Choosing a made-to-measure dining table: room, size, shape and material
How do you choose the ideal dining table? Learn how much space you need per person, which table shape suits your room and which material best fits your lifestyle.
You choose a made-to-measure dining table in four steps: measure the room, set the size for the number of people, choose the shape, then the top and base. You set the size to the millimetre, so the room decides the table, not the other way round.
Quick guide
- Eat with children every day: choose ceramic. Want warmth and grain: choose oak or walnut.
- Long, narrow room: choose a rectangle or Danish oval. Square room and 4 to 6 people: choose round.
- Want natural stone with its own pattern: choose granite, and use trivets.
Measure the room first, not the table
Allow at least 800 mm of free space around the table so chairs can slide back. If people also walk past, allow more. Subtract table and clearance from the room size: what is left is your maximum table.
Mark the outline on the floor with masking tape and walk around it for a few days. You will feel whether it is roomy or tight, more precisely than a number on paper.
How many people, what length
Allow 700 to 750 mm of table length per person. Chairs with armrests need the generous end.
| People | Along the sides only | With one seat at each end |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 1400 to 1500 mm | n/a |
| 6 | 2100 to 2250 mm | 1400 to 1500 mm |
| 8 | 2800 to 3000 mm | 2100 to 2250 mm |
| 10 | n/a | 2800 to 3000 mm |
The standard table height is 760 mm. For a round table you work with the circumference; the diameter table is in pros and cons of a round dining table.
Which shape suits your room
- Rectangle: the most seats per metre; fits against a wall or in a long room.
- Rectangle with rounded corners: the same seating, softer in a walkway.
- Round: everyone equally far from the centre; best up to six people.
- Oval: the long sides curve too; no corners, yet length.
- Danish oval: straight long sides with rounded ends. The seating of a rectangle, without sharp corners.
- Half circle: straight long sides with semicircular ends.
Which material for the top
| Top | Thickness | Strong at | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oak | 40 mm, up to 3000 × 1200 mm | Honey to golden brown, open grain, deepens in colour | Not for outdoors; lacquer does not take a hot pan |
| Walnut | 40 mm, up to 2600 × 1200 mm | Deep chocolate brown, dimensionally stable | Not for outdoors; can lighten slightly in the sun |
| Ceramic | 12 or 20 mm | Resists heat, scratches and stains, 29 colours, also outdoors | Heavy; edge sensitive to a hard knock |
| Granite | 30 mm, up to 2400 × 1000 mm | Natural stone, no two tops alike, also outdoors | Not heat-resistant; seal after delivery and every 2 to 3 years |
Oak is stained in your chosen colour and finished with two coats of clear matt lacquer. Choose Untreated and the top stays bare for you to finish yourself. Knots are filled with a two-component filler; in walnut always black. Unsure about ceramic? Read the drawbacks of a ceramic dining table.
Which base: steel or stainless steel
- Steel is welded in the workshop in Maasbree, the Netherlands, and powder-coated in a fine texture, 3 to 5 times thicker than wet paint. Choose from 10 standard colours. Drawback: powder coating is a paint layer that can be damaged by a heavy impact.
- Stainless steel is grade 304, brushed and naturally corrosion-resistant. Fingerprints show, but wipe off easily.
The difference is aesthetic. Outdoors, steel with outdoor primer and stainless steel are equally suitable.
From choice to order
- Configure your table in the 3D configurator. You see the table and the price with every choice.
- Order material samples to see colour and finish in your own light; they are refunded when you return them.
- Choose delivery: within 4 weeks, or at a lower rate within 8 weeks. Collection from Maasbree is also possible.
You get a 2-year guarantee on construction and finish. Prefer to see and feel first? The showroom in Maasbree is also open on Saturdays. All models are under made-to-measure dining tables.
Frequently asked questions
How much space do you need around a dining table?
At least 800 mm of free space all round, so chairs can slide back.
How long should a dining table for 6 people be?
2100 to 2250 mm with everyone along the sides, or 1400 to 1500 mm with one person at each end. Allow 700 to 750 mm per person.
What is the standard height of a dining table?
760 mm.
Can a made-to-measure table be returned?
No. Made-to-measure products are excluded from the right of withdrawal. Measure carefully and look at samples first.
Can I collect my table myself?
Yes, collection from Maasbree is also possible.