Choosing the shape of your dining table is one of the decisions that most affects daily life at home. It's not just aesthetics — it's functionality, space and living together. In this guide we help you decide with clear criteria and no beating around the bush.
"Round or rectangular table?" is probably the most frequent question we receive at Studio Tablas. And the honest answer is: it depends on three specific things — the size of your dining room, how many people use it regularly, and what style you're looking for. Let's go through each one.
Before choosing the shape, measure your dining room. You need at least 90 cm of free space around the table so chairs can be pulled out comfortably.
In dining rooms under 12 m² the round table wins clearly. Without corners, it takes up less visual space and allows more fluid circulation around it. A round extendable table like the NORMA at 120 cm is perfect for daily use and opens to 200 cm when you have guests.
The round table has no head of the table — all diners have equal prominence. It's the ideal shape for long after-dinner conversations and flowing discussions. Without corners blocking the way, you can add an extra chair without anyone feeling uncomfortable.
In square or open-plan spaces, the round table balances visually better than the rectangular. It breaks the rigidity of straight lines and gives a sense of spaciousness.
The round table fits perfectly in organic and warm styles. At Studio Tablas we have two models:
Both in solid oak, crafted in our Granada workshop.
In dining rooms with a corridor layout or with a dominant long wall, the rectangular table makes better use of space. It aligns naturally with the architecture and leaves more passing room on the sides.
For families of 6 or more people in daily use, the rectangular offers more surface area per square metre. It is the most efficient format when the number of diners is consistently high.
The straight lines of the rectangular fit better with styles where angles dominate — industrial design kitchens, dining rooms with exposed beams or more formal decorations. Our LUMA Dining Table in FSC solid oak is Studio Tablas' rectangular option: artisan Mediterranean design, available in multiple sizes and 3 finishes.
Nuestra LUMA Solid Oak Dining Table | Studio Tablas en roble macizo FSC es la opción rectangular de Studio Tablas: diseño mediterráneo, disponible en múltiples medidas y los 3 acabados.
If you're unsure about sizes or don't know how many diners you'll need in the future, an extendable table eliminates the dilemma. You live with the smaller size day to day and extend it when you need to.
Not all extendable tables work the same way. The NORMA and MODE use the butterfly Pöttker mechanism — the highest precision system for round tables. They go from 120 to 200 cm without removing anything from the surface, in less than 10 seconds, with one person.
| NORMA | MODE | |
|---|---|---|
| Legs | Straight vertical | Diagonal from centre |
| Style | Minimalist, sober | More visual character |
| Perimeter comfort | High | Maximum — no perimeter legs |
| Mechanism | Pöttker | Pöttker |
| Tabletop | FSC solid oak 4 cm | FSC solid oak 4 cm |
If you have doubts about the finish — natural, Nordic white, smoke, carbon black or tobacco — you can order your wood samples before placing your order. We send them so you can see the real oak in your space, with your light.
| Choose round if… | Choose rectangular if… |
|---|---|
| Your dining room is small or square | Your dining room is elongated |
| You entertain guests frequently | There are many of you regularly |
| You want an organic, warm style | You prefer straight, formal lines |
| You want freedom of movement | You need maximum surface area |
In dining rooms under 12 m² the round table wins clearly. Without corners, it takes up less visual space and allows more fluid circulation around it. A round extendable table like the NORMA at 120 cm is perfect for daily use and opens to 200 cm when you have guests.
