Measure the usable room
Measure the open floor area where the table will sit. Leave out space taken by cabinets, a hearth, radiators, or furniture that will stay in the room.
Mark the doors and the routes people use most often. A table can fit on paper and still feel wrong if it narrows the main walkway.
- Overall usable length and width
- Doorways and door swings
- Cabinets, islands, hearths, and radiators
- The main walking paths through the room
Count everyday seats first
Start with the number of people who use the table during an ordinary week. Then decide how often you need room for guests. Plan around everyday seating first, then add only the extra places you expect to use so the table does not overpower the room most days.
If you already own the chairs, measure their widest point and note whether they have arms. Chair width and the table base determine how many seats actually fit.
How much table space does each person need?
About 24 inches of table edge per person is a useful starting point. Wide chairs, chair arms, and table legs can require more.
Use the chairs that will actually sit at the table when possible. The same table length can seat differently once chair width and the base are included.
Test the footprint
Use painter’s tape to mark a possible tabletop on the floor. Put the chairs around it, pull them out, and walk the room the way you normally would.
The tape test often answers the size question faster than a drawing. Live with the outline for a day, then take a photo to include with the inquiry.
Check the way in
Measure narrow doors, stair turns, and elevators between the outside entrance and the finished room. Those details may affect how the base is built or how the table is assembled on site.
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