If the kitchen is the heart of the home then the dining room must be the soul. The space of nourishment and entertainment, it’s where some of our most enjoyable moments are shared. And the best conversations had.

As we prepare for a splendid season of soirees and hosting, we thought we’d share a shortlist of 10 of the very best extendable dining tables, suitable for homes large or small. Within it you’ll find petite Scandi styles with folding leaves. And regal sliding glass options for Italian aesthetes. All promise seamless mechanics. And to bring everyone you love back together.

In the French pantheon of etiquette, lunch is an event to be savoured. Ideally with wine. And, better still, good company. With Ava, French designer Thibault Desombre extends the conviviality of the round table into a sumptuous oval extending style that can seat up to 10 people. Perfect for family reunions. As well as intimate everyday gatherings.

In the pre-pandemic world, Scandinavian style was defined by bleached woods and pared-back colourways. Recently, however, we’ve noticed some of our favourite Nordic brands experimenting with a distinctly richer expression. Cue the arrival of the CH337 Dining Table and CH24 Wishbone Chair in heart-warming mahogany. FSC-certified and treated with a water-based oil to protect from spillages, the table can be softly extended by the insert of one or two matching leaves.

Fiam Italia’s Theo is all about that base. Tucked beneath the generous top are a series of interlocking struts, several of which can be customised with ethereal glass inserts. On a sunny day, it promises to send light dancing across your dining room. Transforming into a colourful and arresting focal point of an evening.

The Menu Table by Bonaldo is the ultimate quick change artist. It’s visually light design language draws on industrial methods of making, favouring pared-back textures and Da Vinci’s dictum of less is more. Thanks to its retractable legs, it is always ready to receive unexpected guests, a versatile solution for homes large and small.

How many times over the past year have you found yourself itching for extra workspace? With the WFH phenomena showing no sign waning, Lema presents Dueci, a wonderfully solid extendable table. Available in a wide range of finishes, it can be used as the centrepiece of modern dining rooms. Or else as a sturdy desk or console.

With Premier, Cattelan Italia reveal their mastery over all things glass. Easily the most fuss-free style on this shortlist, the two embossed panels have been designed to slide over one another, recalling the gentle movements of tectonic plates. Simple to operate, and just as beautiful, it’s the perfect fit for homes that seek to make art out of the everyday.

An oldie but a goodie. The B Table is a lost-n-found style from the early 1950s. Inspired by the versatility of mid-century bridge tables, it features clever fold up sections that transform it from a 4-seater rectangular table into a beautiful round option for six. The extendable eaves have also been deftly streamlined thanks to magnetic locks, allowing for an even more seamless user experience. Need something slightly larger? Then be sure to check out the S table from the same collection. 

Bridge is the design you to turn to for when nothing less than Hollywood drama will do. All acrobatic legs and power lines, it acts as a beautiful anchor for spacious dining rooms. Or else classical schemes in need of a modern twist.

Fritz Hansen’s Table Series is where architecture and design collide. The visually light legs and the continuously curving top were first designed by Piet Hein, Bruno Matthson and Arne Jacobsen in 1968, and originally inspired by Hein’s innovative solution for one of Stockholm’s busiest roundabouts. Its generous oval silhouette increases the number of people that can be seated at any given time, making it an ideal solution for homes in which every square inch counts.

Last but not least, Cuma. You can read it as Maxalto’s response to city-dwellers who love classic Italian design but don’t always have the space for it. With one simple gesture, it turns traditional extending mechanisms on its head, folding vertically down the centre. When not in use in busy dining rooms it can be enjoyed as a striking console table or modern desk. Rather like the Dueci from Lema.