A dining table is a lot more than a piece of furniture. It is the focal point of your home’s social circle – the heart of all your activities. Sure, you have the living room, terrace, or even a patio where you can spend time with your friends and family (or even relax on your lonesome). However, being seated around a dining table has a charm of its own.
From crunching numbers while you do your taxes to wolfing down breakfast before rushing to work to fun-filled family game nights – no matter your requirement, a dining table always shines as the hero of such activities. And if you are in the market for a dining table, you may feel overwhelmed by the options – various sizes, shapes, materials, and the list goes on. If you have your heart set on a round dining table here are a few points that prove that it fits the bill.
1. Space Optimised
Compared to their rectangular counterparts, round dining tables possess a smaller footprint. And since you are quite literally cutting corners here, it is also easier to fit these round dining tables even in tight spots. The compact shape and the negative space surrounding the round dining table make the dining room (or the kitchen) appear larger than it is. You can accentuate this effect by replacing the chairs of the dining room with stools or opting for low-back chairs that can snugly tuck under the table. It will further eliminate any visual weight and make the area look more open, decluttered, and spacious.
2. Better Flow
The absence of corners also makes it easier to walk around the dining table, making traffic flow more streamlined. Even if you are to place the round dining table in or near a corner, you could still have room to cover the surrounding regions. Apart from eliminating any form of obstruction, round dining tables also make it easier for people to sit at the table or leave, without interrupting others. All one needs to do is pull back the chair and get seated or leave.
So, no more apologising or asking to be excused as you move about (what a relief)! Additionally, a round dining table is also a lot more flexible as you can easily add place settings and accommodate more people – be it two or four! With rectangular tables, you might just end up in an uncomfortable mishmash.
3. Cosy Intimacy
If you are fond of eating out at restaurants, you may already know how rectangular dining tables can be somewhat alienating. One corner of the table may not even know what the other is talking about. In contrast, think of those cosy cubbies that are not all in rage at eateries. When people are seated around the circumference of the round dining table, anyone can talk to anyone (and even maintain eye contact while doing so) without having to try very hard to catch the listener’s attention. Plus, when you are seated facing each other, you are more likely to engage in conversation than fixate at some other point, say on television!
Fascinatingly, research has proven that round tables are simply more inviting and make people feel or look less lonely! So, a round table works wonders in creating an intimate environment, even if you are not in a group!
4. Greater Accessibility
Having a round dining table not only brings the entire group closer but also makes everything on the table a lot more accessible. Say, on a rectangular dining table, asking someone to pass the salt would involve a lot of change of hands while it makes its way to you. With a round dining table, everything is almost equidistant, which allows you to grab what you need – be it the salt or an extra helping of the creamy paneer gravy! The same applies when you are having a family game night, a round dining table would make your board game or card a lot easier to get to than it would have been in the case of a rectangular dining table.
5. Safety First
The moment you become a parent you realise everything around you is a safety hazard. You may also become hyper-aware of possible accidents and mishaps if you have seniors living at home. And why stop at such a vulnerable demographic? Most of us have got caught in a rectangular table’s corner – and it truly sucks! Can’t imagine what is to happen if someone, god forbid, falls! Given this fact, even a round glass dining table would be many times safer than a wooden square or rectangular one – provided that they are both of comparable quality. So why not bypass all the potential pain and injury caused by corners by using a round dining table instead?
From the above, it is evident that a round dining table is space-efficient, comfortable, intimate, accessible, safe, and offers better flow. Given such a string of positive characteristics, one may wonder “why not round dining tables?” So, if you are planning to get one, this is the sign you need to go ahead and buy it!
Stay tuned to the HomeLane blog for more tips and tricks on making your house a home!
