Round Dining Table With Leaf Extension

Emily Hilton Interior Design Expert

Emily is a young, talented designer, whose professional interests gravitate towards kitchen and dining spaces. She prides herself on her attention to detail, obsession with functionality, and appreciation for craftsmanship.

Updated 26/04/2021

For the home that does not want the traditional dining table, a round table makes a statement that, when dining, everyone is equal. But when guest arrive, it can get a little cramped. You need a little more space, and one of our beautiful round dining tables with leaf extensions are the best way to do it. They are sturdy, well made, and did we mention, gorgeous. See all the options in this collection.

Buying Guide

A round dining table with leaf extension can be the perfect table for almost any kitchen or dining room. Without the leaf, a round dining table usually has a small footprint in your floorplan, has no sharp corners or projections to catch a hip or thigh as the chief cook and bottle washer moves about the room, and can usually seat four. With the leaves in – and that can be one, two, three or even four leaves for some models – the table expands to seat multiple diners or can be used to host a table-top game night for several guests. It can also be a versatile work surface of varying size for crafts – although the prudent homemaker will cover a nice table with a cutting board or thick layer of cardboard before using it as a craft work area.

What different designs of round dining tables with leaf extension are there?

Removable Leaves

Leaves that can be removed from the table are probably the most common design. They have the advantage of not adding to the weight of the table but have the disadvantage of requiring a place to store the leaves to keep them from being damaged. A dedicated closet or an area between two cupboards with a support beneath the leaves to prevent damage from moisture is ideal.

Folding Leaves

Some tables have folding leaves. These might fold down into the center of the table or pull up from the sides. Folding leaves have the advantage of not requiring dedicated storage for the leaves but have the disadvantage of adding to the weight of the table. They can sometimes also cause awkward obstructions in the knee space.

Gateleg Tables

Gateleg tables have folding leaves that drop down to the sides of the table. These are just fine for a kitchen where only one or two people are the normal occupants. The drop-down leaves obstruct seating on those sides when they are not in use, but they are easy to pull up when required.

What are the best materials for a dining table with leaf extension?

A round dining table with leaf extension can come in all sorts of materials and types, from Formica and chrome to beautiful hardwoods. The type of material you select might depend upon your overall kitchen or dining area theme. Formica and chrome go well with ice cream chairs and gingham for a retro corner drugstore look. Worn wood and straight back chairs remind one of Shaker furnishings or even early colonial, while ornate chairs and dark wood with tooled table skirts are reminiscent of the Victorian era.

Regardless of the material or style, a table with leaf extensions will help conserve space, yet allow you to seat several people, at need. Removable leaves are probably the ones that will allow the most expansion since the other styles require attachment to the table. Keeping those leaves safe and dry, however, is a must because they can warp – and that will sometimes render them unusable. With that said, such tables are versatile and an asset to a homemaker who must seat variable numbers of people.