Are Round Tables The Shape for You?

The ever-present question of the myriad of table shapes circulates the mind of those searching for furniture. It can be difficult to know whether rectangular, oval, square, or round tables are the best fit for your home. Each bringing their own element of design aesthetic and function with pros and cons. Even when designing a custom table, you still need to know what direction you want to go. Instead of taking the overwhelming approach and discussing all four table shapes, we’re going to focus on one – round tables it is!

Across the board, no matter the table shape, there are a few measurements to follow that allow for the highest level of comfort in the space. It’s important to make sure guests are not crowded. As a comfortable minimum, allow at least 30-36 inches for clearance whether it be for a wall or piece of furniture. High traffic areas will require more room, 48-60 inches depending on flow and comfort. Take a look at the graph below. This lays out seating and the standard sizes that goes along with them. There is a bit of wiggle room depending on the chair size that is used for the table and desired level of comfort.

Pros of Round Tables

To start, round tables are known for their flexibility in seating. It’s easier to cram loads of people around the table. Unlike the traditional rectangular four-leg table, there’s nothing to maneuver around. Unexpected dinner guests show up? No problem! Scooch over. Another selling point for selecting a round table is that they are great for square areas. The flow of a round allows for easy movement around the space due to its lack of corners. Even better, if you have a household with smaller children, no sharp edges – less injuries. If you’re looking for a more personal dining experience, conversation flows more easily as all who are seated face one-another and more are included.

Cons of Round Tables

The biggest con to a round table is that they are the least efficient when compared to other table shapes as far as seating goes. To solve this dilemma, there’s always the option to add drop-in or perimeter leaves. This, in turn, adds more seating and alleviates the problem. Adding to this, an extra-large round creates dead space in the center. As a result of the extra space, it makes it difficult to reach food. A lazy Susan can help remedy one of these two cons. This leads us to room shape. The “best” shape room for a round is large square-like setup. If your room takes a different form, other tables may best suit your needs.

The Rest is Up to You!

We have no affinity to one table shape over the other. If you’ve read our other blogs you know that our two main goals for our custom tables are: durability and functionality.

We pride ourselves on making quality tables that are easy to live with and function well. If we can aid you in finding the perfect table that will best suit your family’s needs, our work is done.

Want to check out the various styles and sizes of round tables we’ve custom built for our customers, click here. Interested in seeing more of our work? Explore our table collections to browse examples of the different types of tables we’ve built in the past. For more information on the various table customization options available to you, view our table options page.

If you’re interested in building a piece of custom furniture with us, contact Rustic Elements Furniture today!  We’d be more than happy to speak with you about your next custom furniture project.

 

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