What size should you buy, what shape should it be and in what kind of material? Choosing the perfect dining table isn't always easy, which is why we’ve created a guide to help you find the perfect designs for you.
We'll guide you through the many options and decisions in seven steps, all designed to properly inform you about which design you should buy. Each step covers the most common questions and considerations, from size to design to material and maintenance – all put together to help you make the right decision.
Step 1: How big should your dining table be?
The size of your new dining table depends on how much space you have and what needs the table has to cater for. For example, if you have a large room, or if you want the dining table to accommodate lots of people and large dinner parties, you might like to go for one of the large dining tables. However, if you have a more compact living area or fewer requirements, a smaller dining table or one with extension leaves could be the solution. Either way, size is the first thing you should consider, and we recommend that you look at the room where you're planning to place your table and ask yourself whether the large or small dining table is best suited to your needs.
Does your dining table need to be oval, round, square or rectangular? It often depends on how much space you have and the room it will be placed in. For example, a round or oval table is good for softening a room, while square and rectangular tables can be more space-saving as you can place a rectangular table along the wall. Below you can read a little more about the different shapes and design languages of our different dining tables.
-
Dining tables with extension leaves
A dining table with extension leaves gives you flexibility and more options for your interior design. As a starting point, it's smaller and suits everyday life, while the concealed or supplementary extension leaves offer more dining and table space. That’s why extension leaves are particularly suitable for those of you who live in more compact spaces, but still want to gather lots of people around the table. Whether you live in large or small spaces, the extension leaves offer a high degree of flexibility.
-
Round dining tables
A round or oval dining table is a great way to break up the look of your interior design, and the soft curves make an elegant contrast with the straight walls in the home and can create a harmonious balance. That’s why round tables are also a more eye-catching and organic addition to the room. Round tables work for both larger and smaller homes, depending on your needs.
-
Square dining tables
A square dining table is slightly more space-efficient than a round one, offering plenty of seat space on all the sides that can be used. A square dining table is often the most practical and popular as it fits into any room. It can be free-standing in large rooms or placed up against a wall in smaller rooms. A square table is therefore a classic choice that can be paired with both benches and dining chairs.
We are inspired by the nature around us, and this inspiration can also be traced in the material selection for our dining tables. Our wood comes from carefully FSC®-certified forestry. Our laminate types are of the highest quality, our fabrics are certified according to STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® and LEATHER STANDARD by OEKO-TEX®, and all our materials are carefully selected and quality checked according to strict requirements.
Do you prefer solid, organic wood with lots of character, or perhaps veneer with a more uniform look? Regardless of whether you choose solid wood, linoleum or laminate, you can be sure the quality will be high. Below you can read about our most popular dining table materials and their qualities.
-
Solid wood
Solid wood is a natural material brimming with lots of character and warmth that live in the beautiful grains that give each piece a unique expression. Every single piece of wood is responsibly forested, dried and sorted with great respect for nature and craftsmanship. Since wood is a natural material, it is affected by its surroundings, and you should therefore treat it regularly – and with love. If you do this, you'll have a table that can last for generations and only become more beautiful year after year. Read more about solid wood and proper care of the material here.
-
Veneer
Veneer consists of thinly sliced wood, which is added layer by layer. The manufacturing process ensures a uniform surface with excellent durability. Therefore, this enables veneer to retain the living, natural characteristics we know from solid wood, just in a more uniform and lighter version. Like solid wood, veneer is a vibrant natural material that lives and breathes, which is why it is affected by the room it is placed in. Wood can contract or expand depending on where you place it, which is why you should give the same care and maintenance to veneer as solid wood. Read more about veneer and proper care of the material here.
-
Laminate
Laminate is a durable and versatile material and we work with both HPL high pressure laminate and FENIX NTM® nanolaminate from the Italian company Arpa Industriale. All laminate types have different properties, but they are all characterised by being resilient, durable and easy to clean. Usually daily cleaning with a wet cloth is enough, while we recommend our Bolia Laminate Cleaner for more thorough cleaning. You can learn much more about the material and proper care and maintenance here.
-
Marble
Marble is a natural material, where large blocks are cut up and transformed into your furniture. All our marble types are of the finest quality from Italy and are available in different types and colours. But they all share nature’s qualities, which provide a beautiful and timeless piece of furniture that is only enhanced by lasting care and love. Read more about care of marble here.
We are selective when it comes to choosing materials, manufacturers, partners and cabinetmakers, and only the best is good enough. That’s why we only use the finest materials such as FSC®-certified wood, and all our furniture designs come with a 10-year guarantee.
All our wood is FSC®-certified to ensure responsible, sustainable forestry. We work with the most skilled furniture craftsmen and cabinetmakers, who have refined their craftsmanship over generations. We only use the best timber and spend a long time quality checking our wood furniture before sending it home to you.
Step 5: Care and maintenance
Proper care and maintenance depends on the material you have chosen for your design. That’s why you can explore our various care guides and tips and tricks here, as well as buy care products for your specific material. Together with Guardian, we offer full care kits that provide you with everything you need in one place.
What characterises our dining tables and dining chairs is that they are uniquely tailored to you. In other words, you can choose the design, the material, the colour, the size and any additional extension leaves. Each design allows you to play around with material choices, colour and format, creating the perfect dining table for you.
Step 7: Personal advice and inspiration?
Need a little extra help or do you have any questions about the material or design you're interested in? We’d love to help you, and we can do this in different ways, depending on what you prefer and want.
The dining room is often the heart of the home that gathers everyone together. Mainly for mealtimes, but also for the hours and moments in-between. That’s why we’ve put together inspiring how-to videos, elegant tableware series and complementary designs that create a welcoming space.
Create an inviting atmosphere with the right table setting with elegant glasses, tableware and cutlery series. We've created several inspirational films that have been made to inspire you to create the most beautiful dining table for every occasion.
When you visit us in the store, you'll be met by our expert store staff who always try their best to help and guide you. They are experts in our designs, colour combinations and materials. For example, they can take you to Design Atelier, which offers inspiration and an aesthetic guideline, and explores materials, surfaces and interior styles.
They can also make a customised offer, especially for you. We call this a personal offer. It outlines the total price, any special offers and delivery details. You can take your offer home, along with fabric samples of furniture fabrics, so you can take measurements and match colours in peace and quiet, and ensure you make the right decision.
We have created eight different design universes, or atmospheres, each of which reveals its own style. All inspired by nature and its changing seasons. These various styles have been developed to be an aesthetic tool that helps you navigate our different materials, colours and designs, and guides you to find the right style and design. Explore the moods here on Bolia.com or in your store.