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Top 5 Most Popular Dining Tables

Mar 21, 2019 | Designer's Picks, Dining

If you’ve read our most recent blogs, you’re aware that we’re a little obsessed with dining rooms at the moment! We’re on a mission to help you find the perfect dining room furnishings for your space and this post should contribute to the cause as well!

In our first blog from the Dining & Bistro series, Buyer’s Guide to Dining Tables, we looked at the different types of dining tables available in the market and how you can choose the right one for your home based on size, style, and other factors. After reading the article, some of our readers wanted suggestions for dining tables from the Mercana Marketplace and that’s why we’ve come up with this article!

We’ve curated a list of the Top 5 Most Popular Dining Tables from the Mercana Marketplace with links and photos.

 

#1 Alistar – 67501-AB

Style: Round Top, Industrial

An industrial-inspired design, smooth curves and a juxtaposition of textures are what makes the Alistar so special. Finished in medium brown polish, the Alistar sports a solid Indian hardwood top mounted on an impressive iron center porch that is finished in a gunmetal grey polish. The visually appealing interesting, all-metal base is lined with antiqued-gold toned nail heads that add to the look of the Alistar.

The Alistar’s hardwood top flaunts a rich, slightly grainy texture that complements the smooth texture of the iron frame that supports it. Made to comfortably cater to four guests, the Alistar makes for a perfect dining experience in cozy spaces based on the Industrial design style.

#2 Barrett I – 67535

Style: Rectangle Top, Farmhouse

Our design goal for the last quarter of 2017 was simple – to create a series of modest pieces that would conveniently bring the countryside to your space. This goal was achieved when we curated the Barrett series of all wood, farmhouse-inspired furnishings.

One of two dining tables from the Barrett series of barndoor-inspired furniture, the Barrett I is a spectacular dining table crafted from high-quality Indian mango wood. Featuring a rectangular top finished in a natural brown tone with a slightly grainy texture, the Barrett I is large enough to comfortably cater to a party of four. The stylish hardwood top on the Barrett I is supported by a trestle style base that not only looks great but also introduces exceptional stability in the table. This simplistic and sturdy dining table pairs well with plenty of dining chairs, and is sure to be a head-turner in your space.

 

#3 Laurent II – 68238-AB

Style: Marble Top, Enduring Elegance

An absolute hit from the Winter ‘19 collection, the Laurent series is a uniquely designed collection of dining tables that was lauded by our customers, especially those who have been waiting for us to unveil a marble top dining table since our first attempt in 2017 with the Emslie dining table.

The Laurent II is a stunning, round dining table that features a beveled-edge marble top mounted atop a stylish, teardrop-shaped, slated iron base. The base, finished in an electro-plated brass tone, looks amazing in any space and is an instant eye-catcher. The unique combination of crackled white marble and brass accents on the Laurent II makes it a great fit for spaces based on the Enduring Elegance design style.

#4 Mcleod – 67145-AB

Style: Oval Top, Mercana Modern

A challenge that our design team took up in the summer of 2017 was to develop a collection of dining tables that featured timeless designs with a modern twist to them. This challenge birthed one of our most popular series – the Mcleod Series.

Exceptionally crafted from metal and wood, the Mcleod I is a remarkable dining table with an oval-shaped mango wood top that can cater to a party of six (or four, if you don’t use the ends). The naturally finished top is perched to a gunmetal grey toned, tapering solid-iron base that not only adds to the visuals of the table but also stabilizes it to perfection. An exceptionally built table that flaunts clean lines and is just as functional as it is visually appealing, the Mcleod I fits perfectly in spaces based on the Industrial and Mercana Modern design styles.

#5 Darcy – 67848

Style: Rectangular Top, Woodlands

What happens when a minimalistic design is fused with high-quality materials and expert craftsmanship? The Darcy is brought to life.

Crafted from premium Indian mango wood and finished in a medium brown stain that highlights the grain and character of the wood, the Darcy is an amazing dining table featuring a smooth, rectangular table top braced by a four-legged solid wood frame and base. The simple design complements the Darcy's all wood composition and makes it a great fit for spaces based on the Woodlands and Farmhouse design styles.

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The short answer

Neither shape is better on its own; the right one depends on your seating layout, your traffic flow and how you use the room. A round coffee table suits compact rooms, sectionals and busy households, while a rectangular coffee table suits a long sofa and rooms that need extra surface.

Shape is one of the first decisions our design team makes when a coffee table moves from sketch to sample, because it sets how a seating group feels and functions. Below is how we think it through, and how designers and stagers can apply it to a real floor plan.

