Best dining tables, reviewed by an interior's editor

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From rectangular to circular, there’s a dining table for every space and taste Daisy Lester/Nicky Rampley Clarke/The Standard Nicky Rampley-Clarke 3 minutes ago You heard it here first: the formal dining room is back. After years of open-plan living, we’re returning to the layouts of yesteryear, and with them, dedicated spaces for wining and dining.

As the popularity of dinner parties and home entertaining continues to gain momentum – a happy hangover, quite literally, from the pandemic – we’re going all-in (and all-out) on separate rooms for serving up veritable feasts for the senses.

The centrepiece? A gorgeous dining table around which everyone can gather, of course. But don’t worry: even if you don’t have the space or means to create a formal dining room, there’s a dining table for every home, whether a small, circular one for kitchen-diners, extendable styles for tight spaces or expansive, rectangular styles for grand affairs.

“Dining tables are at the heart of a home, now often accommodating daily life first – snacking, laptops, homework – and 'occasion' dining second,” explains Hannah Armstrong, senior furniture buyer at Heal’s , the British furniture and homeware brand.

Best for bespoke design – Heal’s Bespoke Dining Table Lisbon: £1,935, Heals.com

Best space-saving dining table – Made.com 4 to 6 Seater extending dining table: £579.99, Next.co.uk

Best for small spaces – King Living Magnolia Dining Table: £1,980, Kingliving.co.uk

Best extendable dining table – Pottery Barn Extending Dining Table: £1,799, Potterybarn.co.uk

“We recommend thinking about the whole setting first when choosing a dining table that works for you – proportions, legroom and the overall visual balance of a space all matter, so it's worth ensuring that this blend of functionality and aesthetics is well considered.”

She adds: “Before anything else, think about the size and shape of your dining space, and lead with functionality. From compact styles to extendable designs, it's about understanding how the table will be used – will it be a spot for everyday meals or does it need to regularly adapt to changing occasions from dinner parties to family gatherings? For example, styles that have a smooth, easy-to-use extension mechanism are best for more regular daily use, whilst for more ad-hoc occasions, designs with removable leaves can be a simple yet equally effective solution.”

As an interior’s editor, I know the brands you can trust for high-quality furniture Nicky Rampley-Clarke/The Standard Hannah continues: “Another key consideration is quality. A table, by its nature, needs to be durable and hard-wearing, and should be chosen with longevity in mind that ensure its place in the home for years to come. Solid wood is always a great start when choosing materials and is one of the most dependable options for a dining table, while adding warmth and texture to a space with a lived-in feel.