Small Dining Tables… Which Should You Choose?

When you’re at a loss for kitchen and dining space, what do you do?

Look for small dining tables of course! But, before you go looking you have to know what to look for, right?

Right!

This is where I come in. You need my help and I really want to help you so that you can be an expert on small dining room tables. So, let’s go over some important things you should know…

The Different Types of Small Dining Tables

As boring as it may be, you should know your options. There are several small dining tables you should consider for your dining room or kitchen for various reasons. Let’s talk about them now and why…

Wall-Mounted Dining Tables

Although obvious, what makes wall-mounted dining tables so important is the ability to save you floor space. They are the best choice if you want an almost non-existent solution. Since they generally fold in and out and don’t intrude upon necessary surrounding space this option is most ideal in small places where there is no actual dining area. For example, dorm rooms, studio apartments, lofts or single rooms.

Foldable Dining Tables

Folding dining tables are a little different. Although wall-mounted tables can also be considered folding tables you’ll also find that folding tables can pertain to other table types, such as floor dining tables. Some floor-model folding dining tables you might be familiar with are drop-leaf tables or gateleg tables. If you’re not familiar with what a gateleg table is, it’s simply a table that has drop leaves that fold all the way down on both sides.

You’ll find that folding tables are ideal in any small place. They are desired in homes with small dining rooms as well as homes, such as lofts and studios, that may not have a dining room.

Breakfast Nooks

Ideally, nooks resemble corner booths in restaurants. In general, they don’t save much space due to their structure. Spaces saving advantages typically only enter the picture with nooks due to how the nook is arranged in the home. Nooks are ideal if you enjoy having that restaurant feeling at home and mainly if you have actual dining space.

Breakfast Bars

Breakfast bars work in just about any small place, minus dorms and single rooms. If you prefer a breakfast bar, you may prefer a chic way to divide up space and create your own eating area in a studio apartment. Or you may simply be at a loss for much surrounding space.

Since many breakfast bars allow you to tuck the stools underneath, thereby saving you floor space, you may simply have a strong desire for a breakfast bar because of that single advantage alone. Or you may only have a certain amount of width-space free in your home but lack the room to furnish something that’s too deep. Hence, you lean toward the long and narrow breakfast part to accommodate your needs.

What Shape Should You Choose?

If you’ve always wondered what dining table shapes are best for small spaces, then here is where you’ll find your answer. Choices you will generally have are…

round
oval
square
rectangular

And between all of those choices, ultimately round dining tables win out.

Why?

Because you’ll find it’s typically much easier to squeeze in an extra person at a round dining table than it is for other small dining tables. However, personally I’ve always felt that round tables work best in small dining rooms anyway because they’re a tad bit easier on the eyes.

All other shapes fall in second, third and fourth place. So, which one is next in line? Square would be your second option, then oval and lastly rectangular shaped dining tables are at the end of the list.

What Size Should You Choose?

Size is another important factor and no doubt a major question for you as well. Surely, you’ve wondered what size is actually considered small.

And you might be surprised to know the answer is simple. So, let’s get to the facts. Here is what you need to know…

Round and Square Dining Tables

Typically tables that range around 20-30″ in depth, width and/or diameter are considered small dining tables. Staying on the low end (around 20″) will guarantee that you find a table that will suit your needs at the bare minimum, usually only allowing you to seat one person.

However, if you’re looking for something that’s not too big and not too small, then you’ll want to search mainly for tables that range between 25-30″ wide. This will usually allow you to seat at least two people.

What to Look For

Naturally, there are specific styled tables that you can concentrate on that will almost always guarantee they fit within your size specifications. You’ll want to keep your eye on pub tables and bistro tables in particular.

Both are very small but will usually seat at least two people. However, note that a disadvantage to you might be that they are both also usually fairly tall tables and require stools for seating, rather than a basic chair.

Obviously these are not your only choices, there are of course the basic dining tables that you can always consider, but if you have nothing against the two choices above, you’ll be even happier to know your selection is slightly larger.

