Dining Tables: The Piece That Anchors Every Meal, Every Gathering, Every Memory
Your dining table is more than a place to eat. It's where kids do homework, where family gathers for game night, and where friends linger long after dinner is finished. With 52 dining tables in our collection, spanning shapes, heights, and construction styles, Furniture Fair has the range to match almost any dining room, family size, or design goal.
Choosing the Right Dining Table
today i want to guide you through the process of how do you choose what table is right for you which table is big enough or small enough for your space that's going to give you the functionality that you need to sit the people around it that you want to enjoy your meal with enjoy conversation with and through this video we're going to guide you through the process of measuring your space and picking out the right size and shape of table that's going to give you the most enjoyment the most functionality over years to come hi i'm tim steinberg i've been working here at furniture fair going on six years now i've got my introduction to furniture in my high school years working for an antique auctioneer and talking to the different dealers and learning about antique furniture and dining tables today we're going to learn about how to choose the right table for your space something that's going to fit comfortably and give you the seating that you need some important things to consider when selecting a table is first of all how many people do you want to set do you like to be at conventional dining heights or would you rather have a counter height table how much space do you have how much clearance are you keeping your walkways open what is the lighting in the room like what is your budget these are all things when you're picking out a table that are important to consider to make sure that you get the right table that's going to work for you and your situation and in your space most people come in with expectations of you know how many people they want to set at the table sometimes their expectations can exceed their physical limitations of the space that they're in i've had customers come in and they've got this vision of what they want you know they want a pedestal table or a trestle table but they want to fit all these people around it and through discussion we will find that sometimes a leg table will give them more seating space because they can push the chairs in all the way to clear the walkways when it's not in use whereas a pedestal table sometimes a pedestal will get in the way of them being able to maximize both the seating and the clearance around the table like i mentioned before if you have other furniture in the room you've downsized and made this rectangular space a square space so now you need to look at a more round table or a square table where if you have a large rectangular room a rectangular table is going to fill the space better and give you more maximum seating for it now i want to start discussing how do you measure your room to make sure that you get the right table that's going to fit your needs but yet fit the space that you have available and it's going to make a little bit of difference depending on if it's a formal dining room or an eat-in kitchen in a formal dining room typically you're in an enclosed space you have walls around you so you want to keep in mind you know the walkways the comfort of your guests you don't want to overcrowd the room is there going to be other furniture in the room china cabinets let's say or a serving piece that's going to shorten the distance that you have to place the table so when you're measuring you want to take that into account so measure out drop your cards or your coins whatever you're gonna do measure out six feet eight feet how much room can you go with the table i always try to start at the biggest and then i can move in from that and get a smaller table that fits my needs oftentimes i get asked what height table is best for my situation typically in a formal dining setting you're going to be at a conventional dining height it just looks best for the space it's enclosed and you don't want to be way up high and it becomes a little imposing for the space in an eat-in kitchen environment you have your counter that's sitting there if it's parallel to the counter and you're going to a larger table sometimes you just have a sea of height and it looks a little awkward if you're going to a smaller table you can get away with it like a 54 by 54 inch square in between the dining room and the living area is very normal a lot of it comes down to personal choice who's going to be sitting do you have small kids do you want them climbing up on the stools elderly people actually sometimes prefer the counter height because it's easier for them to get up out of the table but it comes down to personal choice and what looks best in your space each situation is going to be a little different but we'll help guide you through that process now when it comes to height one good way to do is come into the store go to the store and sit in the different tables at the different heights see what feels best look at a big dining height versus a big counter height and see which would look better in your space is that going to be too imposing at counter height do we need to lower the dining height this is something that's probably best done when you come to the store and talk to one of our product specialists we'll help guide you through the process and i've mentioned earlier about clearance clearance is the amount of space that's around the table it gives us an idea of what area we need in order to navigate to get around the table to get into our seats when picking out a dining table keeping in mind what clearance you need around that table is very important now i have seen situations where people have just come in and fallen in love with a table and bought it only to get it home and find out that they can't open the door to their patio or there's not room for them to walk around and get into the nc in that situation you've bought a piece of furniture it looks lovely but it doesn't fit your space and now your only remedy is to try to sell that table and come in and buy another one that's going to fit your space is budget a factor in picking out the right table it can be depending on your situation you just want to make sure you get something that you're comfortable with and that you think you can live with for a long time to come there's always options available depending on your budget to get what you need now if you're interested in learning more about our different options for dining room tables check out our video on good better and best done by nathan smith it's a great informative video that will let you know what you can get for your budget at this point you've decided that you're interested in getting a new table dining room set there's a few different options you have here you can browse our website and look at the many options we have available to you you can come into our store we have 11 stores in the tri-state area that are here for you to come in and sit touch feel see what options are out there for you talk to one of our product specialists in the store they can guide you through other options we have custom options available so we can make a table that's going to fit whatever need you have and the best thing to do is schedule an appointment with one of our many product specialists at each store where they can dedicate time just to you the consumer to help you and guide you through this process to make sure that we get the right table and chair set that's going to work for you in your space and by all means measure before you come in
Choosing the right dining table at Furniture Fair
Shape
Rectangular tables make up the majority of our collection, and for good reason: they seat the most people per square foot and fit naturally into both classic and contemporary dining rooms. If you want something less common, our round tables (including the Macon, Solara, and Aria collections) create a more intimate feel and work especially well in square rooms or smaller spaces. For a shape that blends the best of both, our oval Madison County tables combine a rectangular table's seating capacity with a round table's softer look.
