Eating has always been a social activity. We bond over food and share wonderful memories over mealtime. While planning for your dining area, you envision a table that is comfortably sized for your family and guests but how big should it exactly be?

Looking at the Big Picture
How much space do you have for your dining area?
How many people are you trying to fit around the table?
Those are usually the first two questions you ask yourself.
Start by measuring your dining space to get a sense of the space that you have. Ideally, you can leave 50cm around the table for comfortable seating space and another 40cm for space to walk around, if needed.

Round or Rectangular?
This question has always been asked a lot by our customers.
A round table is usually more suited for smaller or square spaces, it optimizes the seating capacity by allowing users to access the table from all angles. However, if you are looking at a higher seating capacity while optimizing every inch of your dining space, a rectangular table may work better. It leaves more space for walkways too with its long, narrow shape.

The “Golden Ratio”
What perfect size is tested and proven optimal for each seating capacity? A general guideline is to leave 60cm width for each person to be seated without touching elbows when eating. The width of your table should be at least 80cm wide so that there is sufficient space for individual place setting on both sides and dishes in the center. Nonetheless, the width of a table usually increases with the length of the tabletop. Refer to the list below to get a rough idea of how big your table can be.

Round:

• 90cm seats 4
• 100cm seats 4-5
• 110cm seats 5
• 120 seats 5-6

Rectangular:

• 120cm x 80cm seats 4
• 140cm x 80cm seats 4-6
• 160cm x 80cm seats 6
• 180cm x 90cm seats 6-8
• 200cm x 90cm seats 8

Legs Matter
The design of the legs of a table is crucial in your decision-making process. Are you trying to fit people at each end of your dining table? Will the legs of your table obstruct anyone or affect their seating position and comfort? While it is okay to based completely on the above tips to get the right size for your space and family, do factor in allowances for the table’s legs and its design. You want a table that still looks good when the chairs are tucked in and left aside.

Matching Chairs
At the end of the day, chairs are as important in the process of getting the right table size. Find chairs with the right width and comfort to make all the careful calculations of your table top work. If not, you may want to consider benches too as they are perfect to fit in more people during gatherings.

Take your time, plan carefully and you will soon have the perfect dining table to enjoy a good meal with your family and friends!

Email hello@etchandbolts.com for furniture or home styling enquiries, or simply swing by our store at 135 Joo Seng Road!