How to Pick a Table and Chairs for Holiday Hosting

The holidays are coming. Are you ready for the throngs of people you’re expecting for a season's worth of dinner parties? If not, it might be time for a new dining table and chairs. But don't go buying the first thing you see.

There are pros and cons to each table shape. And then there are all those extra chairs you need to factor in. It's enough to make your head spin!

What's best for your home depends on some factors you may not have considered. I spoke with interior designer Tineke Triggs of Artistic Designs for Living, who has a lot to say about finding a dining set that's right for you.

Round tables are arguably the most space efficient in terms of creating a comfortable exchange between diners. “Ovals," Triggs says, "are the next most efficient in this regard."





In the case of both the round and oval table, no one need sit at a corner when the table is crowded beyond its ideal capacity. However, round and oval tables may be off-putting for those who prefer to match the clean lines found in the rest of the dining area.


Square and rectangular tables use the shape of a room to their advantage. Their 90-degree angles provide clear, unencumbered walkways around the perimeter.

The downside is that the longer a table (rectangular or oval) is, the more difficult it is for those sitting on the farthest ends to hear one another. Plus, when a square or rectangular table is overstuffed with guests, someone's bound to get stuck straddling a corner.


If you're lucky, you'll find that one shape accommodates both your functional needs and aesthetic wants.


To seat six to eight people, Triggs suggests using a round table so as to best allow folks to talk with and be heard by everyone at the table. Though, she warns, any more people than that and the necessary circumference of a round table will prohibit not only conversation, but also its ability to fit in an average dining room.


For 10 to 12 people, an oval or rectangular table is best.


Making a long table more intimate. So maybe a rectangular or oval is the better option for your dining room’s configurations, your quantity of guests and your style. To make it more intimate, Triggs suggests seeking out a slimmer table, say one that's about 36 inches wide, rather than the standard 42- to 48-inch wide table.

Though it won't draw the farthest ends closer together, it will significantly lessen the gap between those sitting across from one another.


The extendable dining table. No matter what shape you choose, having the option to extend the table’s length or circumference will allow you to accommodate a range of group sizes comfortably.

Triggs suggests getting a table with built-in leaves that fold out of and back into the table. “If you don’t have to move the table out from the center to add leaves,” she says, “it’s generally easier — not only to extend and retract, but you also don’t have to find a place to store those extra leaves. This is a good option if you're constantly expanding and reducing the table.”

See more on extendable dining tables


Detachable leaves. Even though detachable leaves may prove more cumbersome than built-in leaves and require extra helping hands, this style of table may be a fine option for you if you don’t expand and retract your table often. “Center-leaved expandable tables have been around for hundreds of years, and as a result there’s a larger selection of these at reasonable prices,” Triggs says.


Smart solution for storing leaves. KE Designs made customized storage for this homeowner, designing a dedicated (and safe) space for dining table leaves.


Regardless of whether the leaves are detachable or built in, Triggs recommends an extendable table with leaves measuring 12 to 18 inches, as this will open the table up to a wide range of sizes (assuming your dining area can accommodate the longest length) without throwing off its balance.


Custom tables. Haven’t found anything on the market that thrills you? Having a table custom made is an option, but one that Triggs cautions requires a skilled tradesperson if you're talking about an extendable table. “This is not a job for just any woodworker or cabinetmaker,” she warns. “You need to find someone who understands overhangs, tipping ratios and base stability. A lot of thought needs to go into the making of an expandable table, so make sure you find someone with a good track record.”


If you don't know where to start your search, browse Houzz’s database of furniture makers. Or, if you’re already working with an interior designer, he or she can direct you to a reputable professional.


Chairs and spares. Once you determine the table you want, you’ll need chairs to seat your guests. “Most people buy dining chairs for looks without giving enough attention to comfort,” says Triggs. “Make sure you’re purchasing comfortable chairs that guests will enjoy sitting in for long periods of time.”

How to choose a dining chair


Chairs with arms are lovely and can be very comfortable, but they’re space hogs when it comes to a large crowd. Should you wish to have such chairs for big parties, Triggs suggests limiting them to the heads of a rectangular or oval table. Armless chairs, on the other hand, will allow you to squeeze more of them around a table of any shape.


But just how many chairs does one household need for that handful of large-scale dinner affairs annually? First buy the amount of chairs that will naturally fit around your dining table at its everyday size (likely its smallest size).


If you can afford the space and the cost, Triggs suggests storing additional full-size chairs on either side of the buffet, next to an entry console and maybe in a guest room if necessary.


Should you not have enough space for such storage (or the desire to buy as many full-size chairs as your fully extended table can actually accommodate), try folding or stackable chairs. Yes, I know what you’re thinking: "Not those ugly things!" But the new versions are not the chairs you remember as a kid. “I have a collection of 111 Navy chairs from Design Within Reach that I use for both indoor and outdoor parties,” says Triggs; those stackable chairs are made of recycled Coke bottles. “They’re comfortable and don’t have a wide footprint, which makes them easy to store in my garage.”

The Kartell Lou Lou Ghost Chairs shown here are also an attractive stackable option that can be stored out of sight (or can be easily incorporated into other rooms) when they're not needed in the dining room.


If benches are a more favorable seating option, Triggs recommends allowing at least 16 to 18 inches in width per adult fanny. “And make sure any bench has cushions,” she implores. “No one wants to be the one stuck on a hard bench for a long meal."

As an alternative to this arrangement, you can also place your bench seating against a wall for back support.


Your turn: Please show us your dining set that will comfortably fit your holiday guests.

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