Oval and Rectangular Dining Tables

Long narrow table types are a tad bit different. Obviously, you’ll want the depth size of the table to be fairly narrow, yet make up for it in width. If you want something relatively small, you’ll want to keep your eye on tables that range around 30″W x 20″D. If you’re looking for something a little bigger, then you should concentrate on tables up to 35″W and 20″D.

What to Look For

A choice that will guarantee results when youâ��re looking for narrow rectangular shaped dining tables is the breakfast bar. You’ll find that if you do a decent search, there is a fair selection of breakfast bars that meet the size specifications above. Not only are they narrow but some of them have drop leaves which will offer you additional eating space and keep in mind, they allow you to store that stools underneath which will help you save floor space when space is low.

What Dining Table is Right For You?

There are really only several types of dining arrangements. Temporary, semi-permanent and permanent. So chances are pretty high that you’re looking for a dining table that will fit one of these experiences. You probably already even know which type of dining table you’re looking for.

Earlier I talked about the different types of dining tables that were out there. Wall-mounted tables, folding tables and so forth. Well, now it’s time to get down to business concerning which tables you may want to consider in regards to the type of dining experience you’re looking for.

Temporary Dining

Temporary dining is exactly what it sounds like. It’s temporary. It will likely suit you if you live in a dorm, studio apartment, or you have some other single-room living experience in which you would like to sit at a dining table but can’t really afford the space to accommodate the table permanently. Simply put, you’re looking for a dining table you can sit at each day and stow away when you no longer need it.

What to Look For

The solution to your temporary needs is quite simple. What you should focus on and look for are fold-away tables, kitchen carts and TV trays. They’ll suit your temporary needs by rendering themselves invisible and out of the way when you don’t need them. You can stow them away easily by simply storing them in a closet, behind a door or sliding them behind a couch when they’re not in use.

Semi-Permanent Dining

Semi-permanent dining is a go-between between temporary and permanent living. It will likely suit you if you can afford a space for a dining table but very little space. You’re looking for something that basic takes up a fourth of the space that most dining tables generally occupy.

Semi-permanent dining will usually suit you if you live in a dorm, studio, single room, small apartment or house in which you either don’t want to use the dining area as dining space or can’t afford the usual amount of space to furnish a dining table. Simply put, you’re looking for a dining table that converts so that you can downsize and upsize when you need to.

What to Look For

The solution to your semi-permanent needs is fairly easy. You’ll want to focus mainly on convertible tables. Tables that fit this description are drop-leaf breakfast bars, drop leaf tables, gateleg tables, wall-mounted tables and extendable or fold-down tables.

Permanent Dining

Permanent dining is also exactly what it sounds like. It’s permanent. It will likely suit you if you live in a small place that has a dining area. You may have what’s considered a decent amount of space, yet you don’t have the luxury of getting something too big. You’re looking for an option that suits the design of your room. Basically shape and size is the most important factor but not necessarily convertibility or invisibility.

What to Look For

Permanent dining needs can be solved with little difficulty. You’ll want to focus your attention on basic dining tables, breakfast nooks, breakfast bars, pub tables and bistro tables.

What Does This Mean to You?

What small dining table you choose is highly dependent upon the dining experience you’re interested in having. So, if you’re seeking a temporary dining experience then generally it’s best of you to concentrate on dining tables that you can stow away.

And a semi-permanent dining experience will require that you mainly concentrate on convertible tables.

As for permanent dining, this is the point where size and shape count. Because mainly you’ll be looking for basic dining tables. And you’ll want to be preoccupied with whether it’s small enough and if the shape works well in your room. If you’ll remember, earlier you found out the round tables were the top pick and that square fell in second, oval came in third and rectangular shaped tables came in last.

Regarding size, if you’re looking for round or square tables, then 20-30″ tables were suggested, and I stated that tables ranging around 30-35″W x 20″D worked well for rectangular shaped tables. Don’t forget, you can also you can concentrate on pub and bistro tables if you don’t mind how tall they are and you want to guarantee good results.

Ultimately, that should square you away when it come to finding the perfect fit for your small dining room.

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