Oval or Round Dining Table: How to Choose the Right Shape
The shape of the table decides how a dining room feels, not only how it looks. A round table gathers people; an oval one seats them elegantly; a rectangular one orders them. The choice between round and oval is one of the most important decisions for the room in which you eat — and one many make without thinking. At Martello, this question comes up with every table sold.
When to choose a round table
The round table has a great social advantage: it has no head of the table. Everyone is equal, everyone can see one another, conversation flows naturally. It is ideal for smaller or square rooms, where the corners of a rectangular table would spoil the circulation. Another plus: at a round table there is always room for “one more person”. The drawback appears above six guests, when the distance between those opposite becomes too great.
When to choose an oval table
The oval is the elegant compromise. It has the grace of the round table's curve but seats more people, like a rectangular one — without its hard corners that you bump into. It is the choice for elongated rooms and for those who entertain often. An oval table with a central base lets the chairs slide freely, without knocking against the legs.
How to size it correctly
The golden rule: each person needs about 60 cm of edge to sit comfortably. A round table 110–120 cm in diameter seats four; one of 150 cm, six. Leave at least 90–100 cm between the edge of the table and the wall or furniture, so the chairs can be pulled out and people can pass. A table too large in a small room suffocates it; one too small loses the solemnity of the family meal.
What base to look for
The central base (pedestal) is the most practical for round and oval tables: it blocks no one's legs and leaves room for an extra chair. Check that it is heavy and well anchored, so the table does not wobble when you lean on it. On tables with legs at the corners, look for them to be set inward, not right at the edge. Solid wood with strong joints lasts a lifetime.
Where it fits
Its place is at the centre of the dining room, beneath a chandelier that follows its shape — round for a round table, elongated for an oval one. In a space open to the living room, a round table makes the transition between zones gentler. Match it with upholstered chairs for comfort at long meals.
Every table in our collection is a unique piece, with its own wood and shape. Discover them in the dining room category and in the rest of our catalogue, then come and sit at them at the Martello showroom in Nimoreni, Ialoveni. We deliver throughout Moldova and Romania.