The dining table trends worth trying right now lean towards warmth, curves and natural materials. Stone and marble tops, sculptural pedestal bases, round and oval shapes, rich wood tones and softly upholstered chairs are all shaping how UK dining rooms look. Alongside them, there is a clear move towards flexible tables that suit working, hosting and everyday family meals in the same space.
What connects these ideas is a wish for dining rooms that feel lived in and personal rather than staged for a showroom. None of the twelve trends below requires a complete redesign. Most can be introduced through one new table, a change of chairs or a rethink of how the room is lit and styled.
Natural stone has moved from kitchen worktops onto the dining table. Marble, travertine and sintered stone bring a sense of permanence and a quiet, tactile luxury. The look currently favours softer veining and warmer tones: creamy whites, honeyed travertine and greige rather than stark black and white.
Stone is heavy, both physically and visually, so it suits rooms with a solid floor and enough space around the table. In a smaller room, a round marble top on a slim base keeps the effect elegant rather than overwhelming. Our marble dining tables UK sale collection shows how many shapes this material now comes in.
The base has become a design feature in its own right. Chunky cylinders, fluted columns, tulip forms and stacked geometric shapes turn the underside of a table into something to look at. A pedestal also frees up legroom, so chairs can be tucked in without knocking against corner legs.
The trick is to let the base be the statement and keep the top simple. A plain round top on an architectural pedestal looks confident. A busy top on a busy base tends to compete.
Curves are everywhere in interiors at the moment, and the dining table is no exception. Round tables encourage conversation because nobody is stuck at the far end. Ovals give the seating capacity of a rectangle with a softer outline that is easier to walk around.
In the kind of square or bay fronted rooms common in British semis, a round table often sits more naturally than a rectangle. It also works well in the corner of an open plan kitchen, where sharp edges can get in the way of foot traffic.
After years of pale Scandinavian oak, deeper woods have returned. Walnut, smoked oak and dark stained finishes add warmth and a sense of mid century craftsmanship. These tones look particularly good against green, terracotta and ochre walls, and they help a dining room feel cosy in the darker months.
If you already own pale floors, a darker table creates welcome contrast. If your floor is dark, choose a table a shade or two lighter so it does not disappear into it.
Dining chairs are becoming softer and more generous. Barrel backs, rounded arms and padded seats make it pleasant to linger after a meal, which reflects how many of us now use the dining table for long evenings with friends rather than quick weekday suppers.
Textured fabrics such as boucle, chenille and heavy weave linen are currently in favour, along with velvet in deeper colours. Our modern fabric dining chairs UK range includes curved designs that sit well with both round and rectangular tables.
Mixing a bench on one side with chairs on the other is a relaxed approach that suits family homes and kitchen diners. A bench can seat an extra child at a pinch, slides neatly under the table when not in use and makes the dining area feel less formal.
A bench against a wall also saves space in a narrow room because there is no need to leave clearance behind it for pulling out a chair. Our modern dining benches UK selection includes upholstered and wooden options.
Vertical grooves, known as fluting or reeding, add rhythm and texture without adding colour. You will see them on table bases, sideboard fronts and chair backs. The effect is subtle, catching light and shadow in a way that plain surfaces do not.
A little fluting goes a long way. One fluted piece in a dining room, such as the table base or the sideboard, is usually enough. Repeating it on every surface can make the room feel fussy.
Rather than contrasting furniture against walls, many people are choosing a tonal approach where the table, chairs, walls and even ceiling sit within one colour family. A soft clay room with a travertine table and oatmeal chairs, for example, feels enveloping and calm.
Tonal rooms rely on texture to stop them looking flat. Combine a smooth tabletop with a textured chair fabric, a matte wall and a woven rug, so each surface reads differently even when the colours are close.
Clear glass is still a practical choice for small rooms, but tinted glass is having a moment. Smoked grey, bronze and amber glass tops bring a retro warmth and a slightly moody feel that suits evening dining. They also hide fingerprints and crumbs a little better than completely clear glass.
Tinted glass pairs well with dark metal frames and walnut accents. It keeps the lightness of glass while adding depth.
With more of us working from home and hosting in smaller spaces, tables that adapt are in demand. Compact extending tables that seat four day to day and six or eight for guests make sense in homes where the dining area also serves as an office, craft space or homework corner.
Look for mechanisms that store the leaf inside the table so you are not hunting for it in a cupboard. Round tables that extend into ovals are a neat option because they stay compact for most of the week.
Lighting has become part of the table setting. Oversized paper lanterns, sculptural glass pendants and linear fittings hung relatively low over the table create an intimate pool of light and define the dining zone in open plan rooms.
A pendant should sit high enough that it does not block eye contact across the table, but low enough to feel connected to it. A dimmer makes the same fitting suitable for both a bright family breakfast and a relaxed dinner.
Pairing two contrasting materials in one table remains popular: a wood top on a metal frame, a stone top on a wooden base, or glass on a stone pedestal. The current approach is restrained, typically two materials rather than three or four, with each one given room to show its character.
This trend makes it easier to connect a dining table with other furniture in the room. A walnut and black metal table, for instance, can link a wooden floor with black window frames or light fittings.
Trends are useful as ideas, not rules. A few principles keep them from dating a room quickly:
If you were to combine several of these trends into one room without overdoing it, a sensible recipe might be a round or oval table with a sculptural base, four to six softly curved upholstered chairs, a single statement pendant and a tonal wall colour. Each element supports the others, and nothing shouts.
At Furniture in Fashion, we bring together dining tables, chairs and lighting across these styles, so you can try a new direction in a way that feels right for your own home.
Yes. Round and oval tables are currently a strong choice, particularly in square rooms and open plan spaces, because they encourage conversation and make walking around the table easier.
Marble is durable but porous, so it benefits from sealing and prompt cleaning of spills such as wine, citrus and oil. Sintered stone offers a similar look with greater resistance to staining.
You can. A bench on one side and chairs on the other is a relaxed, space saving arrangement. Keep one element consistent, such as the leg finish or fabric colour, so the set looks intentional.
Warm wood tones such as walnut and smoked oak, soft stone colours like cream and travertine, and tinted glass in smoke or bronze are all popular choices currently.
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