We have a formal dining room and in it is one of our finest pieces of furniture which is a large antique dining table that can accommodate 10 people.
The most popular dining table shape for a dining room is a rectangle.
This makes sense because most people like the aesthetic of straight lines in a room that has straight lines.
What I mean by that is to some people a curved table such as oval or round doesn’t look as good in a rectangle or square room as a rectangle or square dining table.
The rectangle shape fits better in most dining room shapes compared to the square while accommodating more people.
Here’s our massive gallery featuring many dining room designs, each with a rectangle dining table.
Related: Parts of a Table | Terrific Small Dining Tables | DIY Dining Table | Dining Table Dimensions | Dining Rooms with Round Tables | Dining Rooms with Oval Tables | Types of Dining Room Tables | Unique Dining Tables
Photo Gallery
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Simple dining room features white wainscoting walls and hardwood flooring. It has a white marble top rectangular table beautifully contrasted with modern black chairs.
Warm dining room showcases wooden rectangle dining table and matching chairs that complement the hardwood flooring.
Dining area with dark wood rectangle table surrounded with leather dining chairs. It is illuminated by a fancy chandelier and sits on a patterned rug.
Cream dining area accented with yellow striped chairs that surround a rectangular dining table. It has full height glazing that allows natural light in.
Fresh and airy dining room with wooden dining table paired with cushioned chairs. It features an arched paneled door covered with sheer curtains leading to an open balcony.
Wood dining room with white walls and a rectangular dining table accompanied by cream chairs. It is lighted by a pair of wooden pendants that hung from a vaulted ceiling with exposed wood beams.
Formal dining room boasts an open archway and glass windows that provide a panoramic view of the outdoor scenery. It includes a wooden rectangle table accented with a runner that complements the dining chairs.
Wooden dining table with rattan chairs lighted by a round cage chandelier filled this white dining room.
Dining area decorated with wall art canvas and caged centerpieces placed on top of the rectangle table with gray chairs. There’s a floor to ceiling glass windows overlooking a serene outdoor view.
Cottage style dining room with wooden ceiling and hardwood flooring with herringbone pattern. It features a rustic dining table with round rattan chairs.
This dining room is styled with carved wood wall art mounted above white wainscoting. It includes a wooden table with matching bench and white upholstered chairs.
Elegant dining area with black dining table and chairs lighted by a linear chandelier that hung from a tray ceiling.
Natural wood cabinetry complements the rectangular dining table with white chairs in this open dining room.
Spacious dining room with shared kitchen illuminated by a drum chandelier and pendant lights that hung from a coffered ceiling. It has a wooden dining table with rattan and upholstered chairs.
Open dining area with natural wood dining table paired with black leather chairs. It has a dark hardwood flooring topped with a taupe rug.
White dining area accented with chevron patterned flooring. It includes a pearl white marble top table surrounded with white dining chairs.
Charming dining room designed with a huge clock and floral centerpiece that sits on a wooden rectangle table. It is paired with beige tufted chairs over hardwood flooring.
A pair of glass globe pendant light hung from a vaulted ceiling in this white dining space. It illuminates the dark wood dining table with black and white chairs.
Gorgeous dining area lighted by a unique branch chandelier that hung over a light wood rectangle table with mixed chairs.
Modern dining room offers a lengthy wood dining table with white chairs over hardwood flooring.
Spacious dining room features a glass top dining table and white modern chairs that sit on a black and white rug over tiled flooring.
Clean white kitchen showcases floating shelves designed with modern decors and tray ceiling illuminated by strip and recessed lighting. It has a wooden rectangular table paired with cushioned dining chairs.
Dining area lighted by a contemporary chandelier that hung over a wooden dining table with gray chairs.
An open dining area boasts a modish dining table and chairs lighted by recessed ceiling lights and a doorway leading to outdoor amenities.
Elegant dining room showcases a marble top dining table with blue velvet chairs framed with gold metal legs. A gorgeous chandelier along with wall sconces illuminated the room.
Bright dining space features paneled walls covered with white sheer curtains. It has a gold metal dining table with lovely green chairs lighted by an industrial chandelier.
Rattan chandeliers illuminated the rectangle dining table with wooden chairs and bench in this small dining area.
Sleek dining room boasts a pair of suspended hexagon lighting fixtures that hung over a rectangular dining table and black chairs. It has a full height glazing where you can clearly enjoy the impressive outdoor scenery.
This dining area features a wooden dining set that complements the hardwood flooring. It has a glass doorway leading to the gravel patio.
White dining space with a rectangular wooden dining table paired with mismatched chairs over vinyl flooring.
Minimalist chandelier illuminated the 8-seater dining set that sits on a brown textured rug in this open dining space.
Modern dining area with a dark wood dining table and white sleek chairs lighted by various sized pendant lights.
Dining room with hardwood and glazing walls overlooking the enchanting forest. It includes a wood plank dining table with matching cushioned chairs complementing the flooring.