Height
Most of our tables are standard dining height, built for traditional dining rooms. If your space calls for something different, we also carry counter height tables (Jasper Counter, Solara Round Counter, Wildenauer Counter, and more), a bar height option (Uptown Bar), and the Madison County High-Low, a table that adjusts between counter and standard dining height depending on your needs.
Base Construction
Most tables in our collection use a standard leg base, a reliable, versatile choice for any dining room. If you want more legroom for larger groups or a stronger style statement, our trestle base tables (Highlands, Fort Knox, Sutter Mills) and pedestal base tables (Aurora, Kaleidoscope) are worth a look. Both styles eliminate corner legs, making it easier to seat more people comfortably.
Extendable and Flexible Seating Options
If your household regularly hosts holidays or larger gatherings, an extendable table solves the problem of needing more seating only a few times a year. The Highlands Trestle and Walnut Grove tables both include extension leaves, letting you expand the table when you need it and scale back down the rest of the time. For a more traditional folding option, the Wright Drop Leaf Table offers the same flexibility in a smaller footprint, ideal for tighter dining spaces that still need occasional extra capacity.
Material
The majority of our tables use quality wood construction, sealed and finished to resist stains and daily wear. If you're drawn to a more rustic, organic look, our Lynx Reclaimed Wood and Nature's Edge tables highlight natural wood grain and character in every piece.
How to Care for Your Dining Table
Once you've found the right table, keeping it beautiful for years to come is simpler than you might think. In this video, Furniture Fair product specialist Tim Steinberg walks through everyday maintenance, stain removal, and the common mistakes to avoid so your table stays as warm and inviting as the day you brought it home.
So you brought this beautiful new table home that you just purchased and you want to know how to maintain it how much effort's involved. it's actually quite easy. In this video we're going to go over some common easy to use techniques that you can use that'll ensure that your table is lasting and beautiful for years to come. Taking care of a dining room set does not have to be difficult. A lot of it is just some common sense steps that you can do using products and materials that you already have in your house. Hi i'm Tim Steinberg, i've been working here at furniture fair going on six years now. I've got my introduction to furniture in my high school years working for an antique auctioneer and talking to the different dealers and learning about antique furniture and dining tables. Today I want to spend some time with you showing you how to take care of your furniture so that you can get years of enjoyment out and keep it looking as nice as it does today. Throughout this video we're going to cover how often do i need to clean my fine wood table. How do i keep my table clean. Does quality have anything to do with the level of care needed for the table. What to watch out for what the things not to do and then how to take care of some common problems when they do occur maintaining a wooden dining room table really isn't that hard most of what you need to keep it lasting is common sense and things that you already have if you have a spill or an accident you want to clean it up right away but at a minimum at least once a week you want to take a lint-free microfiber cloth and get the dust off of it now if you neglect your table and don't take any daily weekly monthly care to it and just let it go over time the dust is going to build up you're going to start seeing scratches where people run their arms across that dust your finish is going to start you know looking a little dingy and dull and it just won't be the warm beautiful piece that you brought into your home so how do i keep my table clean and keep it looking as nice that it does the day that i brought it into my home well there's a few simple things you can do you want to use something lint free or a microfiber cloth old cotton t-shirts work well the old reusable baby diapers are fantastic just wipe and keep the dust off it's as simple as that and it'll help go a long way to keeping your table looking nice and when you're cleaning your table you know you're going to get some little build up over time and accidents happen the thing i like to use is very simple we all have it warm soapy water simple as taking a bowl put a little warm water a couple drops of your favorite dishwashing detergent i like to use dawn just get the towel wet wring it out rub with the grain so avoid scratching if there's anything on there and then afterwards take a dry lint-free cloth and dry it and it'll go a long way to keeping your table looking nice now all stains are not created equal some are going to take a little more effort some are as simple as taking a wet cloth and cleaning up the mess some are going to need a little more elbow grease the most important thing is when something happens take care of it right away