Buying a new dining table is not an impulse purchase - it is a significant investment that will last a lifetime, so it's important to get it right. At Aram we have a wealth of experience in helping customers work through the many options available and narrowing down the plethora of choices from our extensive range. Here we describe how to choose the perfect table for your home.

Size, shape, style, and materials

These are the four main considerations when choosing your new designer dining table. They relate to three more things to ponder. Where is the table going? Who is going to use the table? What is it going to be used for? A dining table is often so much more than a surface on which to eat, especially in open plan kitchen and dining spaces where it becomes the focal point of daily life - cooking, chatting, working, eating, playing - a table that constantly brings people together in a warm and welcoming environment. Or it may be in a formal dining room that is only used for entertaining and as such, needs to make an impressive visual statement. The wow factor can be further enhanced by table extensions, for those really big dinner parties.

So the first thing to define is where the table will be situated in your home. This will dictate how large the table should be, as well as its shape and style. The ergonomics of the room are also important: to sit, stand and move around the space comfortably mean that other furniture or fittings in the room need to be considered. Decide whether you want the table always to comfortably fill the space; if more space is important most of the time, then opt for an extending table, such as the Naver Corian table - make sure though that, when extended, the room does not become cramped and awkward. Allow between 60cm to 80cm per place setting, dependant on whether you want a cosier feel or a more spacious aspect. We suggest leaving around 75cm to 90cm between the edge of your table and each wall or between other pieces of furniture in the room. This is so that chairs can be pulled out with ease and leaves enough room for people to pass through and behind those seated. Think about access to the room too: will the table top (often a single, large piece) fit through doorways and around corners? Aram can carry out an access check if you are unsure.

A selection of extending tables

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As a rule of thumb, square and circular tables work well in square rooms but can feel awkward in rectangular spaces. Oval and rectangular tables are best suited to rectangular rooms and are probably inappropriate for square ones. Circular tables often offer the best solution for tighter spaces within your home and they can also make your dining experience a more intimate, sociable affair. A central pedestal will not dictate the position of the chairs like legs do, and allows an extra person to be squeezed in, for that unexpected guest (example: Saarinen Dining Table 120cm). For rectangular tables, consider the position of the legs and the distance between them. Some have legs that taper out to create more room, such as the Tweed table from Zanotta.

A selection of circular tables

The style and decor of the room, and your home in general, will suggest the style of table that you should go for, and this will also inform your choice of materials. Glass is good to consider if you’re lacking on space and don’t want a room to feel overwhelmed with visually heavy furniture. Because you can see through glass, you create the illusion of space as the eye sees further. Combining glass with metallic finishes helps reflect light, making it feel lighter and brighter: a winning combination if your room is particularly dark (examples: the Waddell 714 Table and Platner Dining Table).

Natural wood is a popular choice for a slightly softer, more tactile appeal. Hardwoods such as oak, walnut, cherry and maple offer durability and all woods supplied by Aram carry the global FSC certification to ensure that they are sustainably sourced. As a natural material, wood can only improve with age - the colour deepens and a surface patina develops that adds unique character. There are options for surface finish such as soaped, oiled or lacquered, each providing a subtle difference. A soap-impregnated surface can be scrubbed to lift out spills and stains; oiled tables can be sanded and re-oiled to reinvigorate the rich lustre of the grain; a clear lacquer will offer practical protection from spills but perhaps lessens the tactile quality of the wood.

A selection of wood tables

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Nothing makes a statement quite like marble. The geology of our amazing planet grants us an incredible range of colours and patterns in this crystalline stone - from rich, dark Marquina black, through luscious Verde Alpi, eye-catching Rosse Rubino and stunning Portoro Silver to the classically appealing paler hues of Arabescato, Calacatta, Carrara and Statuarietto. The Tuscan hills have been a primary source of marble for millennia but it is now mined from South America and Asia, extending the variety even more. The surface can be left untreated on which a patina of use will develop, or it can be sealed by lacquer with a gloss or satin finish.

Statement Pieces

Aram has a wide variety of dining tables on display in store at Drury Lane and we are more than happy to discuss all the options with you to ensure that the table you choose will be a lifelong companion for your home.

Dining table size graphic adapted from Creature Comforts Creative