Top 10 dining tables
The perfect dining table is not what makes a home, but it certainly helps set the scene for the memories that do. A space to gather with your favourite people, the dining table is not just a place for eating...
A place for conversation, laughter and making memories – eating dinner alongside your friends and family has been shown to have some serious benefits. Studies have shown that sharing mealtimes is great for our mental health, helps us to fight obesity and even helps children to do better at school. We think that’s pretty clever.
In a world where the boundaries between work and home are becoming ever more blurred, the dining table is also having to double up as a desk in many homes. It can be a challenge to find a beautiful design that fits your style and space and also has the quality and longevity to last a lifetime.
Whatever the size of your home, we think the humble dining table deserves to be celebrated in your spaces - here are some of our favourite designs to help inspire.
Knoll Saarinen Tulip Dining Table
Unhappy with the ‘ugly, confusing, unrestful world’ underneath the tabletop, Eero Saarinen set out to revolutionise the world of dining. Designing a table supported by just one central podium, he created a sculptural form which has become an icon of mid-century design.
Featuring a stunning marble top, the Knoll Tulip Table’s rounded shape and absence of legs make it an extremely flexible design that encourages conversation - the perfect spot for dinner with family and friends.
Warm Nordic Runa Dining Table
Inspired by the ambience of Nordic forests at dusk, this beautiful dining table is one of our favourites. With its organic curves, the Runa Dining Table comes in three wood finishes: Walnut, Smoked Oak or Teak Oiled Oak.
One for the organised souls out there – the sculptural form of the Runa hides a discreet drawer in its top, perfect for storing placemats, cutlery and napkins.
&Tradition In Between SK4 Dining Table
Whether you have large, small or awkwardly shaped spaces, the In Between series from &Tradition is designed to adapt seamlessly to your home. With detachable legs, the table can be easily transported if you decide to move, making it a long-lasting dining companion.
Made from solid oak and using traditional woodturning techniques, the curves and angles of the table legs reflect the curves of the matching In Between chairs - the perfect match.
Carl Hansen & Son CH327 Dining Table
We couldn’t list our top ten without featuring a dining table from the royalty of Scandinavian design, Carl Hansen & Son. The ultimate hardwood table, the CH327 Dining Table is a solid oak table that embodies the traditional, timeless simplicity of Scandinavian style. This is a style that will never grow old. We think it looks pretty perfect when paired with the iconic wishbone chair – check out the set.
GUBI Epic Dining Table
From design duo GamFratesi, we just had to include the GUBI Epic Dining Table in our top 10. Inspired by historical constructions such as the Colosseum and Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, this dining table combines two simple geometric shapes, the circle and the hexagon to create a beautiful structure. Crafted from Travertine Stone, the monolithic shape celebrates the materiality of the stone and the natural beauty found in its veins - a truly stunning piece of design.
e15 Bigfoot Dining Table
e15’s bold and beautiful Bigfoot Table is now over 20 years old – where has the time gone? A modern design classic, this chunky table has legs that intersect the tabletop and measure a hefty 13.5cm x 13.5cm.
Each leg is carefully cut in a way which reveals the annual growth rings of the tree from which they came. Thanks to this lovely detail, every Bigfoot has subtle differences which make it completely unique.
Audo Copenhagen Snaregade Table
If you ever wanted proof that a brand believed in its product, here it is.
The Audo Copenhagen Snaregade Table (available in rectangular or oval form) was built specifically for company founder Bjarne Hansen, who wanted a table that was visually light and efficient in its use of space. NORM Architects certainly achieved that in their graceful design. It features a slender-yet-sturdy steel frame and beautifully thin tabletop, which combine to create a showy silhouette.
Available in a dark stained or black oak finish, the Snaregade effortlessly brings style and sophistication to any interior space.
HAY Copenhague CPH 30 Dining Table
Though the HAY Copenhague CPH 30 Dining Table is part of HAY’s Copenhagen University collection, it would be just at home in any living space. That’s partly down to the ways you can customise the table, which is available in two sizes and five distinct tabletops. But it’s also because of the versatility of the Bouroullec brothers’ design, which playfully combines thick oak legs with a thin lacquered tabletop. It makes for a truly contemporary centrepiece – wherever you choose to put it.
Artek Foldable Aalto Table
Crafted from smooth and durable birch wood, the Foldable Aalto Table looks as fresh now as it did on its original release back in the 1930s. It was recently given a 21st-century makeover by Finnish brand Artek, with a range of new laminate finishes and colourways. Yet the fundamentals of the original remain in place: high-quality materials, functional design, and, of course, the trademark folding functionality. It’s living proof that great design never gets old.
Case Furniture Dulwich Extending Dining Table
British design at it’s best, the Dulwich Dining Table was designed by the award-winning Matthew Hilton. Slender in its appearance, this extending dining table has a cleverly hidden mechanism that allows the table to change size without making the design bulky. Metal runners and ball bearings create a smooth gliding mechanism, and the table can be easily extended by one person.
We hope you’re feeling inspired by our selection of designer dining tables. Share your own dining table setups with us via Instagram @nest_co_uk.
If you need a little help choosing the design that’s right for you, or would like to find out more information about any of the featured dining tables - contact our team on 0114 243 3000, email info@nest.co.uk or send us a message via Live Chat. We’d be happy to help you discover your very own forever design.
