Rectangular Wood Dining Tables

Why Choose Our Wooden Rectangular Dining Tables

Most of our wood tables are made from solid rubberwood, which isn't a name many people know.

Rubber trees spend 25 to 30 years producing latex. When they stop, much of that timber used to go to waste. Now it gets used instead, making rubberwood one of the more sensible hardwoods you can buy. It's a by-product of a crop that was already being grown, rather than a tree felled for furniture. You can read more about how we approach sustainability.

What it means at your dining table is more practical. Rubberwood has a dense, tight grain, and it's kiln-dried before it's made into anything, so it shrinks and warps very little once it's in your house. It's a quality that influences whether a rectangular dining table in wood still sits flat after three winters of central heating going on in October and off again in April. It's the same reason it holds a screw well and doesn't loosen at the joints. It also takes a stain beautifully, which is why the same table can appear as pale oak, dark walnut, or painted cream without the grain disappearing under the colour.

Living With a Rectangular Wood Dining Table

Every other dining surface you can buy is at its best on day one. Wood is the exception.

The first mark is the hardest. Someone puts a hot mug down without a coaster, or a birthday candle drips, and there's a small moment of grief. Then a year passes and you can't remember which mark came from what, and the table has started to look like it belongs to you rather than to a warehouse. Ten years in, a rectangular wood dining table carries the whole history of a family in its top: every mark adds character rather than detracting from it.

There's a practical side to wood, too. A wood top can be sanded back and re-oiled, which no lacquered or glass surface allows. Anything from a stubborn ring to a deep scratch can disappear if the table ever needs a refresh.

The angled legs on some of our designs give them a mid-century feel that suits a retro-leaning room, and a matching dining bench along one side keeps the whole thing relaxed rather than formal. A bench also means you can fit an extra child along the side without anyone doing the maths beforehand.

FAQs

Does a rectangular wood dining table suit a modern kitchen, or only a traditional one?

Both, and modern kitchens more often than people expect. A wood top gives a room full of hard surfaces something to soften against, which is exactly what a handleless gloss kitchen or a concrete-look worktop needs. Keep the legs simple and the chairs contemporary, and a wood table looks modern rather than rustic.

What's the difference between solid wood and oak veneer?

Solid wood is timber all the way through, so the grain you see on the surface continues into the piece. A veneer is a thin layer of real wood bonded to an engineered board core, which keeps the weight and the price down and resists movement well. Both are genuine wood on the surface. Each listing states which you're getting.

Do I need to oil or wax a solid wood dining table?

Not routinely. Our tables arrive stained and sealed, so they don't need the annual treatment an untreated or outdoor wood table would. If the surface starts to look dry after several years, a wood polish or a light coat of furniture oil will bring it back. Skip silicone sprays, which build up a cloudy film over time.

Where should I avoid putting a wood dining table?

Directly in front of a radiator, hard up against one, or in a spot that catches strong direct sun all afternoon. Constant dry heat and UV are the two things that fade a stain and stress the joints over the years. A conservatory is the hardest place of all, because of the swing between hot afternoons and cold nights.

What chairs work best with a rectangular wood table?

Almost anything, which is rather the point of wood. Matching wood dining chairs give you a coordinated look. Upholstered chairs in fabric or velvet add softness and are kinder over a long meal. Metal legs pull a wood table towards something more industrial. Mixing two styles along the sides is a deliberate look in itself and works better than most people fear.

Is wood a better choice than glass for a family dining table?

It depends what bothers you more. Wood hides fingerprints completely and takes a knock without drama, though it will mark over time. Glass dining tables never stain and wipe clean instantly, but they show every print and smear. With young children in the house, wood is usually the calmer option day to day.

Can I spread the cost of a rectangular wood dining table?

Yes. Interest-free finance is available at checkout on qualifying orders, so you can pay in instalments rather than all at once. Eligibility is confirmed during the payment step and takes a minute. Our finance page sets out the providers and the full terms before you commit to anything.