How To Double the Seating at Your Dining Table for Large Family and/or Holiday Meals

I wanted to share with you how I transform my 8 seater dining room table into a table for 12-14 for the Holidays every year. It’s a lifesaver and an investment that was well worth the price.

I love hosting dinners for family and friends but have always struggled with how best to seat everyone for optimal conversation.  Our table, like most, is oval shaped and has two leaves.  It seats six without leaves, eight with one leaf, and about 10 snugly with both leaves in place. I have often added a card table at the end which would allow for three or four more place settings. Since our dinner conversation was always limited to the four people seated closest, I wanted a solution that would combine intimacy with a larger place setting. I settled on crafting a table round.

This undertaking might be a great weekend DIY project for some, but knowing that it was beyond my skill set I contacted my local lumber company to ask for help. I wanted a minimum of a 65-inch round as my current table with one leaf measured 60 inches. One of the most important factors to consider when planning for your round is to allow a minimum of 16 inches clearance outside the perimeter of the table for chairs. Based on our calculations, we determined that a 67-inch table round would fit perfectly.

Using the highest quality ¾ inch plywood, my carpenter crafted two perfectly-cut half circles that are held together with five heavy-duty concealed hinges (spaced every 13 inches) set into the plywood. The hinges must be invisible and sunk into the plywood base to avoid a “bump” across the table when the round is opened. They need to be spaced proportionately across the two plywood half rounds and should be of the highest quality as this is what will hold your table round together.

I have had my table round for almost 15 years. We primarily use it during the holidays and are able to fit about 14 place settings as there are no table leg obstacles to block chairs as the round extends well past the main table. I like to bring in chairs from other places in my house to complete the look. We also use folding chairs when needed.

The table round is very heavy and should be stored in the garage or basement away from outside elements. It has come in handy for my friends too as I loan it out often. All told, the total cost of this project was $200.

 

 

A round table is cozy and invites conversation from all. It fits in any size room and, unlike a rectangle table with extensions, will not obstruct the opening into the room next door. It is easy to “dress” your new table and you can have fun layering your linens and creating pretty table decorations. I often use a queen-sized Matelassé spread over a larger round table cloth. You will have ample room in the center for beautiful centerpieces and all of your larger casserole dishes will fit easily. Best of all, there is no need for trivets with your hot dishes. Lastly, it can also be used outside for an elegant outdoor dinner party. It is an investment not just for yourself, but for family and friends as well.

 

If you are interested in making this table round yourself, here are a few product listings for various sized hinges. The hinge size will depend on the thickness of your wood.