Conservatory Dining Tables

When it comes to dining, the focus of a great experience changes for every family. Some like plenty of space and to feel open and airy, while other like the hustle and bustle of a busy family table laden with food. Some prefer to eat inside with the grandeur and elegance of a formal dining room, while others would rather put trays on their laps and eat wherever they feel like it – both inside and outside.

Then there’s the option which sits somewhere in the middle, offering both a formal and informal setting which is reliant on great views, natural light, and well selected furniture. Yes, it’s the conservatory – a room which is regularly flooded with enough natural light to create a good atmosphere that changes as the night draws on, resulting in candles or electric lights being used when it finally becomes dark enough that you need an alternative.

So how do you find the perfect dining table to fit in such a space?

What you need to consider when buying a dining table for your conservatory

First and foremost, as with any large furniture purchase – how much space do you have to play with? Dining tables are particularly complex with regards to space, as you want them to have enough space around the outside that guests and diners can comfortably make their way around the table and sit in their seats without feeling cramped. This means making sure that your table sits in the middle of the room and leaves enough room around its edge for adequate movement.

If size is a particularly issue in your conservatory, one of the best solutions – and one which is widely available on the market now – is the concept of adjustable and expanding tables, which fold down into a single structure for smaller rooms, but can be adjusted to provide an increase in surface space and table room for when you have guests over. The best design of this style of table, in our opinion, is one where both ends of the table simply fold out, essentially giving you a choice between three different overall sizes.

The next thing to consider is the material of your table, depending on the overall look you are going for and the chairs you have in your conservatory. The fact is, the conservatory is your space between the inside and outside of your home. It’s somewhat of an in between, where you can enjoy the views over your garden without losing the ease of proximity to the kitchen and other facilities inside your house.

The best way to select a table suitable for this type of space is to start with natural materials and go from there – again, dependent on the overall style you are trying to achieve. For example, a modern home would benefit from the straight edges and hardwood surface of a natural wood table – with more rustic homes perhaps preferring unvarnished wood finishes while more polished homes may prefer the look of a polished piece of wood. Wicker is another popular material for conservatory chairs and tables, and often adds that little bit of extra texture that looks great in any space. And then there’s metal – providing an industrial or English country garden feel, depending on the style of metal you go for.

All of these options and more can be found across homeware and garden centre stores, with our top recommendation being to explore both inside and outside dining tables in order to find the perfect match for your conservatory space.