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If you love to host dinner parties that impress your guests, it’s probably time to think about investing in an extendable dining table. Given that the holidays are right around the corner, there’s no better time to spruce up your dining room. Dining tables that expand are a functional piece that will let you entertain friends and family with plenty of room, but we understand you’ll want the best one for your needs and design aesthetic. To help us figure out what to look for, we enlisted the help of designer Hema Persad, founder of Sagrada Studio and art director of HGTV’s “Property Brothers.”
What is an extendable dining table?
An extendable dining table is “a table that comes with removable ‘leaves’ so that you can make it larger or smaller depending on your needs,” Persad says. Some of the options we found can expand from 60-inches wide to more than 100 inches wide. Although it depends on the style of your dining room, Persad points out that wood is a great material to go for. “It’s a durable option that will stand the test of time and can even be restained or repainted down the line,” she says.
How to pick the right dining table size for your space:
An extendable dining table is best for people who entertain a lot and need the flexibility of options. Persad notes that those who want to invest in one should also have the space to accommodate the table when extended. “Make sure you have at least three feet surrounding the table on all sides. This ensures a comfortable flow of traffic,” she says. Extendable dining tables also come in a variety of shapes and styles, so she recommends “choosing based on the space you have and the overall style of your room.”
What are the different styles of extendable dining tables?
There are so many options to choose from, including butterfly-leaf dining tables, self-storing leaf dining tables, and drop-leaf dining tables. Butterfly-leaf styles have folding seams at the center of the extension leaf, so they open up and close like a set of butterfly wings. When not in use, you can fold these leaves up and store them underneath the table or in a cabinet. A self-storing leaf dining table is pretty self-explanatory: the table itself has space to store the expansion leaf of the table. Drop-leaf tables have a fixed center and hinged sections on either side that can be folded down or dropped for a smaller table, or lifted up and locked into place for a longer table.
We found a variety of options that can fit your interior needs, whether you’re on the hunt for an extendable dining table for small spaces or a table that can seat up to 12. From a modern-farmhouse vibe to something midcentury and minimal, we found several chic wooden tables that will complement your space. Plus, we included a few white tables that look so luxurious and airy. No matter what you’re serving on the menu, these expandable dining tables will set the scene. Get ready to host and shop our top picks ahead.
— Additional reporting by Kyley Warren
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