With Christmas approaching, we are all obviously hoping for a successful festive period where we can spend joyful time with friends and family celebrating this special time of year. Obviously, a large part of these celebrations revolves around the Christmas meal and gathering and dining together around the table. So, it’s often at this time of year that people start to think about investing in a new dining table.

A dining table is one of those purchases that require some careful thought and consideration to make sure that you choose the best dining table for your home that will work for your family and work well in the space. So, let’s look at some of the questions you may have when choosing a new dining table.

What Should I look for in a Quality Dining Table?

Dining tables are often considered to be a central home hub where lots of activity takes place. So, it is important to choose a table that can withstand these activities and the general wear and tear that they will be subjected to.

A good dining table should be built for longevity and will last up to ten years. Look for a sturdy, well-made dining table that is solidly constructed. A good way to check this is to make sure that the tabletop is well attached to the legs.

What is the Purpose of my Dining Table?

Once upon a time, dining tables were used for just that, dining. But our lifestyles are now much more flexible and our dining tables are used for many more activities. They are also home offices, somewhere to do crafting activities with the children or play board games, homework stations and much more.

So, it is important to consider what the dining table will be used for and how much wear and tear it will be subjected to throughout its lifetime.

What Material Should My Dining Table be Made From?This can be a difficult decision and it depends on a multitude of factors from budget and style to maintenance. But there are many options to choose from.

Wooden or Wood-Look Dining TablesWooden or wood-look dining tables add warmth and texture to a room but depending on how dark the wood they can take up a lot of visual space. But they are generally quite easy to take care of. They work well if you are looking for a more traditional dining table or a Scandinavian-style dining table.

Glass Dining TablesGlass is a good choice particularly if you have a small space or a room that lacks light. Being transparent, glass doesn’t take up too much visual space and tends to blend into the background. It also allows lights to flow through it. It may not be the best choice if you have small children or pets though.

Metal Dining TablesMetal tabletops are generally considered to be hard-wearing and robust. Aluminium and powder-coated steel are popular options and work particularly well if you are going for an industrial style dining table.

Plastic Dining TablesPlastic dining tables are often high gloss which makes them very easy to wipe clean. They tend to work better in more modern dining rooms.

Stone or Stone-Effect Dining TablesMarble, concrete andceramic tables are popular but may be on the pricier side of the budget. What Style Dining Table Should I Choose?

This comes entirely down to personal choice and rest largely on the style of your home. There is a dining table to suit every style, so you just need to work out whether you want to go for something traditional, minimal, mid-century, Scandinavian-style, industrial or something more Cottagecore.

What Size Dining Table Should You Go For?This is an extremely important question and getting wrong can have a huge impact on the way your dining room looks and feels. Basically, your dining table must fit your dining area. To ensure a comfortable amount of space for people to navigate their way around the dining table, you need to allow about three feet of room on all sides.

If you only have a small space to work with, maybe consider a dining table that can be extended so that you have the flexibility to use in various ways to meet your entertaining needs.

Again, bear in mind the visual weight of the dining table in a small space. It may be a smaller table but if it’s particularly chunky or made from dark materials, it may appear larger than it is.

What Shape Dining Table Should I Choose?

Choosing thecorrect shape of the table is also important. This should not only be based on the intended use and size of the room, but also the shape of the room. A round table will look better in a square room for example and an oval table will look better in a rectangular room. Likewise with a square table in a square room and a rectangular table in a rectangular room.

The shape will also dictate how many seats you can fit around the table and the legs position will also come into play here. Ensure that you have enough leg space and that this space isn’t interrupted by the table legs or supports. Pedestal tables often provide more legroom but may not be quite as sturdy as tables with legs.

Round or oval tables are slightly more informal as there is no seat that is deemed to be the head of the table. They are also slightly better for entertaining as it is easier to talk to everyone around the table. There are also no awkward corners to contend with when you choose a round or oval dining table, so they often work better in smaller spaces.

How Much Should I Spend on a Dining Table?

The final consideration is of course budget. Once you have narrowed down the best options from the list above, it comes down to how affordable the dining table is. You may have to make some compromises at this point and choose which factors are non-negotiable for you and your family home.

If you carefully weigh up the options you will no doubt find the best table for your home. One that is good quality, solidly constructed, easy to maintain, suits your style, fits in your space, and works within your budget.

1. Value Marrakech Gold Wall Clock Cimchome
2. Sage Advice Emulsion and Eggshell Paint from Dowsing & Reynolds
3. Cambourne Sideboard from Honeypot Furniture
4. Faux Plant Monstera Tree from Perch & Parrow
5. Retreat Maya Rug from Flair Rugs
6. Lindon Dining Set from Honeypot Furniture

We hope you have found this advice helpful.

We’d love to see your Honeypot dining tables in your home, so if you have bought one from us, please share on Instagram and tag us with @honeypotfurniture and use our hashtag #JoinTheHive so we can see.