caring for home:
It is easy to find amazing dining tables to fit your apartment space. Your apartment may come with a specific dining space. Or you may borrow space from an adjoining room. Either way, it is easy to find an amazing table to fit your space perfectly.
I personally believe the most functional dining table is a round one. However, there are a lot of questions to consider. Do you need a square table or a rectangular table? Is your space limited to dining, or will it be a multi-purpose space? Will the dining area double as a desk or work space? No matter the answer, the first step is to measure your space.
Measure first
You want to measure three feet from the center of your space to each surrounding wall. This will allow for dining chairs and comfortable seating. You also need to anticipate placement of other furniture, walls, or walkways. You want your area to have good traffic flow.
If you are very short on space, you should look for a table that measures approximately 30-34 inches. It is a small table surface but will allow comfortably for two place settings.
This is the Paulo Wood Writing Desk available at Target. We purchased this desk for our daughter’s 17th birthday. Now that she is an adult living in her own apartment, her dining space is very limited. She could absolutely substitute this desk for a dining table. If the bottom brace were removed, two chairs could easily fit across from each other. When not in use, the desk could slide flush against the wall and open up the walk way.
As a bonus, in this scenario, silverware, napkins, and placemats could store in the drawer for use at meal time. The function of this piece makes it a great candidate for our list of amazing apartment dining tables. Bonus points because it can actually serve multiple functions.
Size matters
Some authorities suggest that apartment sized tables should measure 42 – 48 inches. Tables of this size can easily seat 4 people. If the table is 42 inches around, it can easily accommodate up to six people. A table of 60 inches or more can comfortable accommodate six or more guests.
While this is an excellent thought, not all apartments can accommodate that size table. So think outside the box when shopping for the right piece. West Elm has an excellent resource for determining the right size table for your space. Check it out.
Our favorite resources
This is the Docksta table from IKEA. It measures 40 1/2 inches and has a sleek modern base. What is fantastic about this option is how closely chairs slide underneath when not in use. It keeps the walkways clear and the dining area tidy.
While we love the modern design of this table, other styles are available. Check out the IKEA website for more apartment sized dining tables. They have a wide variety of tables in every shape and size.
This is the Mosco Bistro Table from West Elm. It measures a mere 32 inches and can easily accommodate two people. This is the perfect size for a very small apartment. It is also perfect if you carve out a space from a living area or corner nook. And it’s stunning!
The Glaskowski dining table from WayFair is another amazing option for small apartments. Coming in at only 27.6 inches, it is one of the smallest options I’ve found.
I can see this working in a one bedroom or studio apartment where space is at a premium. And just look at the style! This table is stunning and would make any dining space shine.
Think outside the box
I know you’re dying to know what we option we chose! Our blog tagline says, “living outside the box is where adventure begins.” We stepped outside the box when purchasing our dining table.
We knew we had a VERY limited space. Our dining nook measures 6.9 feet by 6.9 feet. However, approximately 3 feet of that space is walkway between the kitchen and living room. We needed a small option that looked good and fit snugly in the corner.
We went with an antique garden table we discovered at a local Peddler’s Mall. The size is 36 inches and we LOVED the aged patina it gave our modern organic space. This table fits into our small nook and pairs nicely with our West Elm dining chairs. The paint adds depth and character and the size easily accommodates four place settings. We LOVE it.
When choosing the perfect apartment dining table, remember to measure first and consider size needs. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to think outside the box!
Update January 2026:
Since writing this post over a year ago, we have updated our dining situation. The 36×36 inch table no longer functioned for us with four dining chairs. It was nearly impossible to maneuver around. We chose a larger table that is 33inches by 4.5 feet. We placed two chairs on each side and slide it in like a restaurant booth. This set up give us room for four people comfortably, and also leaves more room to walk through the space.
