If the kitchen is the heart of the home, the dining table is the pulse: It’s a social hub where family and friends gather round to share stories and food; regale highlights of the day; make memories; have fun and laugh; play games; and celebrate important occasions as well as the daily routines that make up the fabric of our lives.
We’ll sit down at our kitchen or dining table to read the paper while we have breakfast. Families will enjoy quality time together over dinner before homework gets done. We might use our dining table as a home office or desk space. And then, of course, there’s the dinner parties, socialising, entertaining, birthdays, and Christmases.
Being the foundation of family life, your kitchen or dining table, then, needs to be functional and practical as well as aesthetically-pleasing. So what are some of the things you need to think about before buying your next table? Here are a few questions you might want to ponder before making a purchase.
How much should I spend?
It’s a good idea to pick a budget and stick to it. However, remember that a good-quality dining table should last for many years so can be seen as an investment if you do want to spend more.
What style should I go for?
Have a look at your house and see what you think will fit best with the decor. If you like a rustic or modern country look, a salvaged or reclaimed wood dining table may be perfect for you. If you’re a vintage or retro fan, a mid-century modern piece should fit in nicely. Industrial design lovers should look out for steel frames and zinc tops, while contemporary-chic admirers should go for glamorous modern materials like marble, brass, or fibreglass. Nordic or Scandi enthusiasts should stick to clean lines and a pared-back blond oak style.
What dining table shape should I choose?
The shape of your kitchen or dining table is down to personal taste, but can also be informed by the size of your house and shape of your rooms. A round table is a really sociable style to choose, and works well in smaller spaces. An oval kitchen or dining table is ideal for narrower areas, while a rectangular table is great for larger rooms and open plan kitchens.
How big should a dining table be?
The size of your kitchen or dining table really depends on how much room you have and how big your family is. If you love hosting friends but you’ve also got a big family and not a huge space, an extending table might be the perfect solution; something that has the ability to host large groups but that can be made smaller for day-to-day life.
Looking at different styles, price ranges, shapes and sizes, we’ve served up a selection of some of our favourite kitchen and dining tables below.
Extending dining tables
Toaster extending table
Best for: Family feasts
Style: Country kitchen
Material: Reclaimed fir
Seats: Up to 10 people
Big family? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Whether you’ve got your own burgeoning brood, or just more siblings and cousins than you can count on both hands, this lovely ‘Loafing’ extendable table ensures there’s a place for everybody. As well as being mighty practical (you can take out those extending leaves when everybody’s headed home), it looks great, too; its beached timber finish adds a contemporary feel to the traditional country style and the reclaimed fir brings a natural warmth without ever feeling overly rustic.
£855 | Loaf | Buy it now
See all dining tables from Loaf here.
Jenson extending dining table
Best for: 50s fans
Style: Mid-century modern
Material: Oak and MDF
Seats: From 6 to 8 people
The warm brown colour, the simple design, the slightly curved legs — this mid-century modern dining table is oozing vintage-y vibes. It’s an elegant, slim piece, making it perfect for apartments or period properties. It’s 1950s-inspired, fun and fabulous - what more could you need? Room to fit more people, you say? Ah, yes, that too. It goes from a six-seater to an eight-seater with the handy extension leaf hiding under the table top. Sorted.
£529 | MADE | Buy it now
See all dining tables on SALE now from MADE here.
Bergen solid oak extending dining table
Best for: Scandinavian style set
Style: Nordic and nice
Material: Solid oak
Seats: Up to 8 normally, 10 when extended
Some people like to make a grand statement with their kitchen or dining tables, but lovers of the new Nordic trend believe that clean lines and minimalism is best. The beautiful blond solid oak fits the Scandi style further. The no-fuss design lets the food - and company - do the talking and, with the ability to fit up to 10 people around this dining table, we’re sure there’ll be plenty of memory-making good times around it. A smaller, non-extending version of the table is also available.
£1195 | Rose & Grey | Buy it now
Round dining tables
Mörbylånga table
Best for: Everyday essentials
Style: Clean and current
Material: Oak veneer
Seats: 4 comfortably, 6 squeezed in
If you’re looking for a stylish yet fail-safe round kitchen table, this affordable number is just the ticket. Crack open the Cornflakes, pop a pot of coffee on, break out the pasta bake — this contemporary wooden dining spot will be the backdrop for busy breakfasts, family dinners and everything in between.
£450 | Ikea | Buy it now
Silhouette pedestal dining table
Best for: Intimate dinner parties
Style: Grown-up glamour
Material: Marble and metal
Seats: Up to 4
Your guests will marvel at this marble beauty. The ultra-glam round dining table, with its antique brass finish base and beautifully grained solid marble top, is the ultimate accent piece. Don’t forget, marble is a porous material so can stain relatively easily; this beauty is best kept for adults-only suppers and stylish soirées.
£899 | West Elm | Buy it now
Also avaliable from John Lewis & Partners.
Contemporary round table
Best for: Design-led dinner times
Style: Contemporary cool
Material: Solid concrete
Seats: 4 to 6
Call off the search! We’ve found that seriously stylish and sociable designer round dining table you’ve been looking for. Concrete makes a fabulous material for kitchen and dining tables, fitting into any house decor style, from industrial to modern country, and also being durable, robust and timeless. Grab your friends, a bottle of bubbles and let the good times - and fabulous feasts - roll.
