Re-thinking the Dining Room Experience

Spaces with these features and furnishings require a larger-than-average room. You will need at least 14 feet (4.3 meters) in width and 16 ft. (4.9 m) in length for a similar arrangement, but 15 ft.(4.8 m) wide by 20 ft. (6.1 m) long will likely function better.

A dimension of 36 to 42 inches (91 to 107 centimeters) around the entire table allows for chairs to be occupied with space for others to pass. If your table is 36 in. (91 cm) wide and 72 in. (183 cm) long, this scheme will work in a room that is as little as 11 ft. (3.4 m) wide by 12 ft. (3.6 m) long, considering a 2-ft. (61-cm) depth for the sideboard.

Urban. Many open-plan homes, whether urban or suburban, integrate dining spaces into contiguous living and kitchen areas. The challenge is that wall space will likely be minimal for the placement of sideboards and china cabinets. In the design here it is solved with tall glass-enclosed cabinets that offer storage for tableware and lend decorative appeal.

Cabinets for this purpose can be as shallow as 10 in., but 12, 14 and 16 in. (25, 30, 36 and 41 cm) work better. The widths will depend on your circumstances and what pieces you can find that work with your style. Just keep in mind that you will want to maintain at least 36 in. (91 cm) clear off the edge of your table for occupied chairs so that others can comfortably pass around them. You will need 54 in. (137 cm) if you require wheelchair access.

Be sure to provide extra space when placing dining tables within circulation routes, as has been done here. Not only does traffic pass from the kitchen into the living area, but it also crosses to exit through the sliding glass door to the right and connects to the room at left. Leaving 48 to 60 in. (122 to 152 cm) beyond the edge of a table can be sufficient for this type of layout.

More than a few homes in urban environments have layouts similar to this one. A large, rectangular shape houses the living room, with windows at one end of a large space and a kitchen at the other. The dining area must rest between these points.

Note that the backs of two chairs align with the backs of two bar stools. You will need more space in a similar setup if you will use these seating positions simultaneously, less if you will use them independently. Also note that the dining table chairs are arranged opposite each other. Placing one on each side of the table is another option.

Dining chairs come in an extraordinary range of shapes, sizes and styles. Which are best for you depends on the size of your spaces and the theme of your decor. Here an urban loft with generous volumes mixes contemporary style with traditional chairs around a detailed rectangular wooden table. Fully upholstered chairs head the table, and Chippendale-style side chairs provide further seating.

The upholstered armchairs are closer to 26 in. in width and 26 in. in depth (66 by 66 cm), and the wooden side chairs are about 2 ft. (61 cm) in width and depth.

Rectangular. Carefully consider shape when buying dining room tables. Rectangular ones are the most traditional and readily available. Some rectangular shapes come with leaves so you can extend them for larger dinner events.

Most widths are 36 to 42 in. (92to 107 cm). Lengths vary greatly, but formal dining tables usually need at least 66 in. (168 cm) in length to work properly with six table settings. You can get tables that extend up to 120 in. (305 cm), sometimes a little more; leaves that are 72 to 84 in. (183to 213 cm) in length are common for stationary tabletops. This transitional space has a traditional rectangular table that can expand with leaves.
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