Minimalist dining room surrounded with glass windows bringing plenty of natural light in. It has a rectangle table with modern chairs illuminated by a fancy chandelier.
Scattered glass globe pendants hung over a rectangular table with white chairs in this small dining space. It has a wall mirror that creates an illusion of a bigger area.
Fully glazed dining room features a wooden table and beige upholstered chairs with black metal legs over hardwood flooring.
White shiplap walls and ceiling accented with a blue sectional, brick divider, sky blue pendant lights and dining chairs that surround a rectangle wooden table.
This dining room features modern lighting fixtures and a lovely tree stump dining table surrounded by black leather chairs.
White dining area with interesting pendant lights that hung from the black dining table and red chairs. It includes built-in bookshelves with a display cabinet in the middle.
You can feel you’re one with nature in this fully glazed dining room. It includes a wooden table with matching chairs that complements with the wood beam ceiling.
Natural light streams through the floor to ceiling glass windows in this dining room. It features an 8-seater dining set that sits on hardwood flooring.
Bright dining room showcases a pair of lovely pendant lights that hung over a wooden dining set. The area is filled with natural lights coming through the white framed windows.
Contemporary dining room features a rectangular dining set accented with yellow and black chairs. It includes floating shelves and built-in storage decorated with wall art pieces.
A fancy chandelier illuminates the black dining set in this dining room. It is designed with a blue wall art canvas mounted on the white wall.
Spacious dining room offers a wooden dining table with gray tufted chairs. It is lighted by a pair of black pendants along with skylights fitted on the vaulted ceiling.
An eat-in kitchen with a rectangle table paired with gray chairs and parallel to the breakfast island. It has concrete flooring topped with a gray rug.
An open dining space across the living room with full height glazing covered with white sheer curtains. It includes a natural wood table with black and gray chairs.
A pair of gorgeous floral pendant lights that hung from a tray ceiling illuminate this dining room. The wooden dining table and upholstered chairs sit on a taupe shaggy rug over hardwood flooring.
An olive green dining room showcases recessed wainscoting walls and coffered ceiling. It has a white dining table surrounded by cushioned wooden and skirted wingback chairs.
This dining room features a lengthy dining table paired with mismatched chairs. It has dark hardwood flooring and white ceiling accented with wood beams.
Where to buy outstanding dining room tables
Here’s a few of some terrific online retailers selling dining room tables. You can get reasonably priced options as well (in other words, these aren’t stores that sell only $2,000 tables).
- Wayfair
- Amazon
- Joss & Main
- AllModern
- IKEA: I get why some people don’t like IKEA, but I have to admit they sell some great dining room tables (all wood) for very reasonable prices. They’re also not that hard to assemble.
Dining Table Selection Tips for your Dining Room
Space: Â This is absolutely critical. You need to ensure that you have space for people to move in and out of their seat and get around the table. When measuring this, you must do so with the dining chairs set back from the table as they would be with people seated in them. There’s nothing so annoying for diners to have to move their chair and squeeze themselves against the table so people can get out behind their chair.
You’re better off with a more narrow and/or shorter table that comfortably accommodates people instead of everyone being squeezed.
Table Material: As you can see wood is the most popular, but you can also get glass dining tables. I’m not a big fan of glass, but once in a while I see a glass design that makes me go “wow.”
Chances are you’ll opt for a solid wood dining table and if that’s your decision, you really can’t go wrong.
Leg Type: Â You can get pedestal base, trestle base or four individual legs. Our dining table has 2 pedestal legs and they look good, although most contemporary tables have four distinct legs. This really boils down to your personal preference. I like both.
Finish: Â This is a very difficult decision. If you go with wood, which is very likely, you need to settle on a particular finish. Will it be dark, medium or light wood? How about a color such as grey? Distressed wood? White legs, light wood top (this is our kitchen dining table which looks fabulous and was done by my wife)?
Extension:  I think dining tables with extensions are very handy, whether they extend with a slide-out extension or accordion extension in which you insert planks. They all add length and each has their pros and cons. Our dining room table has slide-out extensions which extends seating capacity from 6 to 10. Our kitchen dining table expands like an accordion in which we insert a plank.
Should you buy a set or individually?
If you’re in need of table and chairs, a set can be a better deal and it helps with decision making. However, if you have good chairs, there is no reason to buy a set. Look for a table that accommodates the table.
Our table was purchased independently from the chairs. In fact, my parents gifted us the table and chairs, both of which are antiques they had purchased and finished. The chairs are truly spectacular. Every time we host a dinner party, people remark how comfortable they are (and they really are). They have a tall back, are well cushioned and have arms. This goes to show you that choosing comfortable dining room chairs is a really smart idea. The point is you can buy them independently or as a set.
Let us help you…
Above, our gallery of dining room examples with rectangle tables should be able to help you see what will work in your dining room. We feature tables of all different finishes placed in dining rooms of many styles.
