Dining Room Furniture, Tables and Chairs
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A dining room is the easiest room to measure wrongly, because people size the table to the room and forget the chairs need somewhere to go. The table is half the decision; the space around it is the other half.
Dining tables
Allow about 60cm of table edge per person, and 90cm of clear floor behind each chair so someone can stand up and walk out without the person opposite moving. In a room 3m wide, that caps the table at roughly 1.2m across.
Browse dining tables, or go by shape: round, rectangular and oval dining tables.
Extendable dining tables
If the room is tight for eleven months and full in December, an extendable table solves it without living at full size all year. Check where the leaf is stored and how much clearance the extension needs before you buy. See extendable dining tables.
Dining chairs and benches
Seat height matters more than style: most dining tables sit around 75cm high and want a seat around 45cm, leaving roughly 30cm of leg room. An upholstered chair is more comfortable for long meals; a wooden one takes more punishment.
See dining chairs and dining benches. A bench seats more people in the same length and slides under the table when it is not in use.
Dining room storage
Plates, glasses and the things that only come out at Christmas need somewhere that is not the kitchen. A sideboard doubles as a serving surface, and a display cabinet keeps glassware visible and dust free.
Lighting the table
A dining room is the one place a light can hang low, because nobody stands under it. Aim for the bottom of the shade about 75–85cm above the table top. See dining room lighting and pendant lights.
Dining room furniture FAQs
What size dining table do I need?
Allow 60cm of table edge per person. A 1.6m rectangular table seats six comfortably; a 1.2m round table seats four.
How much space is needed around a dining table?
About 90cm from the table edge to the nearest wall or furniture, so chairs can be pushed back and people can walk behind them.
How many chairs fit around a round table?
A 1.2m round table takes four, and a 1.5m table takes six. Round tables seat people more evenly than rectangular ones but take more floor space for the same number.
How low should a light hang over a dining table?
The bottom of the shade should sit roughly 75–85cm above the table top — low enough to light the table, high enough to see the person opposite.
Can I order a dining set made to order?
Many ranges can be ordered in different sizes, finishes and chair combinations. The furniture team in Enniskillen can confirm what each range allows and the lead time involved.
How long does a dining set take to arrive?
Most furniture is delivered within two to three weeks. Where a range differs, the lead time is given on the product page.