Pedestal tables (with a central leg) are ideal for smaller spaces, as they offer maximum surface area and minimum space for the base. Round tables can fit in small spaces and can seat more people than expected. The only disadvantage is that the salad plate and dessert plate may not fit. There's less space for each person, but you can bring more people together in a small area.
Like any other furniture in your home, measuring space is the first thing you should do before buying a dining table. Measure the length and width of the space allocated and, to avoid a cramped dining environment, subtract between 80 and 100 cm from each dimension. As a general rule, a 90 cm x 90 cm square table, or a 90 cm diameter circular table, will comfortably seat four people. For six people, a 150 cm x 90 cm rectangular table or a 130 cm diameter circular design will work.
For eight people, leave a table measuring 200 cm x 100 cm or 150 cm in diameter. This wood-effect dining table and chair set only takes up 1 m x 1 m of space, keeping your room clean and tidy. The matching chairs, with padded synthetic leather seats, hide perfectly under the table. If you're looking for furniture with a rustic farmhouse look, this countertop table with its two bar stools stands out from the crowd.
If you search online for advice on the size chart that's right for you, you'll see that the suggested distance between the table and the nearest wall is 44 inches. However, round tables are more versatile for compact spaces, such as this Scandinavian-style Odette table from our own House Beautiful Marketplace. It's not hard to find a small dining table like this one, but there aren't that many to buy, as traditional dining tables are in the 75 to 90 inch range. White marble never goes out of style, and if you already have a coffee table with a marble top and you love it, you can achieve the same look in your dining room with this stunning table.
A round table can visually free up space on the floor and, if you choose a glass surface (such as the Enzo round dining table in transparent tempered glass by John Lewis), you can create the illusion of a larger room. Set up your laptop to study comfortably, or extend the bright white wooden table to turn it into a dining table for two. World Market is a great place to buy small dining tables for apartments and small spaces, and they even have tables with clever space-saving features. Be sure to measure the space for your dining table and try to place something on the floor that is the same size as the table you want.
Made of solid American oak and oak veneers, this table with a folding top goes from being a small square four-seater table to an eight-seater rectangular one in an instant. This small teak table has modern metal legs that match perfectly with Scandinavian and modern farmhouse decor. Look for multifunctional designs, specifically space-saving dining tables with sheets that fold down, especially useful if your dining table also doubles as a work desk during the day. For example, you can push one end of the table against the wall during 360 days of the year when there aren't eight people at your table.