 

  • When a round coffee table works best

    Choose round when the room needs softness, easy movement or a centre point for seating on several sides.

    • Sectionals and L-shaped seating. A circle reaches every seat equally, so no one sits facing a corner.
    • Compact or square rooms. With no corners to walk around, a round top keeps pathways open in condos, dens and reading nooks.
    • Busy households. Rounded edges are kinder to shins in high-traffic rooms.
    • Rooms full of straight lines. A circle breaks up a rectilinear sofa, rug and media console.

    The Shima Round Coffee Table brings this idea to a generous 45-inch circle in solid wood, with arched cut-out legs that keep the base visually light. For a smaller footprint with natural stone, the Rumer Coffee Table sets a 36-inch round of veined white marble on dark brown hardwood legs.

When a rectangular coffee table works best

Choose rectangular when a long sofa anchors the room or when the table has to work hard.

  • A standard three-seat sofa. A rectangle echoes the sofa's length, so every seat can reach the surface.
  • Long, narrow living rooms. The shape follows the room's proportions instead of fighting them.
  • Function first. More usable surface for trays, books, games and serving, plus room for shelves or storage below.
  • Formal or symmetrical plans. A rectangle reads as structured and balanced, ideal for facing sofas.

The Tabor Coffee Table wraps recycled pine in a black oak veneer waterfall frame for a clean, architectural rectangle. For collectors, the Arelius Rectangular Display Coffee Table pairs a glass-topped shadowbox with a black metal base, turning the centre of the room into a place to show treasured objects.

Oval and square: the in-between shapes

If you want the reach of a rectangle with the ease of a circle, choose oval; if your seating forms a square, choose square.

Oval gives a long sofa full coverage while removing the corners, which makes it a strong choice for families and tight walkways. The Shima Oval Coffee Table measures 48 by 28 inches in solid mango wood and arrives fully assembled. The Terra Oval Coffee Table adds a fluted base that conceals a lift top and storage.

Square suits a deep sectional or four chairs arranged around a central table. At 48 inches square with a 3-inch reclaimed wood top, the McArthur Coffee Table anchors large seating groups. The Lucas Coffee Table scales white marble down to 30 inches square for condos and paired-chair corners.

Sizing and clearance guidelines

Whatever the shape, scale matters more than style: a well-sized table makes a seating group feel intentional.

Guideline

Rule of thumb

Length (rectangular or oval)

About two-thirds the length of the sofa

Diameter (round)

About half to two-thirds of the sofa length; larger for a sectional's corner

Distance from seating

14 to 18 inches, close enough to reach a cup

Height

Level with the seat cushion or 1 to 2 inches lower

Walkways around the table

30 to 36 inches where people pass

When a room is between sizes, a round or oval table usually gives back more circulation space than a rectangle of the same surface area.

Pairing shape and material with your sofa

Contrast is the simplest rule: pair a heavy, square-armed sofa with a softer shape, and a curved sofa with cleaner lines.

With a dark brown or leather sofa, avoid matching the tone exactly. White marble, light wood or a metal base adds the contrast that keeps a dark sofa from feeling heavy. The Rumer and Lucas coffee tables both bring white marble into that palette.

Is marble still in style? Yes. Natural stone continues to anchor both modern and transitional rooms, and veining means no two tops are alike. Look for surface-tested finishes if the table will see daily cups and glasses.

With a light or curved sofa, a darker table in wood or blackened metal grounds the room, and an oval or rectangle adds structure.

Explore the collection

Browse Mercana coffee tables in round, oval, square and rectangular shapes, across Modern, Mid-Century Modern, Transitional, Industrial and Farmhouse styles. Each piece is designed in-house and specified with full dimensions, materials and clearance details.

For interior designers, stagers and retailers: register for a trade account to view wholesale pricing and availability. Shopping for your own home? Find a Mercana retailer near you.

Is it better to have a round or rectangular coffee table?

Round is better for sectionals, compact rooms and high-traffic homes. Rectangular is better for a long sofa, narrow rooms and when you need more surface or storage.

Does a round coffee table work with an L-shaped sectional?

Yes. A round table reaches every seat in an L-shaped layout and leaves an open path around the corner.

What size coffee table do I need?

Aim for about two-thirds the length of your sofa, 14 to 18 inches from the seat, and level with or slightly below the cushion height.

What coffee table goes with a dark brown sofa?

Choose contrast: white marble, light wood or a metal base keeps a dark sofa from feeling heavy.

Is an oval coffee table a good compromise?

Yes. An oval offers the reach of a rectangle along a long sofa without hard corners.

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