An extending dining table is the most forgiving piece of furniture you can buy: compact for Tuesday tea, long enough for Christmas. Here is how we help customers choose one in the showroom, and the same questions work online.
1. Measure the room, not the table
Allow at least 90cm between the table edge and the nearest wall or sideboard so chairs can be pulled out. A 120cm table in a 3m room works; the same table extended to 160cm in a 2.8m room will not. Measure with the table both closed and open.
2. Work out your real seat count
Rule of thumb: 60cm of table edge per person. A 120cm table seats four comfortably; extended to 160cm it takes six. Our extending tables stretch from four seats to eight, and the dining sets come with matching chairs so you do not have to guess.
3. Pick a mechanism you will actually use
Butterfly leaves stored inside the table (as on the Carleton and Thornton) are the easiest: one person, no loose leaf to store. Separate leaves give more length but need a cupboard.
4. Choose the finish for your life, not the photo
- Wood veneer (oak, walnut, black ash) – warm, forgiving of scratches, easy to match with chairs.
- Glass – makes a small room feel bigger and wipes clean, but shows fingerprints. Look at our glass dining tables.
- High gloss and marble effect – the showroom favourite for modern kitchens; pair with velvet chairs.
5. Chairs last
Buy the table first, then the chairs. Seat height should sit around 45cm for a 75cm-high table, and armchairs (carvers) need extra elbow room at the ends. Browse dining chairs by fabric, velvet and faux leather.
Still not sure?
Bring your room measurements to our Blackpool showroom and sit at the tables, or call 01253 600 600. Free UK delivery over £100, delivered by our own team.
