Get comfortably seated in the heart of your dining room as you enjoy your meals with your loved ones. Never worry about having to get sandwiched in between guests or bumping arms onto the person next to you as you’re picking up your utensils.

Needless to say, we know it can get a little bit tricky when it comes to finding that perfect, accurate table size and seating arrangement to fit everyone in. Fret not! This article comes with all the useful tips that will come in handy when planning for your seating space. Let’s go into a step-by-step checklist to find the perfect table shape, size and seating arrangement for your home.

#1 Choose a shape to fit your space

First and foremost, it’s really important to consider how wide or narrow, and big or small the size of your dining space is. Once you’ve done the measurements or have the dimensions in hand, it’s time to select the best suited table shape for your dining room! You’ll find that certain shapes fit better in certain homes, so let’s explore the options and help narrow down the search for you.

Rectangle

Featuring the Straight Edge Hexo Black Walnut Table with the Straight Edge Sawyer Bench

Featuring the Live Edge Bookmatched Slab Black Walnut Table with the Rios Brass Legs

What we love most about the rectangular table is its versatility. Create a clean, structured dining space with straight-edged tables, like our Straight Edge Black Walnut tables. Or try something different with our Live Edge tables that have beautiful, natural curves to it, which creates a beautiful flow that makes your space look aesthetically pleasing.

Regardless of the length, it’s a perfect, safe choice for many homeowners because it can be easily integrated into any floor plan. This shape is especially suitable for long, narrow dining rooms. But if your dining space is short and wide, the rectangular table can also be an option for you! You’ll just have to find the right length but as a general guideline; the longer the table, the wider it becomes. We’ll go into more details below on what seating arrangement will best fit the size of your table.

Round

Traditionally, round tables are a common household centrepiece, especially during the kampong times, because it calls for a more intimate dining experience. Having a lazy Susan (rotating tray) in the centre of your table is also a cool feature that’s unique to this shape!

This shape is well suited for smaller dining areas or corner spaces. On the other hand, a large round table for a larger space can make people feel far away from one another. If your space is long and elongated, but you’re really keen on a circular shape, then opt for an oval dining table instead!

Square

This dining table shape is best fitted for a group of four or less in a square-shaped dining area. They’re perfect if you’re looking for a more contemporary alternative to the round table. The major downside, however, is that it may get slightly cramped when your dishes are placed in the middle, along with all the plates, utensils and cups!

#2 Find the right size

When finding a table size that perfectly fits your dining space, it’s important to take into account the distance between your table placement and walls, walkways and other furniture.

First things first: Measure the length and width of your dining area. The rule of thumb is to leave ample space between your dining table and the walls, preferably 90cm, so there’s comfortable walking space for you and your guests. Additionally, if there’s a doorway within the area, leave about 120cm for optimal entry space.

#3 Find the right seating arrangement

Featuring the 3.8m Single Slab Black Walnut Table

Generally, as the dining table size increases, so can the number of seaters. The first thing to consider is the number of people using the dining table, for both regular use and, if size permits, for large gatherings as well. We recommend following our general guideline when selecting your table size based on how many people are dining:

#4 Spice your space up

Use a dining bench

Featuring the Bookmatched Slab Black Walnut Table with the Live Edge Sawyer Bench

Match a bench with your dining table, instead of your regular ol’ dining chairs. Not only does it save a lot of precious space but it also allows you to squeeze in more people around the table, which is great if you have guests over!

Mix and match the chairs

Featuring the Bookmatched Slab Black Walnut Table

Get a little creative and bold by pairing different chair designs together. The key rule to making sure it doesn’t look messy or unorganised is by pairing chairs that are either the same colour or material. Play around with different styles because after all, your space is unique to you!

Legs for days

Featuring the Maven legs

There are so many different options available just for dining table legs alone! If you’re looking for something simplistic, then the Vidal legs are a perfect fit for you. If you’re looking for big, statement piece, then the Maven legs are a great option!

With that being said, consider the placement of your table legs and if they’re placed on the short edge of your dining table, be sure it doesn’t obstruct your chairs from sliding under unless you don't plan on having any chairs there.

Conclusion

We hope you find this article useful in your quest to finding the perfect shape, size and seating arrangement for your home. If you need any advice, feel free to drop us a comment or find us in stores and we’ll be more than happy to help!