Short answer: An extendable dining table lets a small dining area work each day and still handle a large dinner. Our dining sets feature the Vela and Ushi tables, which measure 62.0 x 38.6 inches (157.6 x 98 cm) closed and grow to 77.8 inches (197.6 cm) with the extension. On the Ushi, the extension leaf is stored inside the table: it folds in and stays hidden when not in use. Neither table has other built-in storage.
Most of us host a big dinner a few times a year and eat at the table far more often than that. Sizing the room for the everyday table, then checking that the extended table still clears walkways, is the simplest way to get both.
On This Page
- How does an extendable dining table work for hosting?
- Table sizes with and without the extension
- How many people can sit at an extendable table?
- Where should an extendable dining table sit in an open kitchen?
- How much clearance do you need around the table?
- Who offers an extendable dining table with a modern design?
- Which dining tables come with built-in storage?
- What are the most space-saving dining furniture options?
- Our recommendation
- Explore our dining range
How does an extendable dining table work for hosting?
Our extendable tables grow along their length only. The width stays the same, so the table gets longer without getting wider. With the extension, the Vela and Ushi gain about 15.8 inches (40 cm). On our dining set page you choose "No extension" or "Table extension" when you configure the table. With the "Table extension" option, the leaf on the Ushi is stored inside the table: it folds in and stays hidden when not in use.
The extension is designed with vertical timber grain, so the surface looks continuous whether the table is closed or extended. That matters in an open-plan home, where the table is visible from the kitchen and the living room each day.
- Everyday use: use the closed size to decide how much floor the table takes up.
- Hosting: use the extended length to check walkways, doors and nearby furniture.
- Choosing: the dining set page lets you pick a table with or without the extension, so you can compare both sizes before you order.
Table sizes with and without the extension
These are our published sizes. The extended length is the one dimension that changes.
Table sizes with and without the extension
| Table | Closed (L x W) | Extended length | Height | Clear height under the stretcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vela | 62.0 x 38.6 in (157.6 x 98 cm) | 77.8 in (197.6 cm) | 30.2 in (76.8 cm) | 26.0 in (66 cm) |
| Ushi | 62.0 x 38.6 in (157.6 x 98 cm) | 77.8 in (197.6 cm) | 30.2 in (76.8 cm) | 26.0 in (66 cm) |
For a deeper look at fitting a table to a room, read our guide to how big a dining table you need.
How many people can sit at an extendable table?
We describe our extendable tables as growing to host groups of 6 to 8. A common guideline is about 24 inches (61 cm) of table edge per person, which is general advice, not a product specification. The closed counts below apply that guideline to our sizes, so treat them as a starting point rather than a promise. When extended, our tables seat 6 to 8 people.
How many people can sit at an extendable table?
| Table | Closed | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| Vela and Ushi | 4 to 6 people | 6 to 8 people |
You can order a set as a table only, with dining chairs, with benches, or with a bench and chairs together. A dining bench is 59 inches (150 cm) long, which suits two or three people on one side under the same guideline. Our guide to choosing a bench or chairs compares the two.
Chair width changes how many fit along a side:
How many people can sit at an extendable table?
| Chair | Width | Overall height | Seat height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ushi | 20.6 in (52.4 cm) | 30.4 in (77.3 cm) | 18.5 in (47 cm) |
| Vela | 20.9 in (53.1 cm) | 31.2 in (79.3 cm) | 19.0 in (48.2 cm) |
Where should an extendable dining table sit in an open kitchen?
In an open kitchen, placement and clearance matter more than shape. The extension adds length in one direction, so you can choose which way the table grows: along the island, or toward a wall.
- Parallel to the island: run the long side alongside the island or kitchen counter. The extension then lengthens the table along the island and does not push into the walkway.
- One side against a wall: a closed Vela or Ushi, 38.6 inches (98 cm) wide, takes less floor than a wider table, and a bench along the wall side keeps the other side free for chairs.
- Away from the main path: place the table so the route between the kitchen, the entry and the living room does not run through the chairs. This is general advice, not a product specification.
The width is the number that matters most in an open plan: 38.6 inches (98 cm) for both the Vela and the Ushi. If you want more ideas for open layouts, our guide to modular furniture for small and open spaces covers them.
How much clearance do you need around the table?
Plan for about 36 inches (91 cm) between the table edge and the nearest wall, island or furniture, so someone can walk behind a seated person. Measure from the extended table if you plan to use the extension, because that is when the room is busiest.
A pulled-out chair needs room too. Our Vela chair is 22.1 inches (56.2 cm) deep and our Ushi chair is 23.3 inches (59.2 cm) deep, and both need extra space to slide back. For a kitchen where people pass behind the chairs, allow more than the 36 inch guideline.
Who offers an extendable dining table with a modern design?
We do. Our Vela and Ushi tables have clean lines and ash timber frames, and the Vela and Ushi come in walnut and oak. The tabletops are 15 mm MDF with a 0.3 mm timber veneer and a lacquer finish, and their frames, legs and stretchers are ash timber.
Our Vela and Ushi chairs have removable, machine-washable cushion covers, which helps when a big dinner leaves a spill. Our guide to dining table materials explains veneer and solid timber in more detail.
Which dining tables come with built-in storage?
None of ours has built-in storage for dishes or linens. The Vela and Ushi tables are open-frame tables without drawers or shelves. The one thing stored inside is the extension leaf on the Ushi, which folds in and stays hidden when not in use. We would rather say that plainly than suggest otherwise.
If you want storage near the table, a credenza does the job. Our credenzas are separate pieces:
- Aurora credenza: 32.1 x 15.0 x 18.5 inches (81.5 x 38.2 x 47 cm) per unit, closed with doors and adjustable shelves, and you can join one, two or three units. At 15.0 inches (38.2 cm) deep, it is slim enough for a tight dining area.
It holds table linens, serving dishes and extra place settings, so the dishes for a big dinner have a home nearby. See our guide to choosing a credenza or media unit for the full comparison.
What are the most space-saving dining furniture options?
The most useful space savers in our range are the ones that change size or share space.
- An extendable table: it keeps the Vela or Ushi at 62.0 x 38.6 inches (157.6 x 98 cm) until you need more.
- A bench: the Vela bench seats several people along one side without separate chair widths. It is 15.0 inches (38 cm) deep.
- Chair width: the Ushi chair is 20.6 inches (52.4 cm) wide and the Vela chair 20.9 inches (53.1 cm), so check the width against your table length before you choose how many to buy.
- Counter or bar stools: if your kitchen has an island, stools let you seat guests there. Our counter stools have a seat height of 26.0 inches (66 cm) and our bar stools about 30 inches (76 cm). Our stool height guide helps you match them to your counter.
- A slim credenza: storing dishes in a 15.0 inch (38.2 cm) deep Aurora keeps them off the table and out of the way.
For more small-room ideas, read our guide to compact dining sets.
Our recommendation
- A small dining area that hosts occasionally: the Vela or Ushi with the extension. You have 62.0 inches (157.6 cm) each day and 77.8 inches (197.6 cm) for dinner.
- An open kitchen with an island: a Vela or Ushi table with its long side parallel to the island, plus a bench or counter stools.
- A longer room that hosts often: the same tables, with the extension, and a bench on one side to seat more people.
- Storage near the table: an Aurora credenza, since our tables do not include storage.
Explore our dining range
Product specifications can change. Check the current dimensions on the product page before ordering.