A dining table is the focal point around which some of life's best memories are made. With a history dating back to Egyptian times, where they were used for feasts, religious ceremonies and rituals, they have been an intrinsic part of our social development.
In ancient Rome, three elaborate wooden lectus (chaise longues) would be arranged around a small central table allowing one to recline and eat, while Greece saw them morph into low structures accompanied by floor cushions for sitting on. But it wasn't until the Middle Ages that chairs were introduced, and their form became large and rectangular to accommodate more people.
This shift was the foundation for dining tables as we know them and, with each era that followed, they formed a definitive part of home decor. From hosting parties to catching up with family and friends, they are the hub of our social lives, which is why it's so important to find the right one.
Now available in a wide range of designs, materials and sizes, dining room furniture is functional, stylish and innovative, featuring everything from ingenious extension mechanisms to built-in lazy Susans. So how do you choose the right one? Which brands offer the best value? What materials will match your aesthetic and provide long-term durability?
At FCI London, we celebrate diversity by bringing you a curated collection of tables from over 700 esteemed brands. From wooden, glass and marble tops to sculptural bases and unusual shapes, there's a wealth of styles to choose from.
With a free consultation and plenty of advice from our skilled interior design team, you'll soon be celebrating your newest investment, accompanied by a jolly good feast.
Finding a luxury dining table to suit your space is a multifaceted endeavour involving a range of considerations that span everything from the dimensions of your room to the genre you choose. These styles are well worth exploring:
Classic, elegant and usually made from quality wood, these exude a sense of timelessness that embraces sophistication and refinement. Often featuring intricate carvings or ornate detailing, they are the perfect choice if you love formality.
If you want to inject some artistry into your dining room, then this style is for you. Innovative and often experimental, expect mesmerising tops paired with sculptural bases, a mix of materials and a focus on visual impact.
Edgy and raw, this genre incorporates steel, concrete and distressed wood, impeccably put together to create an “urban chic” vibe. Revisiting the authenticity of old warehouses, it best suits open-concept homes with high ceilings.
Harking back to the pizzazz of old Hollywood, this appeals to those who adore making a statement. Think metallic accents, rich materials and everything that speaks of lavishness. Bold yet sophisticated, it's sure to cause a stir.
Minimalistic and sleek, a modern dining table is the perfect way to bring elegance and calm to your dining room. With a selection of classic styles and materials at your disposal, it offers timeless versatility and will future-proof your home for decades to come.
Family-friendly and great for bustling households, this genre is warm and inviting, allowing for casual gatherings around a sturdy, functional table. Always made from robust wood like oak or pine, their profiles span everything from extendable to trestle.
The perfect balance between traditional and modern, it merges classic features with state-of-the-art utility for a contemporary look. Understated and easy on the eye, these can easily be adapted to different genres and is ideal if you love the best of both worlds.
Eclectic, dynamic and free-spirited, a Boho approach comprises intricate patterns, vibrant colours and a carefully curated mishmash of different styles. Rattan and wood are popular materials, making them a flexible choice for outdoors too.
If you're down-to-earth and enjoy nature, then consider opting for rustic dining furniture. Charming and relaxed, your table should embrace ruggedness and authenticity. Reclaimed or distressed wood will help you create that warm, weathered look.
Aside from choosing something with impeccable style, certain features have become synonymous with luxury dining table offerings.
Here are three to look out for:
From age-old butterfly and drop-leaf designs to the state-of-the-art mechanisms of today, being able to change the size of your tabletop when needed is a massive bonus. Extending dining tables are brilliant for small environments or households that entertain regularly. A simple process allows you to lengthen it whenever you have extra guests and then return it to normal or fold it away once they've gone.
Buying a high-end dining room table may cost a little more than a mass-produced one but once you weigh up the benefits, you'll see why it's worth every penny. This is what you can expect:
Manufactured by skilled artisans, you can rest assured that each product is made to the highest standards.
The shape of your table will make a huge difference to the spatial dynamics and aesthetics of your room. Let's take a look at the different choices and how they will serve you:
Perfect for any genre, their lack of corners helps save space, create intimacy and encourage inclusive conversations. The most versatile choice, it usually only seats up to eight people, maintaining an acceptable distance between diners.
