It seems there’s been a major oversight in the land of dining room furniture. When is the last time you heard the round dining table being celebrated? Retailers should be singing the praises of round tables from the rooftops. Its selling points will make you instantly rethink that classic trestle table: guests can easily interact with one another; no one needs to pass the food—everyone can reach; and with pedestal tables, there’s always room to squeeze one more person in at the table.

Before you become married to the idea of purchasing a round table, take measure of your dining room space. Round tables tend to take up more floor space than square or rectangular tables. In a long, rectangular room, they usually won’t work. In a square room, however, round dining tables create an intimacy and coziness by softening straight lines. In a home with an open floor plan, round tables contribute to the flow of the room, whereas rectangular dining rooms serve as a divider of space.

King Arthur’s Legendary Example

The head of the table is a typical powerhouse seat. Historically, a king would inhabit this prized spot, whereas in modern times the heads of the household are the residents of each end spot. With a round dining table, this notion is out the window. Round tables create a more egalitarian feel. You’ve got to admit that it’s a nice idea to have everyone at your dinner table on equal footing…er, sitting.

The famous example of round table equality is the 12th-century King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. King Arthur’s table had no head, and everyone who sat around it had equal status. The symbolism created by King Arthur’s Round Table is well remembered today and often cited as the ideal by which a leader should rule.

The Pedestal Table   

Our favorite type of round table is the craftily designed pedestal table. Pedestal tables have a single leg or central supporting column attached under the center of the tabletop. Without table legs to get in the way, it’s easy to fit in an extra guest at dinner.