Best dining tables for entertaining in style

Officially, this table seats six, but we were able to fit eight around it with no trouble once we extended the table. Incredibly well made, it’s just the right balance of solid without being blocky, as it features lovely curved edges. It’s a pale oak veneer but it has plenty of warmth to it. Certainly, it was a table that drew our family to sit down and linger over their meals.

The extending part on this table tucks underneath, and the mechanism works well. The legs are perfectly in proportion and didn’t get in the way at all once we were seated.

We were amazed by the quality of this table when we looked at the price. It’s made from solid oak, looks extremely premium and is a great size. It is not as sturdy as some tables in this round-up, and we found ourselves keeping a firm eye on our kids around it – perhaps unduly, as they didn’t manage to damage it.

The slim legs meant we weren’t constantly whacking our knees, and gave it a contemporary, Scandi-chic look. While the table states it seats six to eight, we’d say six is a more realistic number. This is a great option if you’re a smaller family or a couple that likes to entertain. We’re dubbing this the best budget dining table but the price belies the quality here – it’s just an absolute bargain.

Our family all fell in love with this table as soon as we had constructed it (which was a doddle, by the way). Our four-year-old mini tester said it was the best thing we’d ever got for the house, and they’ve never shown an interest in home décor before. Certainly, it’s perfect for big family meals, and there’s plenty of space for people to stretch out, even when the table is not extended.

The extending leaf is stowed under the table and the mechanism is easy to use. Once it’s extended, you have a very big table indeed – perfect for family gatherings. The metal legs are extremely sturdy and they didn’t get in the way of our own long legs, thanks to the cross-bar style. While the undulating block-wood design might not be for everyone (when you’re writing at the table for example), we found placing a mat underneath items solved this.

Oak Furnitureland is not mucking around here. There are solid dining tables and then there’s this dining table. It took two strong people just to get it in the house, and putting it together was a job and a half (although not complex). So, if you’re looking for a robust dining table that’s able to weather anything, this is the one for you. It’s a very handsome design, too. The solid oak top is gorgeous, with a low-sheen finish that gives it that utility vibe.

This table is pretty big, and two hidden leaves extend it even further to accommodate up to 10 people. The perfect modern dining table, it feels grand without being formal. We can see large family gatherings being seated easily around this dining table.

This solid oak dining table would make a beautiful heritage piece for a family. It’s hewn from a slice of oak, with the natural details running down the side. This makes it a one-off and adds to the aesthetic of this dining table. It’s solid and impeccably made, too – we can imagine this piece will stay in a family for generations to come.

This is more of a traditional-looking table. The smooth, matte surface of the table gives it a farmhouse vibe. The square legs are slightly splayed, to allow for extra room when seated, and we found that it comfortably accommodated six people. The price tag here is weighty, to say the least, but if you’re looking for an investment piece, we’d definitely give this dining table the thumbs up.

Parquet-style table tops are bang on trend at the moment, and yet this table still feels timeless. The circular design is practical and ideal for placing in the middle of an open space or kitchen. It isn’t huge – four people can comfortably sit at it with plenty of elbow room, and you can extend it to an oval that seats six. The slight hitch with this table is you have to remove the leaf entirely and store it elsewhere. Once the leaf goes into the loft, will it ever be retrieved again?

We loved the washed-oak finish, which picked up the beautiful grain on the oak veneer top. The grooves cut into the side of the table and underneath show the attention to detail in the design, too. The table is clearly well-made and built to last.