Ideal for those who enjoy large-scale entertaining, this traditional profile is the most popular of them all. It allows for plenty of foot traffic and caters to comfortable seating arrangements that adhere to an elegant yet formal setting.
If you're short on space but want the classic aesthetic of a rectangular table, then this is the solution. Paired with armless dining chairs, the entire set can be tucked away when not in use. This shape is also ideal for a more social setting.
Linear and sinuous, this is the best of both worlds, enabling you to seat your guests with decorum while keeping things casual. These often comprise a round table with a central leaf so it can be extended into an oval for optimal versatility.
While uncommon, there is an offering of dining tables that transcend the norm. These range from triangular profiles to rectangular versions with mismatched ends. Aside from visual impact, they are an interesting option for unique spaces.
Designed for a smaller space or crowded cafes, these bistro-style tables usually seat between two and four people and are higher than average. Light and contemporary, they come in different styles and materials, making them ideal for outdoor living too.
The average width of a place setting is 60 cm per person, which will give you an idea of how big your table should be for everyday dining in your specific household. However, if you entertain regularly, you may want to opt for large dining tables or choose one that includes an extension mechanism.
While the dimensions of each design differ, there is a standard way to assess the size of a table based on its seating capacity. Here are the three most popular options and their approximate dimensions. Bear in mind that rectangular and oval shapes have the same capacity, and square and round profiles are similar in width/diameter:
Round tables: 170 cm in diameter
Rectangular tables: 220 cm in length
While there are many available options, a luxury product is designed to perfectly balance durability, functionality and aesthetics and therefore requires the use of premium materials. Our dining table range includes:
Modern and elegant, tempered glass lends an airiness to your spaces, giving them a contemporary, minimalist feel. Aside from suiting most styles, it is also durable, easy to clean and is available in clear, frosted and tinted versions.
If you love a traditional dining area, then this is for you. Versatile and long-lasting, quality tables are made from hardwood like oak, walnut or teak, giving your room a warm, natural feel. Walnut dining tables are the most popular with many styles available.
This is the perfect dining table if you're looking for something opulent. Both substantial and aesthetically beautiful, its veined patterning ensures that no two pieces are the same, making whatever you choose unique and exclusive.
World-renowned brand, Cattelan Italia, has created a unique, ceramic-based material which they have termed "Keramik”. Innovative, impactful and hard-wearing, it looks similar to marble but is water, heat and scratch-resistant.
Often used as a modern dining table base, metal is sturdy, sculptural and striking. It comes in various formats from stainless steel to brass and can be lacquered to add visual appeal. Aluminium is also a common choice in garden furniture.
A great option for outdoor tables, rattan lends a casual vibe to your patio spaces. Resilient and easy to clean, it will withstand snow and frost, providing an eco-friendly alternative if you're concerned about your carbon footprint.
Whether you're looking for a kitchen dining table, something that suits a more refined dinner party, or a relaxing outdoor dining table for your garden, making sure that it fits your space is important. Use these tips as a guideline:
Our expert team continually has their fingers on the pulse when it comes to the latest trends and, with a free one-off consultation, it's well worth taking advantage of our design services. To help you get the ball rolling, here are some ideas:
Make your dining area versatile by using decor that will allow you to use it for eating, working, studying and gathering around for an evening of board games and laughter. For example, how about incorporating a pair of ergonomic office chairs at each end of your table with a matching dining chair set along the sides?
With thousands of brands on the market, it's easy to feel swamped when making a final decision. Our design team has come up with their top ten go-to names to help make your life easier. Here they are:
Self-proclaimed perfectionists, this brand revels in offerings that embrace sophistication, quality and the fusion of traditional values with futuristic thinking. The results are evident in their stunning collection of dining tables that set the bar for those seeking elegance in a non-conformist way.
The Arketipo dining table collection is incredibly versatile in terms of both design and materials. You’ll find tables in wood, marble, glass and metal and some really interesting combinations like the Millenium dining table which features a stunning contrast of solid wood and marble.
Opulent in every way, this esteemed Portuguese brand combines age-old techniques such as filigree and customised metalwork to bring you tables that transcend the norm. From hammered brass bases to organic shapes that resemble trees, these profiles are for the intrepid design aficionado.
