
A heavy table simply would not work. A smaller round or wooden table with detachable legs may be ideal.
There are plenty of helpful options to ease this scenario, such as the plywood ‘pack and go’ dining room table. It can be packed flat and easily assembled, making it perfect for when furniture that can be moved quickly and easily is needed.
Undoubtedly, a classic table that has endured years of changes in the furniture landscape is the country-style dining table.
It is large enough and suitable for those who entertain often. It’s made of the sturdiest woods, usually timber, oak, or pine. It has a timeless design that makes it appropriate for nearly any motif. It’s definitely proven to have staying power.
Now that you know what’s out there, what type of dining table do you think you’ll choose?
Check ‘em out in person; you may be more impressed, plus you never know what else may happen to catch your eye. The world of dining room tables is large – you never have to settle!
