A dining room table is often the central point in a home, needing to be both beautiful and practical. Over the course of its life, a table will accommodate thousands of family meals and host dinner parties and seasonal celebrations. Plus, we may even use it as a desk, or the kids will spread out their homework on it. Choosing a dining room table, therefore, can often be a tough decision, made only trickier by the wealth of unique designs available. When we looked to the experts, there was no clear consensus on which five tables are the best. However, there were brands that were more frequently recommended and that’s what we bring you today in our list of the best dining room tables.
An inviting dining room has more unexpected benefits than we might imagine. For example, eating home-cooked meals can have a positive impact on our health when compared to eating out. A study by Tufts University found that a fifth of the calories consumed by Americans come from restaurant meals. Unfortunately, the nutritional value of these calories is often poor, contributing to an unhealthy lifestyle. Choosing to eat at home can be a healthier option and allows for more quality time around the dining room table.
Health isn’t the only thing on the menu when it comes to the importance of the quality of your dining area. With more people working from home, regular Zoom calls have left many of us judging our colleagues’ décor. In a recent survey of just over 2,000 Americans, 54% admitted to sizing up their coworkers’ interior design skills. With many people attending meetings from their dining room, the pressure to get your choice of table right just went up a notch.
The pressure is on, but we’ve got you covered. If you’re not sure which is the best dining room table to invest in, take a look at the views of the nine experts below to help you choose. As always, let us know in the comments below your top pick.
The List: Best Dining Room Tables, According To Design Experts
1. Allmodern
Better Homes and Gardens’ vote was split between two Allmodern Designs. The first went to the Allmodern Thomas Solid Oak Pedestal Dining Table. “Built with kiln-dried wood, the Thomas Oval Dining Table offers four oak wood stain selections: whitewash, natural oak, black, or walnut. You can select a different finish for the base and tabletop, creating many color combinations to accommodate your decorative style.”
Their other choice was the Adam Glass Trestle Dining Table. “The sleek 75-inch-long glass top surface highlights the trestle table base, and its rounded corners offer a modern, feminine look. Even though it looks light and airy, glass tabletops are usually heavy, and this one weighs 128 pounds. Make sure you have a friend or two to help move it in place.”
The Spruce’s choice was the Allmodern Devera Glass Dining Table. “Measuring 47 x 29 inches, this round table is big enough to seat about four people. It can also make a great addition to a breakfast nook or apartment dining room, so you can hold onto this piece if you transition to a new space.”
Popsugar’s recommendation was for those looking for a larger table. “If you’re looking for something to seat a lot of people, then try the AllModern Drew Walnut Solid Wood Dining Table. It seats up to eight people, and you can style it with a number of cool chairs.”
2. West Elm
There were three recommendations for West Elm from the experts we surveyed. House Beautiful loved the Silhouette Pedestal Dining Table for its looks. “A dining table is typically not the most glamorous piece of furniture in the room, but West Elm is making us reconsider with its Silhouette pedestal table. Simple in shape, the Silhouette comprises of a marble top and an antique brass base.”
Bob Vila chose the West Elm Anton Solid Wood Dining Table in its “Best Overall” category. “To suit modern spaces, this table features a graceful and minimal design, with a rectangular silhouette and two wide, pillar-style oval table legs. The table is crafted from sustainably sourced solid mango wood, which gives it a warm aesthetic that can add a welcome homey touch to stark modern rooms. Plus, this West Elm dining table is a contract-grade item, which means it’s built to last.”
Popsugar opted for the West Elm Hargrove Round Dining Table. “Go for something round with the West Elm Hargrove Round Dining Table. The light-wood wash gives it a California-cool feel that will lighten up any space.”
3. Anthroplogie
With this brand, we did find consensus among the experts, with all three opting for the same choice, the Quillen Marquetry Dining Table.
Property Nest says, “This table is sleek; with its brass banding, geometric base, and the beautiful star motif on the tabletop, it’s a space-saver and a conversation piece. Anthropologie writes that it ‘elevates contemporary, traditional, and rustic decor schemes alike,’ and we couldn’t agree more.”
Bob Vila chose it in their “Glam” category. “Metal accents, sculptural lines, and geometric shapes help give glam dining rooms their upscale look, and this dining room table from Anthropologie has all the above. This table is made from walnut veneer and engineered hardwood, with a deep natural brown finish that is sealed with a clear lacquer for protection. Ideal for smaller dining rooms, it has a circular tabletop that sits on top of a tapered geometric base.”
Popsugar was all about the look. “The pretty wood design to gold detailing, this table is so chic.”
4. Zinus
Forbes’ “Best Budget Category” was won by the Zinus Louis Modern Studio Collection Soho Dining Table with Two Benches. “Not only is it incredibly stylish in its simplicity, but it also comes with two handy benches included. A durable steel frame and an enormous number of glowing reviews make it even more worth your while, as does its under-$200 price and solid construction.”
Popsugar also applauded the budget friendliness of this brand, especially the Zinus Jen Wood Dining Table. “If you’re looking for an affordable find, then you can’t go wrong with the Zinus Jen Wood Dining Table. It’s stylish, space-saving, and under $200, what’s not to love? It even comes in a darker wood finish as well.”
MyDomaine loved the Zinus Jen too. “If you’re on the hunt for a simple but refined mid-century modern table and you’re on a small budget, stop looking and order this Zinus Jen dining table ASAP. Buyers are blown away by the statement this small and thrifty table makes in any space.”
5. Kelly Clarkson Home
The Kelly Clarkson Home Jolene Solid Wood Trestle Dining table was the one recommended by The Spruce. “If you’re working with a larger space, you can’t go wrong with this 96-inch stunner by Kelly Clarkson Home. The Jolene is a trestle-style dining table with an hourglass base. Made of reclaimed pine and finished with a distressed medium-brown hue, it’ll look great in rustic, modern farmhouse, traditional, and transitional spaces alike.”
Propertynest is a fan of the Sylvan Dining Table by Kelly Clarkson Home. “Country decor themes are hot right now, with variations like french-country and modern farmhouse heavily influencing mainstream kitchen and dining room styles…The paint is white and distressed, adding to the rustic feel of the piece. It was also crafted to be chip-resistant, giving it points in the durability column.”
Sources:
- Better Homes and Gardens
- The Spruce
- Popsugar
- House Beautiful
- Bob Vila
- Property Nest
- Forbes
- MyDomaine
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Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This post may contain affiliate links.