you don't want a spill to stay on your table because it'll damage the finish especially if it doesn't have a very good finish you'll get it blistering up on you you don't want to put anything hot on your table i tell people rule of thumb if you can't hold it in your hand for 30 seconds without a pot holder then you don't want to put it on your table without some type of a heating pad underneath it it'll fog your finish and it'll ruin it and it's going to take a pretty extensive remedy to get rid of anything you're going to put on your table make sure it doesn't have an abrasive bottom on it like a ceramic base make sure it has the felt underneath it so that when you slide it across it's not going to scratch these are some common things that you can do that keep your table looking nice people often ask me does quality have anything to do with the level of care that's needed for the table and the answer is yes and no but your better quality tables have better finishes on them of course that's the one of the reasons they cost more money they are a little more forgiving there are a little more protective finishes on there so the care that you need with that table versus an inexpensive table might not be as intense an inexpensive table doesn't have the hardened finishes that like a catalyzed conversion varnish table would have so your daily care and weekly care is much more important so when trying to maintain your dining table number one keeping it clean the regular maintenance dusting and cleaning of the table avoiding the axes the obvious things the heat marks the water on the table and taking care of problems when they occur so they don't get worse and finally when something occurs that is just beyond your capabilities calling the experts they're here to help you they can restore your table to its original form so you can get years of enjoyment to come if it does get to that point we have some options for you you're not on your own contact our customer care department that's what they're there for to help you we have trained professionals they can send your house if you are lucky enough and you bought the accidental damage plan they can help you get in touch with them and they will help remedy your situation and if all else fails they have expert avenues that they can refer you to and get the right person to your house to take care of your table and restore it to its original beauty.
Tim Steinberg on caring for your dining table
Frequently Asked Questions About Dining Tables
A general rule is to allow 24 inches of table space per person, plus at least 36 inches of clearance between the table's edge and the nearest wall or furniture so chairs can be pulled out comfortably.
Standard dining tables sit around 28 to 30 inches high and pair with chairs that have an 18 inch seat height. Counter height tables run about 36 inches, pairing with 24 inch seat height chairs. Bar height tables are the tallest, around 42 inches, matching 30 inch seat height stools.
Extendable tables use leaves, either stored separately or built into the table (a "butterfly leaf"), to add length when needed. Drop leaf tables fold down on one or both ends to save space when not in use.
Round tables often work better in smaller or square rooms since they lack corners that can jut into walkways. Rectangular tables generally seat more people but need more overall floor space.
Yes. Both styles eliminate the corner legs found on standard leg base tables, giving people seated at the ends more room to sit comfortably.
Shop Smarter with Furniture Fair's Good, Better, Best Buying System
A dining table is one of the most-used pieces of furniture in your home, so construction quality matters. Furniture Fair's Good, Better, Best buying system helps you understand exactly what you're paying for at every price point, from wood quality and joinery to finish durability, so you can choose a table built to handle years of daily meals and gatherings.
From the Furniture Fair Showroom
"Most customers come in knowing the size table they need, but they don't always think about height until we ask. Counter height and bar height tables completely change how a dining space feels, especially in open concept kitchens, so it's always worth considering before deciding on standard height by default."
Nathan Smith, Eastgate Store Manager
Why Shop Furniture Fair for Dining Tables
One of our largest and most diverse dining collections, with 52 tables across every shape, height, and style
Extendable and drop leaf options for households that need flexible seating
Trestle and pedestal base tables for extra legroom and design impact
Our own in-house delivery team, never outsourced, with next-day delivery available on in-stock items
Complimentary interior design services to help you plan your full dining room
Convenient showroom locations across Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana
Ready to Find Your Perfect Dining Table?
Browse our full Dining Tables collection online, or visit a Furniture Fair showroom to see the shapes, finishes, and heights in person. Our design specialists can help you find the table that fits your space, your family, and your budget.