Choosing the Perfect Dining Table: Your Guide to Size, Style, and Space Tips

More than just furniture, the dining table is the heart of your home. It’s where meals are shared, stories are told, and memories are made. Choosing the perfect table can feel overwhelming, but don’t worry! This guide will walk you through everything you need to know and some pro tips to consider to help you find the ideal dining table for your space and lifestyle.

Step 1: Find the Right Table Size for Your Space

First, let’s talk space. Your dining table should feel like it belongs, with enough room to move comfortably around it. Here’s how to get it just right:

1. Measure Your Space: 

Make sure you leave at least 3 feet (36 inches) of clearance around the table on all sides for chairs and movement. If you can spare 4 feet (48 inches), even better!  Don't forget about other furniture pieces in the room, like sideboards, buffets or bar cabinets, and make sure those pieces are not in your chair space.

2. Consider your Seating:

Choosing the right table size isn't just about the tabletop--it's also about making sure your chairs fit comfortably. Here are a few thoughts:

To ensure everyone has enough elbow room, plan for about 24-30 inches of table edge per person. This accounts for the width of the chairs and allows your guests to sit comfortably without feeling crowded. We'll show a table below to help you choose the right table size based on seating width.

3. Pick a Shape That Fits:

Pictured: Ella Round Dining Table (48"D) from Saloom Furniture paired with Camila Dining Chair. Perfect for smaller rooms.

• Round Tables are perfect for smaller spaces or square rooms.  Since they're round, you can be a little more flexible with the seating and sit an odd number of chairs. Combine with a pedestal base style and you'll create plenty of legroom and efficient use of space. Round tables are also appealing as they foster discussion and conversation.
• Square Tables create an intimate feel for smaller dining areas but can also make a bold statement in larger spaces. These also work in square rooms. Pedestal bases are good options for square tables, too, and the styling of the pedestal base is often a wonderful conversation piece.

Pictured: Emerson Dining Table from Saloom Furniture. Rectangular table that is perfect in these longer, spacious rooms, and in sizes 72"L, 80"L and 96"L for seating up to 10 and three Emerson Extension Table options for seating up to 14! Paired with the Camila Dining Chair.

• Rectangular Tables work best in longer, more spacious rooms. Consider the leg styles, too. The standard four leg tables are most common. You'll also find pedestal, multi-pedestal and even some angled, visually-appealing options. Most of our tables fit one person  (and at most 2) along the short side and one up to six along the long.
• Extension Tables give you maximum versatility, so you can be comfortable but space-conscious when it's just your family, and can expand to create more space when your guests arrive. 

4. Choose the Right Size for the Room:

Once you've established the size your room can comfortably accommodate, the type and quantity of seating you need and the shape and style of the tabletop, consider these additional thoughts.

• Small Dining Areas: Go for a round or square table, 36-48 inches wide. These are good options when the space is smaller, and the table is not always the centerpiece of the room.
• Medium-Sized Rooms: In most medium-sized rooms, a rectangular table, 60-72 inches long, is ideal. These are the most common tables, easily seating 6--one on each end and two on each side, but enough room to squeeze in an extra person if you needed to.
• Large Spaces: Opt for a large rectangular table, 84+ inches, to fill the room proportionately. With the larger tables, the table is often the centerpiece of the room, so you will want to make sure you allow appropriate space so the table is appreciated and enjoyed.

Pictured: Azara Dining Table from Greenington in beautiful Sable Finish. The Azara Dining Table is a fixed-top 72"L table, comfortably seating 6. Paired with the Currant Chair (19.5"W) and the Azara Sideboard. Also available Azara Bench  (55"L)

Step 2: Match Table Size to Your Dining Needs

Once you’ve nailed down what fits your space, think about how you’ll use it:

• Everyday Dining: If it’s just you or your small family, a 4-6 person table (48-60 inches long or 36-48 inches round) is plenty.
• Frequent Hosts: If you entertain often, consider a larger 72-inch table for 6-8 people or an extendable table to accommodate guests.
• Big Gatherings: An 84-96 inch table can seat 8-10 people comfortably, perfect for holidays or large dinners.

For versatility, consider extension tables with built-in, self-storing leaves. Brands like Copeland, Greenington, and Saloom offer innovative designs that make it easy to expand your table when needed. These are perfect for anyone who wants a compact table for daily life but the flexibility to host big dinners.

