Express Delivery Tables

An extendable dining table is measured twice: closed, for everyday use, and open, for the days you entertain. This selection brings together these tables and coffee tables, with ceramic tops and wooden tops.

Measure it closed, then open

Note the closed length, the one the table will keep for most of the year, then the open length. The extension leaf unfolds from one end or from the middle depending on the model, and it needs clearance: allow seventy centimeters behind each chair so people can still get by. Also allow sixty centimeters of tabletop per guest, which gives you the actual number of seats.

Ceramic or wood

Ceramic withstands the heat of a dish and the moisture of a glass without marking: it is the top for tables used every day. A travertine or stone look adds texture without the weight of marble. Wood, from light tones to dark walnut, warms up the room and develops a patina over time, provided you give it a trivet.

The coffee table, scaled to the sofa

A coffee table is chosen after the sofa, never before. Aim for two thirds of the seat's length, and a height close to that of the cushion so you can set down a glass without leaning over. Then leave forty centimeters between the edge of the top and the sofa: that is the legroom.

Frequently asked questions

How many guests around an extendable table?

Divide the length of the top by sixty centimeters and you get the number of place settings. Each extension leaf usually adds two more seats.

How do you care for a ceramic top?

A soft sponge and soapy water are enough. Avoid abrasive powders and acidic products, which dull the surface over time.

Do you need a trivet on wood?

Yes, every time, just as under an iced glass. Wood marks with heat and moisture, and the mark then stays in the material.