THE TARTEEBHOME GUIDE
A table needs to fit the way the room moves, as well as the number of people who use it.
Start with the room, not the seat count
Measure the floor area and mark doors, cabinets, pillars and circulation routes. A table can fit inside a room while still preventing a chair from pulling out. Sketch its footprint and use tape on the floor to see where its edges will sit.
Plan for chairs in use
Record the width and depth of the chairs you intend to use. Check how far they extend when someone sits down, and allow a usable route behind them. If the room also leads to a kitchen or balcony, keep that route clear. Do not rely on the label “six-seater” to tell you the usable seating space.
Check the base and the underside
Leg placement, a pedestal and an apron beneath the top all affect where knees and chairs can go. Ask for the distance between legs, the height under the apron and a photograph of the underside. For an extending table, confirm the closed and open sizes and where the extra leaves are stored.
Choose a surface you can live with
Ask what the top is actually made from and how it should be cleaned. Solid wood, veneer, engineered wood and stone-look surfaces need different care. A finish name is not a material specification. Confirm whether heat, standing water or abrasive cleaning can damage the stated finish.
Write down the final specification
Before ordering a custom table, confirm dimensions, finish, base colour, included chairs, assembly arrangements and the seller’s delivery terms in writing. Keep the agreed specification with the order record.