How to choose a dining table for 4, 6, 8 or more people

#1Dining table: for everyday use and for conviviality

The first step is to consider whether the table you are about to choose will be the only dining table in the house, or if there will be two: one in the kitchen and one in the living room. If the space is unique, depending on your habits you could evaluate whether to choose a kitchen table for two, three or four people, perhaps with a fixed top, or an extendable solution, to reach 6 or 8 seats. If the house is large and you have enough space to set up a separate dining area, you can opt for a large table, for eight, ten or twelve people.

#2Room space and floor shape

With plans or a tape measure in hand, the second step in choosing the optimal top shape is to evaluate the space in which the table is to be placed. We recommend following the shape of the dining area, opting for a rectangular, oval or barrel-shaped top if the space is rectangular; square or round for square-shaped spaces or corner positions. If the area is irregular, a round or oval top is more flexible for managing seating and helps to make better use of corners.

#3How many seats at the table: 4, 6, 8 or more people

Another key aspect to keep in mind: how many people usually use the table and how many on special occasions. To get an idea of the ideal size of the top, it is useful to consider some parameters, to be put in relation to the rest of the room:
• how much space does a person sitting at the table take up
• the bulk of the chairs, both when in use and when not in use
• the space needed to move around the table.

Versatile solutions for small spaces

If the dining area is small, you can also think about a table with one side fixed to the wall or placed against the wall, which allows you to gain precious space in the kitchen or in the living area. In these cases, it can be useful to combine multifunctional furniture to manage the occasions in which there are guests: one solution can be an extendable console to be placed in the entrance, or a transformable coffee table : they take up little space and in a few movements they can become large dining tables, even up to ten or more seats.

#4Choose the model and material of the table

Once you have identified the shape and size of the dining table, you can move on to choosing the model and materials. There are many solutions, also depending on the furnishing style. If you want the table to be the element on which all the attention is concentrated, you could choose one with a large central base, to be combined with chairs with a simple and balanced shape. If instead you prefer a table with a slender shape, a model with four thin legs in metal or wood will create a light but sophisticated effect, especially if you combine it with designer chairs.
Materials also help define the style of the dining room. Wood and metal are more suitable for a modern, Nordic or industrial style, while combinations of wood and marble or glass are often used for a more classic taste. Don't forget materials such as ceramic, fenix and the more economical melamine tops, resistant to use and with a large variety of textures and finishes to choose from.

#5How to match the table and chairs or armchairs

Chairs and armchairs can be combined following the same style or playing with different styles. Furthermore, the choice of table and chairs may not occur at the same time: it is therefore important to try to have an overall vision, studying in advance how the dining area will be once the furniture is completed.
In general, if you have limited space, we recommend choosing kitchen chairs without armrests or stackable ones. Armchairs or seats with a high back are more suitable for a larger table. However, this does not mean that you cannot make more creative choices, for example by combining normal seats for the diners and two armchairs for the seats at the head of the table. Or why not, you can play by combining seats of different models.