Small Dining Tables Are Having a Moment—and These 8 Are the BEST

If you're trying to create a dining nook within a larger, undesignated space, this may be the table to get the job done. Just ask Associate Shopping Editor Janae McKenzie, who bought this two-person table for her apartment." I only had a small space in my living room to create a dining area, and I knew I wanted a pedestal table for it," she says. "It leaves so much space for legs when sitting at it, and it doesn’t crowd the corner visually." What's more, it now comes in a set with four chairs—all for under $400. "Admittedly, it can become a bit of a 'drop zone' in my apartment, so I appreciate that it’s pretty sturdy and can hold up to anything I pile on top," McKenzie adds.

Yes, this adorable IKEA table and stools set is meant to live outdoors, but there's no rule that it can't come inside—especially if you have the perfect nook for it, as Social Media Editor Maggie Haddad does. "This is your sign not to skip the outdoor furniture section. I'm so grateful that my studio apartment has a separate kitchen space, but I had to get creative with the small seating area," she says. "This tall Ikea table helps the space feel open and bright rather than crammed and uncomfortable." Just be prepared to assemble it yourself.

If you're looking for a high-quality, rectangular wood table that has a Scandinavian feel, go for this Ethnicraft piece. "When my husband and I were looking for Scandi-inspired rectangular tables that could seat at least six people and would fit in the small patch of space between our couch and kitchen island, which also has stools, the options in terms of width were limited," Senior Commerce Editor Marina Liao says. "We found the Pi table during a random internet search and immediately fell in love with the dark wood, sleek design, and the rounded corners. It had that Scandi feel, too, especially when paired with our vintage chairs from Lanoba. Though I got the biggest size I could, the Pi table also comes in shorter dimensions, so I would say the piece is small space-friendly if you want a non-circular table."

Since the entire dining table is crafted from solid oak with a hard-wax oil finish, this piece requires a bit more care and maintenance. "Our house is old, from the 1890s, so the air gets so dry from our baseboard heaters in the winter, which actually led to the wood cracking on our dining table. We purchased a humidifier to place next to the table, which seems to have solved the problem," Liao says. "In terms of daily cleaning, we always use placemats and coasters or a tablecloth when we have parties (my husband is obsessed with protecting this table), and I wipe up any stains and spills immediately with a damp microfiber cloth."

Whether you're working within a small space indoors or out, you can't go wrong with this table. It's been on offer at Serena & Lily for years because fans of the brand have never stopped loving it. While it also comes in white, tester Lisa Eisenberg opted for the more natural finish for her indoor-outdoor dining room in Florida. "I bought this for my old home, also in Florida, but I loved it so much that I insisted on finding a place for it in the new house. I landed on our little indoor-outdoor nook. This table, which is made of sandstone, is so elegant looking that it makes the space feel so much more elevated," she says.

This classic pedestal table is small enough to squeeze into even the tiniest New York City studio. "Technically, my apartment is a studio, but since it's such an old building (it was constructed in 1930), the layout is kind of odd, so there aren't multiple rooms, but there are several 'areas,' if you will," explains tester Rachel Elliot. "I have a little breakfast nook in my kitchen (it's in the corner between the kitchen and the dining room), and this table fits perfectly. I've had it for about two years, and it has held up against spills of pretty much every variety." Get it in two sizes, four top materials, and four base finishes. Personally, we love the Carrara marble-antique brass combination, but they're all fabulous.

Our advice is to invest in a high-quality table you love because you'll want to bring it with you each time you move. Such is definitely the case for tester Betty Ann Gilrain, who has had this table for 10 years and through four apartments.

"I bought this for my first New York City home because it was small and came with a glass top, which meant it didn't draw your eye to it. The table kind of just disappeared because it was, for the most part, completely transparent," she explains. "My current apartment is definitely a little bigger, but this table is still perfect. I stuck it in the little area between my kitchen and living room, and it doesn't look like I'm trying to cram too much in there because, again, the table is glass and doesn't take up much space." Plus, it's lasted a decade without a scratch, and that definitely counts for something.