Step 3: Make Your Dining Space Perfect

Now that you’ve chosen the right size, let’s ensure your dining area feels warm, inviting, and functional:

• Light It Up: A pendant or chandelier hung 30-36 inches above the table adds ambiance and focus.
• Size the Rug Right: If you’re adding a rug, it should extend at least 24 inches beyond the table on all sides. This keeps chairs on the rug, even when pulled out.

• Mix & Match for Style: Don’t be afraid to pair your table with different chair styles. Just keep them within a similar height range for comfort. Often, decorators will use armchairs or upholstered chairs on the table ends, with side chairs on the sides.  For more versatility, flexibility or to seat more children, don't be afraid to pair your dining table with a dining bench! Benches can be tucked under the table when not in use to create more room.
• Don't Forget Comfort: While wood seats on dining chairs are great for easy cleanup, nothing beats the comfort of an upholstered seat. Your guests' behinds will appreciate the extra padding, especially during longer meals. The fully-upholstered chair look is also very classy and stylish.

Pictured: Devon Round Dining Table featuring a handmade pedestal base from Saloom Furniture. Paired with the Camila Upholstered Dining Chair. Also placed on a beautiful Cosmos Rug from Anji Mountain. Notice that the rug is sized so the pulled-out chair will still fit on the rug.

• Consider your Storage: Thinking about buffets or sideboards ahead of time to keep dining essentials close at hand is a wise idea. If the storage is an afterthought, you may be forced to use some of the buffer space around the chairs to fit your storage, putting the room off-balance and sacrificing comfort from your guests. Many dining benches incorporate storage, too, allowing you to be multi-functional and space saving at the same time.
• Choose Durable, Eco-Friendly Materials: At Haiku Designs, all our tables are crafted from solid wood. Options range from bamboo by Greenington to North American hardwoods from Copeland and Saloom. We also carry sustainable woods like acacia and mango from Home Trends & Design, as well as teak from Harmonia Living and HiTeak. Each table combines timeless style with a commitment to sustainability, making them a beautiful and responsible choice for your home.

Table Seating to Table Length Conversion

Considering the rules-of-thumb above, we put together this table to help you pinpoint just how large of a table you will need to seat your desired number of people.  Figure out the number of people you would like to accommodate at your table, then factor in the width of your chairs and amount of extra space you would prefer your table placement to have and the chart will tell you the minimum table size you would need to make it work.

Options:

• Minimum - Side chairs average about 16 to 18 inches wide, so the minimum you would want to try to get away with is 18 inches, allowing for a little extra space between chairs, but this can get tight, however, for special occasions, this can be appropriate. 
• Average - Arm chairs average about 20 to 24 inches wide, so to fit armchairs, we factor in some additional space. This also gives a little more room for Side Chairs or Benches to ensure you're not bumping elbows with your neighbor.
• Comfortable - With the 30 inches of space, you'll also have an additional buffer of space, so you can relax and have more room. On smaller tables, or tables for 6 people or less, 30 inches or more are ideal.
• Spacious - Definitely creates a relaxed space with plenty of room for your dining space, space for elaborate centerpieces or dishes, this creates the most personal space for your diners, but while 36 inches or larger for your diners is very spacious for smaller tables, it demands a huge footprint for larger tables.

For everyday tables, you should trend toward Comfortable, Spacious or even level-up to a larger table.  For more formal dining tables with larger capacity, to use space more wisely, trend toward Minimum or Average and forego armchairs, just consider the space for your guests to ensure you have the perfect table to match with your dining needs. The choice is ultimately yours, but this information can help you make the right tradeoffs between comfort versus capacity--especially if you can't fit a gigantic table in your smaller room! :)

For Round Tables, we have a little more flexibility and can sometimes add an extra chair without much difficulty.  Based on Diameter, the following table references the most common sizes.

Closing Thoughts

Your dining table is more than just a surface—it’s the stage for your most meaningful moments. By taking the time to measure your space, understand the sizes of your seating and "personal space", think about your needs, and consider these tips, you’ll create a dining area that’s functional, beautiful and comfortable.

At Haiku Designs, we believe in offering not just style, but sustainability. Our team is here to help you find the perfect dining table, whether you’re hosting grand gatherings or creating a cozy dining nook. Explore our eco-friendly collection today, or give us a call—we’d love to help you create the dining space of your dreams.

Here’s to living mindfully and beautifully! Until next time,

Sienna Fernwood, Haiku Designs Blogger

Signing off with a heart full of green and a mind buzzing with design ideas!

P.S. There's a lot of information here, but don't be daunted--contact us at Haiku Designs (800-736-7614) and share your room dimensions and we'll be happy to help you with some of the calculations and measurements to make sure you've got the perfect dining space.