Thanksgiving Tables 101: A Designer’s Guide to the Perfect Dining Entertaining Space
For the Dining Space that Can’t Accommodate an Expandable Table
We love this dining room we designed for a family of four. The space constraints don’t allow for an expandable table. So we carefully considered the scale of the dining chairs and the type of table legs to maximize the number of people this room can fit while still allowing everyone to feel comfortable. Fresh white and warm orange invite all to the table.
The Everyday Large Table: Always Ready to Entertain
This dining room we designed is gracious in size so an everyday large table makes sense. It doesn’t expand. Rather, it holds the volume of space with its scale and amount of seating on a daily basis.
Non-Expandable Table with Adjacent Extra Seating
This Condo dining room that we designed features another non-expandable table. But the beauty of this space is the adjacent island seating. Perfect for if a few extra guests show up. The connection to the dining space means everyone can still feel like part of the party. No card tables and folding chairs set up in the Den for this homeowner! Why would you want to banish your guests?
Interested in this project? Read more about it here.
The Classic Expandable Table
The classic expandable table has been around for a long time for good reason- it works! We custom designed this boat shaped table for this space to reflect the curves of the architecture. Not only is it beautiful, but super functional. We also designed space for a few extra matching upholstered chairs to be tucked away next to the buffet and easily pulled up to the table.
PRO-TIP if you fancy yourself a Hostess-With-The-Mostest: In a beautiful space like this, a non-matching chair can be a bit of an eye-sore. If you can swing it, it’s a lovely idea to order a few extra chairs that match the everyday chairs.
The Custom, Expandable-to-the-Max Table
We love designing custom solutions for our clients to solve their unique problems. This client loves to entertain. The larger the group, the better! On an ordinary day, it seats 10. When it is expanded, it can seat 16! (Or more if you want to get cozy.) The unique thing about this table is that it expands at the width, rather than the length. This way, there is ample room for food in the middle of the table, and you don’t have people sitting 14 feet away from each other. The center leaf creates a “table runner” effect with the grain direction of the veneer. The leaves are self-storing, so it’s easy to expand.
Interested in this project? Read more about it here.
PRO-TIP: An entry bench or end of bed bench doubles as extra dining table seating at thanksgiving! You can seat lots of little people on a bench instead of banishing them to the dreaded “Kids Table”!
The Small Table for Intimate Dining
Not entertaining this season? Don’t have any family that lives in town? In between traveling on Thanksgiving Day? There’s nothing wrong with an intimate table for one or two!
We designed this space for just that occasion. A wine room off of the large dining room is perfect for dining for two. If you’ve got the space, it’s a good idea to design dining areas for small and larger groups for everyday living- not just Thanksgiving.
30 November, 2019 at 9:08 am
It’s so neat how the table expands the width. Love it! And it looks gorgeous in the room.
30 November, 2019 at 12:56 pm
What a great post to solve the extra seating needed during holidays! I remember the kiddie table so well at my family’s holidays, but you give real concrete solutions. Love the bench idea!
30 November, 2019 at 4:22 pm
Beautiful inspiration photos. The bench is a great idea!
30 November, 2019 at 7:36 pm
Some gorgeous tables here, Lisa! Self storing leaves are the best invention ever. And a bench is a great option to maximize seating when needed!
1 December, 2019 at 6:12 pm
Great tips Lisa. I may have been totally distracted as I kept going back to the first image. That area rug! Oh my….it has truly stolen my heart.
I loved all of your tips! Pinning and sharing!