Choosing the perfect dining table: a complete guide

You do not choose a dining table well by accident. It is the central table in your home, and the choice is broad: rectangular or round, oak or ceramic, which base, what size. This guide walks you through the decision points step by step, without everything circling back to one particular material.

When made-to-measure, when standard?

A standard dining table works fine if your room is square, standard sizes fit and you have no specific material wish. Choose made-to-measure when:

Your dining room is narrower or wider than what comes as standard.
You want a material or colour that manufacturers do not stock.
You want to combine size, shape, edge and base yourself.
You want a table for years, not one for this house and to dispose of at the next move.

Measure the room first, not the table

The most common mistake: choosing by how many people you want to seat, without the room allowing for it. Measure:

Walking space on each side, at least 75 cm so the chair can push back, 100 to 120 cm where people also walk past (a kitchen island, a walkway).
Distance to wall or cupboard, same again, 75 cm absolute minimum.
Distance to an adjacent piece of furniture, where a bench sits against the table, count on 40 to 50 cm of walking space.

Mark the outline of your planned table on the floor with painter's tape. Walk past it for a week before you order. You will feel it.

How many people, which size?

Count on 60 to 70 cm of table length per person, depending on whether chairs have armrests. Ranges that the Dutch furniture trade considers workable:

Rectangular:

4 people: 140 to 180 cm
6 people: 180 to 220 cm
8 people: 240 to 280 cm
10 people: 280 to 320 cm

Round (diameter):

4 people: Ø 120 cm
6 people: Ø 140 cm
8 people: Ø 160 cm (add 10 to 15 cm diameter per extra person)

A rectangular table is 90 to 100 cm wide up to about 240 cm long, and 110 cm above that. Do not take a chosen size as fact, test it in our 3D configurator against your exact chair depth and dining area.

Which shape suits your room?

Rectangular, the classic. Works in narrow rooms (table along the long axis) and lends itself to adding extra chairs at the ends.
Round, ideal in square or small rooms. Everyone sits at an equal distance from the centre, and there are no corners in the way. Excellent for groups up to 6; above that the diameter gets large.
Oval, a rectangle with rounded ends. Softer in feel, slightly less space at the ends than a rectangle, but nicer to walk around.
Danish oval, only the long sides are slightly curved, ends straight. A classic Scandinavian shape, suits modern and rural interiors alike.

Which material?

Solid wood (oak, walnut), warm, natural, gains character over the years. Asks for maintenance: stains, heat and moisture leave marks.
Ceramic, scratch-resistant, heat-resistant, stain-resistant. Low maintenance. Feels cooler than wood. See our ceramic guide for a deeper comparison.
Granite or other natural stone, robust, each slab unique. Porous and needs treating to become stain-resistant.

No material is universally better. If you have little time for maintenance and use the table intensively every day, you lean towards ceramic. If the feel and liveliness of wood matter more, you lean towards oak or walnut.

Which base?

The base sets more of the style than most people realise.

U-frame (matrix), two vertical legs with a steady cross beam. Modern and clean.
Spider, one central column with four fanning supports. Gives leg room all around the table.
Cross / X-frame, diagonal legs that cross each other. Industrial character.
Spider-star base, a central column on a star foot. Only suitable for smaller round tables.
Classic legs, four straight or tapered legs on the corners. Rural or timeless.

Steel bases in matte black suit modern and industrial interiors. Stainless steel feels more modern and lighter. Wooden bases contribute to a warmer overall look.

Finish and edge profile

Details that do a lot visually:

Square edge, at a right angle, clean. Modern appearance.
Milled or rounded edge, softer, kinder on the wrist.
Bevelled edge, an angled corner on the underside or top. On ceramic it is functional (less corner damage); on wood it is aesthetic.
Tapered edge, underside chamfered so the top appears thinner. Elegant.

For wood: matt, satin or high-gloss, with us as standard two coats of clear lacquer over a stain of your choice. For ceramic: the surface comes from the producer, each brand has its own palette of colours and finishes.

From choice to order

At Tulmans it works like this:

You configure your table in the 3D configurator. You see the result and price live.
Optionally you order free colour samples to assess colour and finish at home.
After ordering, the table goes into production. Lead time ranges from one to four weeks, depending on the material and what is available.
Delivery is by appointment. For ceramic tops we come with two people, it is heavy work.

Frequently asked questions

Does a round table of 140 cm fit 6 people?
Yes, if everyone uses slightly narrower chairs and you do not place large serving dishes on the table. For comfortable dining with roomy chairs, 6 people sit better on Ø 150 cm.

Can I combine edge and base freely?
Usually yes. In the configurator you see which combinations are possible from a production point of view.

What if the table turns out not to fit after all?
That is why the painter's-tape test beforehand. Once produced to your specifications, the table is yours, a made-to-measure product cannot be returned.

Can I transport the table myself?
Small wooden tops (up to 180 cm) with a base kit, yes, in a delivery van. For large tops or ceramic: have it delivered.

Start in the configurator

Open the 3D configurator and configure your own table, or browse our full dining table collection for inspiration. Stuck? In our showroom in Maasbree, all the materials and bases are on display in person.

Choosing the perfect dining table: shape, size and material