Finally, estimating the right clearance space around your table can be a big deciding factor in your dining table too, keeping in mind the space for carrying dishes, pulling out chairs and manoeuvring past others during those mid-meal kitchen breaks.

In our Milola Dining Table Size Guide, we’re here to break down some of the big questions around choosing the perfect dining table, explore some of the different options available and help you find the right table for your home. 

When selecting your table, a good place to start is by measuring up your dining space and working out exactly how much open space you have for your table and chairs. This means calculating the total size of the room, and subtracting any pieces of additional furniture, fireplaces, protruding wall features and window seats. 

We recommend leaving a space of around 80cm around your dining table, to allow for easy walking and for your chairs to be pulled out in full. This might mean rearranging some larger pieces of display or storage furniture or considering a smaller table to help accommodate the space available. 

When measuring your table, consider the edge of your tabletop to be the start of your 80cm clearance space, and make sure when selecting chairs that they will be able to smoothly move between the table and any walls or furniture pieces. 

A similar method is used for measuring space for an extendable dining table, however you need to be able to measure the table at its full extension, as well as its standard size. The Artisan TARA table, for example, sits at 120cm at standard length but offers up to 55cm in extension. 

Consider if you might need to move any pieces of furniture for occasions where the table is extended, and how easy they might be to relocate to make room for extra guests and chairs. 

Finally, consider how many additional chairs you’ll be able to fit around your table at full extension, after leaving the recommended 20cm gap between each individual chair. This can impact the length of extension you might require to comfortably seat all of your guests.  

For rectangular tables, for example, divide the length by the width of your chairs plus the gap you want between each chair - this will give you the number of chairs you can fit down each side, and then you can decide if you want to add one on each end too. 

Do however, take into account the placement of the legs when doing this calculation. For round tables you can take the circumference of the table (there are many online calculators that give you this if you input the diameter) and then divide this by the width of your chairs plus the gap you want between them. Again you need to take into account placement of legs as this may restrict where chairs can be placed.

The size of your dining table will often depend on the size of the space it can fit in, and whilst a smaller area can reduce the number of tables available, many tables can work perfectly in both large and small dining rooms. 

Round dining tables, for example, are considered a great fit for smaller spaces, as they typically take up less space and offer more space around them without any sharp corners or edges. Many round dining tables are available in 100cm-120cm diameter, which can seat around 4 people, making them perfect for small dinner parties and families. As examples, the STELLA Round Table, LEIF Ceramic Round Table and the  DASH Round Table all offer varying aesthetic styles but are available in different diameter sizes too – making them a great option for those with more compact dining spaces.  

Another factor to consider when dining in small spaces is the design of your chairs – as chairs that can be fully tucked under your table or neatly stored away are a useful choice to create more space around the table itself. The NEVA Chair from Artisan offers a low back option, for example, whereas the Skovby #811 offers a straight back for easy storage. You might even consider stools or benches for a backless option in your dining space. 

The ideal shape of your dining table can depend on a number of factors:

• The space available in your dining room

• The number of seats required around it 

• The aesthetic design of your space

• The chair designs you want to use with it 

• The budget you have available for your table 

It’s important to take into consideration the room you have available as different shaped tables will take up different amounts of room and require different measurements to ensure they fit easily into your room.

For oval and rectangular tables, for example, the length of your space is the most important element to consider, as well as the placement of individual chairs around it. For oval tables, in particular, you must decide not only how far apart you would like your chairs to be but also if you plan to seat guests at the very tip of the oval as well. 

Aesthetics also play a big role in the shape of your dining table as different styles can impact the overall look and feel of your dining room. A circular table is often seen as a more casual and informal option, whereas an oval table can be associated with luxury and elegance. Materials can vary between different table designs as well, with wood, metal, glass and ceramic all creating various aesthetic styles designed to complement your space. For those wishing to customise their tables, it’s important to evaluate the different textures, finishes, styles and sizes you have to play with depending on the shape of each table. 

We know that choosing your perfect dining table isn’t an easy decision, and there are so many factors to consider and evaluate before placing your order. But our guide is designed to help make that purchasing process as easy as possible and take some of the stress out of shopping. 

With a huge range of customisable dining tables available at Milola, we can work with you to find your dream dining furniture. Pop into our showroom to take a look at our selection or speak to one of our team to get some more information on our products.