From Oval to Rectangular and Round - Laskasas offers a range of elegant yet statement-making dining tables in a range of materials and finishes. Whether you want a classic and simple style or a sculptural base, you’ll definitely find something to love in their dining range.
Innovative and elegant, Cattelan focuses on blending unique materials to create bases and tops that stand out from the crowd. Whether you want something in walnut or are sold on their ceramic and wood combinations, these beautiful profiles will make a statement in any setting.
The contemporary style and high-end materials of these tables make them a popular choice for not just dining rooms but also kitchens and office meeting rooms. Some of their most innovative and popular finishes include the Keramik white marble table tops and Crystalart marble.
From accent chairs to footstools and dining tables, this “Made in Italy” label strives to create masterpieces that have purpose and intent while blending seamlessly into their natural surroundings.
Serene yet generous, their Mediterranean influences reflect the good life, bringing a sense of ease to your ensembles.
Innovation, purity of form and attention to detail are some of the defining characteristics of their dining tables collection. Many of these tables feature a striking, sculptural base that has the potential to become a focal point of your room.
Hailing from the Netherlands, Eichholtz has a knack for creating designs that span every genre from traditional profiles to sleek minimalism and contemporary chic.
With 4,000 products ranging from living room furniture to dining tables in their catalogue, you'll find everything you're looking for.
Designed to elevate modern spaces, Eichholtz dining tables are anything but ordinary. While you can find a variety of materials, wood dining tables are some of their best-sellers because of their timeless appeal and modern designs.
If sustainability is important to you and you're styling an outdoor area, look no further than Gloster. Its dining table offerings are made largely from responsibly grown teak, giving longevity to every aspect of your investment. Elegant, simple and inviting, you can't go wrong.
As a modern luxury outdoor furniture brand, Gloster has continued to set the bar with its finest craftsmanship and unique product selection.
Natural Teak wood is the main material used in its dining range but many products are further enhanced by the incorporation of other materials like ceramic tops or metal frames.
If you're in the market for extension tables, then this brand is the business. Known for its innovations using the concept of movement, they have mastered their mechanism designs and have even incorporated them into the visual impact of their tables.
This Italian brand is now world-renowned for its extending dining tables which can easily be operated - either through simple manual steps or with a remote control.
Obsessed with wood, Ditre Italia’s tables are all about the bases, giving you sculptural aesthetics that are bound to turn heads. Proud of its world-renowned team, it produces carefully crafted offerings that provide an inherent sense of ease and connectivity in our everyday dining routines.
We highly recommend this brand if you’re a fan of curves and freeform shapes because their dining tables are all in Oval and Circular designs. If you’re looking for something unique, you’ll be highly impressed by their leather upholstered bases which can be personalised to create a dining space that’s full of personality.
If you have an eye for the unusual, have a look at the dynamic range by Sancal. Sinuous lines and bold shapes are part of the brand's design ethos, giving people searching for a small dining table plenty of options that will pack a visual punch.
We love the Vesper design for its contemporary feel and the Totem dining table for its bold and playful feel. You’ll find that almost all their dining tables are available in varying heights and diameters and with many complementing products like bar stools or chairs in a similar design. This allows us to create complete dining table sets for harmonised design.
Simple, elegant and minimalistic, tables from Tonin Casa are best suited to those looking for a timeless, contemporary aesthetic. 100% made in Italy, you can choose between their two design principles - modern or classic - giving you ample scope to meet your style preferences.
From light tops to precious finishes, Tonin Casa offers one of the most diverse ranges with each product having some unique detailing that makes it stand out. For example, the Adone dining table features a bush-hammered curved base while Firenze features a unique solid wood base where wood slats are paired together for a spiral scripture that creates an optical illusion.
Our professional team is available to help you with every step of your decor project. Book a personalised visit and let's get the ball rolling on your new dining room design.
Founded in 1985, we've been in the luxury furniture and accessories business for over three decades and have nurtured long-term relationships with our suppliers, interior design partners and esteemed client base.
From helping you select an upmarket dining table and matching chairs to finding the right kitchen appliances, desk lamps or sectional sofas, we make sure that your home landscapes are perfect in every way.
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