Choosing the right table - a buyer's guide

A Practical Guide from a Custom Woodworker in SE Louisiana

A dining room table is one of the most important pieces of furniture in a home. It anchors the room, supports daily life, and often becomes a long-term investment. Whether you’re looking for a traditional dining room table, a rustic farmhouse table, or a custom Sinker Cypress table, three factors matter most: size, style, and base design.

This guide helps you understand those choices so you can order a table that truly fits your space and your lifestyle.

1. Table Sizing: Get the Right Fit First

Proper sizing is the foundation of a comfortable dining room table. For good clearance around the table aim for 36–42 inches of space on all sides for chairs and walking room. 36 inches is the minimum; 42 inches feels generous and works well for busy homes. Plan for at least 24 inches per person along the length of the table.

Rectangular Table Seating (Rule of Thumb)

Common Rectangular Sizes

• 72” (6 ft) – seats 6

• 84” (7 ft) – seats 6–8

• 96” (8 ft) – seats 8

• 108–120” (9–10 ft) – seats 8–10+

Widths typically range from 36” to 44”, with wider tables allowing space for serving dishes and center décor.

Round / Circular Table Seating. These are excellent for conversation and smaller rooms.

Typical Round Table Sizes

• 42” diameter – seats 4

• 48” diameter – seats 4–6

• 54” diameter – seats 6

• 60” diameter – seats 6–8

Pedestal bases are especially popular with round dining tables because they maximize legroom.

Pro Tip: Visualize Before You Commit

A simple and effective way to choose the right size:

• Measure the table footprint with a tape measure

• Outline it on the floor using blue painter’s tape

This lets you see how the table fits your room, how chairs move, and how traffic flows before committing to a custom build.

2. Table Style: Match the Home, Not the Trend

The style of your dining room table should complement your home’s architecture and your personal taste.

Popular Dining Table Styles

• Farmhouse – Warm and inviting, often with thicker tops and classic proportions

• Rustic – Natural character, visible grain, knots, and reclaimed materials

• Modern / Contemporary – Clean lines and minimal ornamentation

• Live Edge Slab – A highly popular option that preserves the natural edge of the tree, making each table truly one of a kind

Live edge dining tables work especially well when paired with black metal legs or simple wood bases for a balanced look.

Wood Selection & Durability

Wood choice affects not only appearance, but also how a table wears over time.

• Sinker Cypress is prized in SE Louisiana for its beauty, history, and rich grain. It creates stunning dining room tables, and is a certain show-stopper and conversation piece.

• Hardwoods like Walnut, Oak, and Maple are not only beautiful, but they're great for frequently used tables that need to stand up to heavy use.

For clients seeking a rustic or farmhouse look, salvaged Cypress and reclaimed Heart Pine are excellent options, offering character, warmth, and visible history that new lumber simply can’t replicate.

A custom builder helps match the wood species to how the table will actually be used.

Why Work With a Custom Table Builder?

Mass-produced dining room tables are built to fixed sizes and materials. A custom dining table is built for your space, whether you’re in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Mandeville, Covington, or elsewhere on the Northshore.

Working directly with a local woodworker allows:

• Exact sizing for your room

• Wood selection based on beauty and durability

• Base designs matched to comfort and seating needs

• A table built to last decades, not years

3. Leg & Base Design: Comfort, Strength, and Style

The base design plays a major role in seating comfort, strength, and overall appearance.

Common Base Options

Four-Leg (Corner Legs)
Traditional and strong, though corner legs can slightly limit seating at the ends.

Trestle Base
Ideal for longer dining room tables. Durable, timeless, and allows chairs to slide easily along the sides.

Pedestal Base
Common with round tables and smaller rectangular tables. Maximizes legroom and seating flexibility.

Black Metal Legs
A very popular choice with many buyers today. Black steel or powder-coated metal legs pair especially well with rustic, modern, and live edge tables, including Sinker Cypress tops, offering exceptional strength with a clean, architectural look.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many people can my dining table seat comfortably?

Plan on 24 inches per person for rectangular tables. Round tables depend on diameter, but 48” seats 4–6 comfortably, while 60” can seat up to 8.

Is Sinker Cypress durable enough for a dining room table?

Yes, but it is softer than many hardwoods. However, that wear on a table is what many call character. Hardwoods like walnut and Oak are more resistant to surface damage. For a high use table hardwood is probably the harder wearing, but Sinker Cypress is a real showpiece.

What’s the advantage of a live edge dining table?

Live edge slabs preserve the natural shape of the tree, creating a one-of-a-kind table with strong visual impact. This is a very strong design choice that most people feel deeply drawn to, usually producing some admiring, “Oohs” and “Aahs” where the urge to run their hand along the live edge proves irresistible!

Do black metal legs work with wood tables?

Yes. Black metal legs are strong, versatile, and go great with rustic, modern, and live edge tables. This is the most popular design choice as it pairs well with all woods, complementing the beauty of the wood top, the main star of the show.

Can reclaimed wood be used for a custom table?

Absolutely. Salvaged Cypress and Heart Pine are popular choices for farmhouse and rustic dining room tables, as well as kitchen islands, and bring unique character and a historic tie to the area with each piece.

Will the table match my wooden floors?

Wood goes with wood, even when they are different shades, grains and types. Different woods almost always work with each other. But, if you want to add a stain to match or at least get close to what you have; we can certainly do that.

My décor is white and gray, so will the table clash with that?

Every time we’ve seen a wooden table in a white and gray environment, the table has, ‘popped’! It becomes a real statement piece and stands out beautifully.

Is the finish food safe?

We use a variety of finishes to satisfy your desires. Our primary choice is indeed considered food safe.