Picking The Right Size Table - Part 1

One of the most obvious questions when ordering a custom table is how best to determine the right size and shape of table to accommodate your family and friends.

The first questions I ask clients are how many family and friends will be gathering at the table on a day-to-day basis, and how often they will have guests joining them, and how many guests are likely to join them on a regular basis? For instance, a family of four that often has 2-4 guests joining them will want to have a table that seats up to 8, preferably without the addition of extension leaves.  We generally recommend extension leaves for occasional use, or in small spaces where the optimal size of table is not possible.  

The next step is determining the right size and shape of table that will accommodate your needs and fit your home.

To determine size, factor in 18-22” per place setting. I consider 18” as  minimum (it’ll work in a pinch), while 22” is more comfortable. The size of the chair is also important in figuring out the size, as typical widths for dining chairs range from 18-24”. While you can get away with 18” per place setting, if your chairs are wider they will be the limiting factor.  More importantly,If your table size is limited by the size of your room, it is best to pick a smaller scale chair and this will obviously allow you to squeeze more chairs around a smaller table.