A dining table is one of the most used pieces of furniture in your home. It’s where you eat, work, argue, celebrate and linger over a second glass of wine. Getting it right matters — and getting it wrong is expensive. Here’s what to consider before you buy.
Size: Get the Dimensions Right First
Before you fall in love with a style, measure your space. A dining table needs at least 90cm of clearance on all sides for chairs to pull out and people to move comfortably. In a room that’s 4m x 4m, that leaves you roughly 2.2m of usable table length.
Allow around 60cm of table width per person and 60–70cm per place setting along the length. A 1800mm x 900mm table comfortably seats six. A 2200mm x 1000mm table seats eight to ten.
When in doubt, go slightly larger — a table that’s too small for the room always looks wrong.
Shape: Round, Oval or Rectangular?
Rectangular tables suit most rooms and most households. They’re versatile, easy to extend, and work well against a wall if needed.
Round and oval tables are better for smaller spaces and more intimate settings — there’s no head of the table, which some families prefer. They also work better in square rooms where a rectangular table would feel awkward.
Timber Species: What to Look For
Solid hardwood is the only material worth considering for a dining table that will last. Here’s how the main species compare:
American Oak is warm, light in colour, and works across a wide range of interior styles. It’s dimensionally stable and takes a finish well. One of the most popular choices for good reason.
Tasmanian Blackwood has a darker, more dramatic grain with natural colour variation from golden to deep brown. It suits moody, modern interiors and makes a striking centrepiece.
Blackbutt is a tough Australian hardwood with a pale straw colour and subtle grain. It’s durable, relatively consistent in appearance, and pairs well with light, Scandinavian-influenced spaces.
Avoid MDF, particleboard or veneer over engineered substrates for a dining table — they don’t handle the day-to-day abuse a table takes, and they won’t last.
Custom vs Off-the-Shelf
A flat-pack or retail dining table is built to a price point. The timber is often veneered or engineered, the joinery is hidden by plastic or filler, and the proportions are compromised to keep costs down.
A custom handcrafted table is built to your dimensions, from timber you choose, finished to a standard that will outlast the house you put it in. The difference is visible immediately — in the weight of it, the grain, the way the joints fit together.
At Kithe, every dining table is made to order in our Abbotsford workshop from solid Australian and American hardwoods. If you know what you want, or need help figuring it out, get in touch for a free quote.
Lead Time
Custom furniture takes time. At Kithe, current lead time is 10–12 weeks from deposit. If you’re furnishing a new home or planning around an event, factor this in early.
