If the goal of your restaurant is to give customers the best experience possible, you need to create the perfect setting in which they can eat. The right tables are essential for that purpose. The style and shape of a table can impact a diner’s entire experience. There are several different table shape varieties out there, any of which would do the job. All table shapes have their own advantages and there will likely be one over the others that best fits into your restaurant’s design and purpose.
Your Table Shape Options
Before you settle on one table shape for your reclaimed wood tables, you should know all of the possibilities. The shape of the table can impact how comfortably the diners eat, how many tables can fit in your restaurant and even the mood of the room. Here are some common, and not so common, options for your table shape.
Square:
For small dining areas, square tables are a great option. They maximize the space and ensure clean lines throughout the dining area. Square tables work especially well in spaces that are also square, as the geometric outlines complement one another and create a sleek, modern vibe. These tables can generally accommodate one or two people on each side of the table, but they are easy to push to the side of a room to create a larger event space if needed.
Oval:
As a great mix of rectangular and round dining options, an oval table encourages intimacy with other diners while leaving enough room for many guests. The rounded edges allow for curves in the dining space and make everyone at the table feel equal. The long form of it gives everyone enough elbow room to eat their meals. Oval tables may be tough to arrange in a traditional restaurant, but if you have the space you should give it a try.
Free-Form:
In modern restaurants or cafes, using tables in free-form shapes immediately adds personality and character. As long as they’re large enough, you can easily seat the needed amount of diners at one table. Reclaimed wood works as a great material for these tables, as they will appear natural and homey.
Rectangle:
Perhaps the most popular shape for tables, rectangular tables seat a large number of people and use space efficiently. Restaurants that often have large groups of people come to celebrate birthdays and events will likely need rectangular tables to accommodate the entire party. This table shape also gives the option of using standard chairs or dining benches.
Round:
This shape of this table is extremely versatile, as it can work in a space of any shape or size. The circular nature creates an intimacy between diners and places no one person at the head of the table. For restaurants or cafes that want a more informal feel, round tables work perfectly.
While your restaurant could use any one of these table shapes made of reclaimed wood for your diners, the biggest contenders are typically round tables and rectangular tables. Here’s a closer look at these two options and their unique advantage and disadvantages.
Round Tables
A reclaimed wood round table has many benefits, not the least of which is its aesthetic appeal. When you construct your round table from reclaimed wood, you’ll be bringing a natural element into your restaurant, and you may be able to see the circular shape mimic the rings in the original trunk of the wood’s source. This can be a great talking point for the meal, not to mention an interesting feature to look at.
As round tables (of course) do not have any corners, they are very family friendly. If your restaurant sees many families with small children come through the door, using round tables will be a safety measure your customers appreciate. The lack of corners also makes reclaimed wood round tables very space efficient. Putting many together in one space is fairly easy and the environment created is one of ease, comfort, and familiarity. You can get round tables with drop leaves or additional table leaves so that you can make the tables larger or smaller depending on the needs of the diners.
The biggest disadvantage of round tables is that they are not naturally suited for large groups of people. While manufacturers do make large round tables, that often puts diners far away from those not right next to them and forces them to shout across the table. Additional leaves can solve this problem, but if you have large groups coming in often, that can become a hassle. You also want to ensure that the base is steady. Most round tables will be constructed on a single pedestal, but with diners leaning on and possibly bumping into them, you want to be sure the table will be steady.
Rectangular Tables
Without a doubt, rectangular tables are the best option for a large number of guests. They seat many people down each side and place one person at each end. For events, such as birthdays or anniversaries that celebrate certain people, this type of placement is ideal. The large nature of the table will make it easy to fit all the food you need on it. And the sturdy legs will ensure there are no spills if it is bumped by a passerby. Plus, when you use reclaimed wood, you’ll be able to see the beautiful grains of the natural wood and how they run down the length of the table.
Most dining spaces will be limited to how many rectangular tables fit inside. As they are bulkier, rectangular tables are not as easy to move as round tables. Making adjusting the space to an open floor more difficult. They also tend to create a very formal feeling for a dining space. While this may be suitable for a classy establishment. That formality may work against a space more catered to casual dining.
Conclusion:
No matter which shape you pick. You can use reclaimed wood as the table material to cut down on the wood. That contributes to about 20% to 30% of construction and demolition waste. Weigh the pros and cons of each shape option. And you’ll be sure to pick the best one for your reclaimed wood tables!