Buying a dining table and chairs is a simple project that can turn into a long process of struggling to find the perfect set that meets all your needs and lives up to your expectations.
Here at Dovetails Furniture, you’re not stuck with a mass-produced set you were forced to like. You can choose solid American hardwood pieces made by Amish craftsmen, that allows you to choose the right design to fit your room and routine.
Below is a practical, readable path to help through the big decisions in finding the perfect dining room table and chairs.
Start With the Room
Before choosing a style, measure your space to see what size table will fit comfortably.
Aim for these distances from the table edge to walls or nearby furniture:
- 36 inches: comfortable minimum for pulling out chairs and walking around
- 44–48 inches: better for busy paths (open kitchens, walkways, high traffic)
- 32 inches: workable in low-traffic spots, but you’ll feel it when people are seated
To check this, measure your dining area, then subtract the clearance you need on all sides. What’s left is the largest table that will fit without making the space feel cramped.
Here at Dovetails we also carry dining storage (hutches, cabinets, serving pieces), so planning the full layout early prevents problems in the future.
Decide Seating Based on Real Life
Most people shop based on the one or two times a year they host a crowd, then live the rest of the year with a too-large table that dominates the room. The better approach is to choose a comfortable daily setup while also considering a guest mode.
If you host regularly, an extendable table is often the best solution. Normal-sized most of the time but expandable when needed. We specifically call out extendable tables and durable chair options as a core part of our dining lineup.
Choose the table shape that matches your space and flow
Table shape does not just affect aesthetics, it affects walkways, seating flexibility, and how the room feels.
Rectangular:
Best for long rooms and predictable layouts. Also the easiest to scale up with leaves. If you host often, this is usually the least complicated choice.
Round:
Round tables keep sightlines open and make it easier to move around the perimeter. They’re ideal in square rooms or breakfast nooks, and they tend to feel more social because everyone faces inward.
Square:
A square table can look perfectly balanced, but it doesn’t scale as smoothly as a rectangle or a larger round unless you have plenty of room.
Oval:
An oval can give you similar seating capacity to a rectangle while feeling less sharp in a tighter layout.
At Dovetails we offer all of these options so you can choose the best one based off your room size, needs, and aesthetics.
Choosing the Base
The table base affects both legroom and how easily chairs can be placed.
- Leg tables: classic look, but corner legs can interfere with chair placement
- Pedestal tables: often easier for seating because you don’t have corner legs
- Trestle/double pedestal: strong visual presence, good for larger tables, but confirm chair clearance at the base
Choose the base that matches how you actually use the table—prioritize comfortable legroom and easy chair placement while also adding detail to your room.
Leaves, Benches, and the “Guest Plan”
Leaves and benches help your dining space seat more people than it does day to day.
Extendable Tables
Leaf tables let you keep your daily table size reasonable, but make it easy to expand when guests arrive. Adding a leaf increases your capacity by about 2 seats but it ultimately depends on chair width, leaf size, and table base design.
Benches
Benches can be great when:
- you want seating that tucks under the table
- you have kids
- you need a cleaner walkway in a tight space
Benches are less ideal when:
- you host older guests often
- long dinners are common
- you want easy in/out access for every seat
A very workable setup is a bench on one side, and chairs on the other. This keeps the room open while still giving flexibility.
Chairs
A table can be the perfect size and still feel wrong if the chairs aren’t right. Focus on fit first, then style.
Chair Fit Checklist:
- Seat height: most dining chairs (17–19″) pair well with standard dining tables (~30″)
- Seat depth: many people prefer 16–18″ for comfortable posture
- Back support: shaped backs tend to feel better for longer meals
- Arm clearance: if using armchairs, confirm they fit under the apron or at least don’t collide awkwardly
We also offers upholstery options, including performance fabrics and leather categories. These are useful if your dining area is having spills happen often.
How many chairs should you buy?
First, buy for the daily setup, then solve hosting separately:
- keep 1–2 extra chairs elsewhere
- use a bench as overflow
- expand the table with leafs and add chairs later
Buy chairs that fit your table and your daily routine first, then add flexible extras for hosting.
Style: Matched Set or Coordinated Mix
We note that our hardwood furniture at Dovetails blends traditional craftsmanship with modern styles, allowing you to build pieces to your specifications. This craftsmanship supports both routes: a fully matched set or a coordinated mix that still looks intentional.
If you want it easy, choose a matching set. Buy chairs and a table designed as a set. Simple, cohesive, and low-risk.
If you want a more personal look, do not choose a set but instead coordinate the table and chairs.
Either way, pick the approach that matches your tolerance for decision-making. Go fully matched for effortless cohesion, or mix pieces on purpose so it looks curated, not accidental.
Wood Species and Finish
Solid American hardwood furniture with multiple wood species and a stain sample gallery is a strength here at Dovetails’.
Common wood options include: brown maple, cherry, red oak, and quartersawn white oak.
Practical guidance when choosing the right wood species and finish:
- If you want a clean, unified look, match undertones (warm vs cool) and keep sheen consistent.
- If you want contrast, choose it deliberately (for example: darker table + lighter chairs, or wood table + upholstered chairs).
- Always compare stain/finish samples in the lighting you actually live in (natural daylight + evening light).
The wood species and finish you choose will allow your table and chairs to come to life.
Custom Orders for Unusual Spaces
If your dining space is unusual (narrow, open-concept, angled walls, built-ins), default sizes may not be the best fit. Here at Dovetails we offer custom furniture ordering and quotes based on your requested dimensions and finish choices.
Shopping with Dovetails: Next Steps
If you’re local, we have showrooms in Bend and Salem—come by, browse online, or both.
At Dovetails Furniture, we help you choose the right dining table and chairs because this is one of the most-used spaces in your home. We’ll guide you on size, shape, and seating so everything fits your room and how you actually live. Our goal is simple, to help you choose a set that looks right, feels comfortable, and works for years.