£1200 | Rockett St George | Buy it now
Oval dining tables
Andersen dining table
Best for: Vintage vibes
Style: 60s Scandi
Material: Sheesham wood
Seats: 6 to 8
Any retro fan will fall in love with this oval dining table created with a nod to 60s Scandinavian style. The sheesham wood, also known as Indian rosewood, is stained a warming shade of brown and is smooth to touch. The oval shape makes it ideal for slightly narrower dining rooms, yet it’s big enough to fit up to eight guests for stylish get-togethers. Team with industrial lights if you want to add a dash of modern.
£659 | Maisons du Monde | Buy it now
See all affordable dining tables from Maisons de Monde here.
Aly Elm dining table
Best for: Big family gatherings
Style: Modern farmhouse
Material: Elm wood
Seats: Up to 8 people
Add a fresh farmhouse feel to your home with this oval-shaped elm wood dining table. The traditional trestle-style legs are given a modern makeover with a gorgeous soft-grey finish. Team with natural-material chairs like rattan or wicker for an earthy look, and dress the table with wild flowers and linen napkins for a charming rustic appeal.
£971.25 | Graham & Green | Buy it now
Meadowland dining table
Best for: Sophisticated but relaxed socialising
Style: Barn to be beautiful
Material: Oak veneer
Seats: 6 to 8
Rustic does not have to mean timeworn or shabby. Case in point? This beautiful oval table from Anthropologie, which boasts a formal farmhouse feel. The mix is perfect for a dining table that you want to work really hard; it’s ideal for sophisticated suppers but also hosts homework club just as smoothly. The design is simple yet elegant and would slip seamlessly into any home decor style.
£1798 | Anthropologie | Buy it now
See all dining tables from Anthropologie here.
Rectangle dining tables
Zinc rectangle dining table
Best for: Cool weekend brunches and great value
Style: Sleek industrial chic
Material: Zinc and reclaimed wood
Seats: Up to 6 people
Industrial design fans will love this sophisticated take on the trend. The zinc-coated rectangular dining table offers up a simple piece that also makes a statement. It’s perfect for anybody that wants to add a modern industrial edge to their kitchen or dining room without going all-out; the reclaimed wood frame throws in a little rustic texture, which nicely contrasts the utilitarian top.
£695 | French Connection | Buy it now
Branch dining table
Best for: Timeless tastemakers
Style: Black is back
Material: Wire-brushed oak and steel
Seats: Up to 8 people
Matt black is definitely back on the dining table trend agenda. With this sophisticated piece, you won’t fall victim to any ‘fads’, however. This black rectangular table is totally timeless; it gives a nod to the industrial with its powdercoated steel sculptural legs, while its wire-brushed oak top means the finish is textured and natural yet fun and functional, perfect for modern living.
£971.25 | Heal’s | Buy it now
See all dining tables on SALE from Heal's here.
Woburn reclaimed dining table
Best for: Making a rustic-luxe statement and families with kids
Style: Modern rustic
Material: Reclaimed wood and raw steel
Seats: 6 people comfortably
Unless you’ve been living under the proverbial rock, you’ve probably noticed that modern rustic’s having a moment. Created with wood salvaged from old buildings, factories and properties across the UK, this character-rich reclaimed rectangular dining table will make a real talking-point piece in your home. Showing nicks, marks and grain from its previous life, but finished in a matte natural wax, the timeworn top offers a refined rustic aesthetic. Added bonus? It’s extremely stain-resistant and easily wipes clean with a damp cloth. Bring on the sticky fingers and the red wine…
£1690 | Rust Collections | Buy it now
Square dining tables
Hensley dining table
Best for: Café-cool breakfasts and anyone on a budget
Style: Bistro-meets-factory feels
Material: Reclaimed acacia wood and metal
Seats: Up to 4 people
Who doesn’t love pulling up a pew in a bustling bistro? Bring the café vibe home with Wayfair’s factory-chic square dining table. Its exposed beam-style metal base and reclaimed wood top offer a funky warehouse vibe, and its rugged good looks will impress any guest. What’s more, it’s small enough for a kitchen but big enough for a slim dining room, too.
£396.99 | Wayfair | Buy it now
See all dining tables on SALE from Wayfair here.
Ellis dining table
Best for: Small kitchens and dinner à deux
Style: The new industrial
Material: Mango wood and steel
Seats: Up to 4 people
Picture this: You’re enjoying an intimate dinner for two, candlelight flickering and good wine flowing. You’d be forgiven for thinking you’re at a trendy restaurant but, no, thanks to the super-stylish Ellis square dining table, you’ve got cosy eaterie feels right at home. The matt black legs and wood are a great industrial design pairing, but the parquet top adds a new twist to the look. This space-saving table is perfect for small kitchens and dining rooms, and will get you out of any tight spot.
£499 | Swoon Editions | Buy it now
See all dining tables from Swoon Editions here.
San Quentin Tahoe square dining table
Best for: Sociable group get-togethers and big dining rooms
Style: Lodge-luxe cabin decor
Material: Reclaimed pine
Seats: 8 people comfortably, more at a squeeze
Whisk yourself off to an Alpine chalet or a lodge in the Californian lakes with this rustic-charm chunky reclaimed square dining table. Perfect for a large dining room, it’s got fun-filled big dinner parties written all over it. Team it with leather chairs and an Aztec-print rug for a really authentic look. We’ve definitely got cabin fever, have you?
£699 | Barker & Stonehouse | Buy it now
Verdict:
For aesthetics (who doesn’t love a beachy look?), practicality (fits into a smaller home but can host large groups), and price (not cheap-as-chips but still good value) the Toaster extending table from Loaf gets our vote as a good all-rounder kitchen and/or dining table.
We’ve all been told many times we should never do this but, if we were judging on looks alone, we’re also a little bit in love with the round marble dining table from West Elm. Sigh.
