Lloyd’s Woodworking · Hudson, Massachusetts
By Lloyd’s Woodworking Inc.
What Should You Know Before Ordering a Custom Dining Table?
DIRECT ANSWER:
Before ordering a custom dining table, determine the room dimensions, normal and maximum seating requirements, chair sizes, circulation space, table shape, leg or base placement, whether extension leaves are needed, desired materials and how the table will be used day to day.
DON'T START WITH:
"I NEED A TABLE FOR EIGHT."
START WITH:
"THIS IS THE ROOM.
THESE ARE THE CHAIRS.
THIS IS HOW OUR FAMILY ACTUALLY USES IT."
A dining table is furniture.
But in many homes, it is also the center of family life.
MEASURE THE ROOM FIRST
Do not choose the table dimensions in isolation.
Measure:
Room length
Room width
Door locations
Windows
Built-ins
Cabinetry
Traffic paths
Other furniture
A table can technically fit while making the room unpleasant to use.
HOW MANY PEOPLE SIT THERE EVERY DAY?
Separate:
DAILY SEATING
from
MAXIMUM OCCASIONAL SEATING.
A family of four that hosts twelve people twice a year has different needs from a household that seats ten every Sunday.
CHAIRS MATTER
Eight chairs do not all require the same space.
Consider:
Chair width
Arms
Back shape
How chairs tuck under the table
Spacing between diners
Existing chairs should be part of the planning when they will be reused.
LEG PLACEMENT MATTERS
A beautiful table can be frustrating if guests constantly hit table legs.
Base design affects:
Seating
Chair placement
Legroom
Appearance
Structural requirements
WHAT SHAPE WORKS BEST?
Common options include:
Rectangular
Round
Square
Oval
Other custom configurations
The room and seating pattern should help drive the decision.
DO YOU NEED EXTENSION LEAVES?
Ask:
How often will they be used?
Where will they be stored?
Who will install them?
How large should the table become?
An extension system should solve a real need.
HOW WILL THE TABLE BE USED?
Dining?
Homework?
Crafts?
Work?
Holiday meals?
Daily family meals?
Games?
A table that will be used heavily should be designed with that reality in mind.
WOOD CHANGES
Wood responds to environmental moisture.
Construction should account for normal wood movement.
Homeowners should also understand that natural wood can show variation in:
Grain
Color
Figure
Texture
Those variations are part of the material.
WHAT ABOUT THE FINISH?
Discuss:
Appearance
Expected use
Maintenance
Sheen
Color
Existing furniture
The goal is not simply choosing a stain name.
DO YOU WANT IT TO LOOK NEW FOREVER?
A dining table is one of the most touched pieces of furniture in a house.
Over years, it may acquire evidence of use.
Some owners want a pristine appearance.
Others appreciate the gradual development of character.
Know which person you are.
CAN THE TABLE BECOME AN HEIRLOOM?
Maybe.
But "heirloom" should not be treated as a marketing guarantee.
A piece becomes an heirloom because future generations decide it matters.
The best starting point is simply to build something worth keeping.
Frequently asked questions
WHAT SIZE CUSTOM DINING TABLE DO I NEED?
That depends on room dimensions, circulation, chair size and seating requirements.
SHOULD I CHOOSE THE CHAIRS BEFORE THE TABLE?
If existing or specific chairs will be used, their dimensions should be considered during table design.
ARE EXTENSION LEAVES WORTH IT?
They can be when occasional seating needs are substantially greater than daily needs.
WHAT WOOD IS BEST FOR A DINING TABLE?
There is no universal best species. Appearance, design, availability, construction and expected use all matter.
CAN A CUSTOM TABLE MATCH EXISTING FURNITURE?
It can be designed to coordinate with existing furniture, although exact color matching between different wood and finishes should not automatically be promised.
THE BEST DINING TABLE DOESN'T START WITH THE TABLE.
IT STARTS WITH YOUR ROOM AND THE PEOPLE AROUND IT.
Send Lloyd’s a photo of the space, approximate dimensions and an explanation of what the finished piece needs to do.
START A CUSTOM TABLE PROJECTCALL 978-562-9007