It's the same conversation in a lot of houses around now. Who's coming for Christmas dinner, where is everyone going to sit, and will the table actually fit them? For most of the year a table for four does the job. Then late December comes and you need room for seven.
The good news is you don't need a huge table that swallows the room for the other eleven months. You need one that stretches.
Count heads, then measure
Start with the biggest number you'll realistically host, not the everyday one. Then work out where the table can go.
A rough guide is about 60cm of table edge per person, so everyone can use a knife and fork without elbowing their neighbour. On our dining room tables page, rectangular tables from 140cm seat six properly, and 160 to 180cm tables handle the family plus a couple of friends. Round tables seat four without corners getting in the way.
Then think about the space around it. Allow at least 90cm between the table edge and the nearest wall or piece of furniture, so people can pull their chairs out and get past each other. In a lot of UK terraces and flats, that clearance is what decides the table, not the table itself.
If you only host a big crowd once or twice a year, that's the strongest case for a table that changes size. You get the extra seats on the day and your floor back on Boxing Day.
Three ways to get more seats
|
|
Extendable table |
Drop leaf table |
Larger fixed table |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Everyday size |
Compact |
Very compact when folded |
Full size all year |
|
How it grows |
Pull-out or centre section |
Hinged leaves lift up |
It doesn't |
|
Best for |
Dining rooms, open-plan spaces |
Small kitchens, flats |
Rooms with space to spare |
|
Example from our range |
HOMCOM, 120 to 160cm, seats 4 to 6 |
HOMCOM pinewood, seats 4 to 6 |
vidaXL rough mango, 180cm |
Extendable tables: one table, two sizes
An extendable table is the obvious answer if you've got a dining room or an open-plan space that can take a bigger table now and then. The HOMCOM extendable dining table goes from 120cm to 160cm in a high gloss white finish, seating four day to day and six when it's extended. That extra 40cm is the difference between a squeeze and a proper meal.
For smaller spaces, the vidaXL extendable table runs from 80cm to 120cm. It keeps a small footprint most of the year and opens up by half again when family visit.
Check both sizes before you buy. The extended length is the one that needs to fit the room with chairs pulled out, and that's the measurement people forget.
Drop leaf tables: small most of the year
If floor space is tight, a drop leaf table makes more sense. The leaves fold down on hinges, so the table can sit against a wall almost like a console, then lift up when guests arrive. Our space-saving drop leaf tables are mostly HOMCOM, and a few are well thought out for small homes.
The HOMCOM drop leaf table folds down to just 26cm deep and sits on six wheels, so it can be rolled out of the way after dinner. The pinewood version in a natural finish seats four to six, which covers a typical Christmas Day. There's also a white drop leaf table with storage drawers, which is handy for keeping crackers, napkins and the good cutlery in one place.
Before ordering, it's worth reading our guide on how to measure for a drop leaf table. Measure it open, not closed.
The trade-off is that the open leaves are held up by brackets or swing-out legs rather than the main frame. They're fine for a family meal, but don't lean your full weight on an open leaf.
Or a bigger table that stays big
If you've got the room, a larger fixed table saves any faff on the day. vidaXL has a 180cm rough mango wood table on an industrial steel frame, and a 120 x 120cm solid mango table if a square shape suits your room better. The HOMCOM 4 to 6 seater has an oak veneer top on a white frame for a lighter look.
Solid wood has another advantage at Christmas. Grain hides the odd scratch from a serving dish better than a plain painted top.
Don't forget the chairs
A table that seats six is only useful if you've got six chairs. This is where plenty of people come unstuck on Christmas Eve.
You've got two options. Buy a set that comes with matching chairs, or borrow chairs from round the house and accept they won't match. Our kitchen table and chair sets seat from two to six, in wood, MDF and metal. One of the most practical is the natural pine drop leaf set, a large oval table that comes with its chairs and seats four to six.
If you go with a separate table, check its height against any chairs you're borrowing. Desk chairs and stools rarely sit at the right height for a dining table.
A few hosting tips that help
Measure the doorway as well as the room. A table that fits the dining room still has to get through the hall.
Do a dry run. Set the table fully extended a week before, with every chair in place. You'll spot problems while there's still time to fix them.
Plan where the leftovers go. A wide sideboard or a spare surface nearby means the table can be cleared for pudding without everything ending up on the worktop.
If you're also thinking about the table day to day, our guide to choosing a table and chairs set covers sizes for kitchens in more detail.
Delivery and returns footer
Shop dining tables at Bossy Cat
Delivery is free on all orders to UK mainland addresses and arrives in 3-5 working days, with no hidden fees. If you change your mind, you can return your order, but the return postage is paid by you.
