HOW TO COMMISSION THE PERFECT DINING TABLE | CUSTOM DINING TABLES PERTH
Some pieces of furniture are selected to fill a space. Others are created to define it.
A custom dining table belongs firmly in the latter category. Positioned at the heart of the home, it influences how the dining room feels, how comfortably people gather and how naturally the surrounding furniture works together.
For those looking for custom dining tables in Perth, commissioning a piece provides the freedom to consider every detail - from its dimensions and seating capacity to its shape, timber, finish and relationship with the interior.
It is not simply about altering the length of an existing table. It is an opportunity to create a piece that responds to the architecture of your home and the way you live within it.
At Sherwood Furniture, we have been designing and handcrafting dining tables in Perth since 1982. Our process brings together furniture design, interior design and local craftsmanship to create tables with purpose, presence and enduring relevance.
BEGIN WITH THE WAY YOU LIVE
Before considering timber or finish, we begin with how the table will be used.
How many people gather around it every day? Do you regularly entertain extended family and friends? Will the table also be used for working from home, homework or informal meetings? Do you prefer intimate gatherings or generous occasions with room for everyone?
These practical questions shape the foundation of the design.
A table intended for formal entertaining may require a different scale and presence from one used throughout the day by a young family. A table for an apartment may need to feel visually light, while a piece for a large dining room may require greater substance to sit comfortably within the architecture.
The most successful custom furniture does not simply fit the available space. It supports the rhythms of everyday life while bringing a sense of permanence to the room.
Suggested image: A warm lifestyle photograph showing family dining, entertaining or a completed table in an inviting interior.
Alt text: Custom dining table designed for family living and entertaining in a Perth home.
UNDERSTANDING THE SPACE
The dimensions of the room are only the beginning.
We consider circulation around the table, nearby doorways, windows, cabinetry and architectural features. We look at how the dining area connects to adjoining spaces and whether the table needs to establish a defined centre within an open-plan interior.
A generous table can feel entirely natural in the right setting, while one that is slightly too large can restrict movement and overwhelm the room. Equally, a table that is too small may feel lost or fail to provide the presence the space requires.
Dining chairs must be included in these calculations. Their width, depth and arm height affect both seating capacity and the clearance required around the table.
As a general starting point, we allow approximately 600 millimetres of table length for each person, then refine the design according to the selected chairs, table base and desired level of spaciousness.
This considered approach ensures the finished piece feels balanced rather than merely accommodated.
SELECTING THE RIGHT SHAPE
The shape of a dining table influences conversation, movement and the overall composition of the room.
Rectangular tables are beautifully suited to elongated rooms and larger gatherings. They create a strong visual axis and offer practical flexibility when accommodating additional guests.
Round tables encourage conversation and can soften rooms dominated by straight architectural lines. They work particularly well in square dining areas, entrance spaces or intimate settings where every person should feel equally connected.
Oval tables combine the generosity of a rectangular form with the softness and flow of curved edges. They can be an elegant solution where circulation is important or where a room would benefit from a less rigid silhouette.
The table base must also be considered alongside the shape. Pedestal bases can provide greater seating flexibility, while inset legs may preserve the visual lightness of a more traditional structure. More sculptural bases can establish the table as a striking work of functional art.
The right decision is the one that best resolves the space—not simply the shape that is currently in fashion.
CHOOSING TIMBER AND FINISH
Material and finish shape the mood of a dining table as strongly as its form.
Solid timber provides warmth, strength and natural individuality. Variations in grain and tone ensure each table has a character that cannot be perfectly replicated.
The choice should be made in relation to the wider interior. Existing flooring, cabinetry, dining chairs and architectural finishes all contribute to how the timber will be perceived within the room.
A soft, pale finish can create an airy and understated presence. Warm walnut tones bring depth and familiarity. A darker ebony finish can give a table a more dramatic, sculptural quality.
The finish must also protect the timber and suit the realities of everyday use. Dining tables encounter spills, warm dishes and constant handling, so durability and maintenance are considered alongside colour and sheen.
At Sherwood, we develop timber and finish selections as part of the overall design rather than treating them as an afterthought.
CONSIDERING THE DINING CHAIRS
A dining table should never be designed without considering the chairs that will surround it.
Chair width affects how many people can be seated comfortably. Arm height determines whether chairs can tuck beneath the table. Seat depth influences circulation, while the visual weight of the chair should feel balanced against the table.
A generously upholstered chair may require a table with greater width and presence. A lighter timber chair can complement a more sculptural base without making the setting feel crowded.
The relationship between the two should feel intentional, even when the table and chairs are not part of a matching collection.
Through our combined furniture and interior-design experience, we consider the complete dining setting—ensuring the proportions, materials and silhouettes work together within the wider room.
FROM INITIAL CONCEPT TO CRAFTSMANSHIP
Once the requirements have been established, the design begins to take shape.
The table is developed through sketches and detailed drawings that explore its dimensions, proportions, base structure and finer profiles. Material and finish selections are considered alongside practical requirements, allowing every element to be resolved before production begins.
For an existing Sherwood design, this may involve tailoring dimensions, timber or finish to suit the home. For an entirely bespoke commission, the process begins with a blank page and develops into a piece with its own design identity.
The completed design is then entrusted to skilled furniture makers in our local Perth workshop. Timber is selected, components are shaped and joined, and each surface is carefully prepared before finishing.
Throughout the process, the relationship between designer and maker allows details to be reviewed and refined, protecting the integrity of the original concept through to completion.
WHAT TO BRING TO YOUR FIRST CONVERSATION
You do not need to arrive with every decision made.
Some clients begin with a clear vision, while others simply know that they have been unable to find the right table. Both are equally valid starting points.
The following information can help guide the initial conversation:
The dimensions or floor plan of your dining area
Photographs of the room and adjoining spaces
The number of people you would like to seat
Details of existing or proposed dining chairs
Images that communicate your preferred style
Relevant flooring, cabinetry or finish samples
How the table will be used day to day
Your preferred timing and investment range
From there, we can establish whether an existing Sherwood design can be customised or whether an entirely bespoke table would best answer the brief.
A TABLE CREATED FOR YOUR HOME
A custom dining table should feel as though it could not belong anywhere else.
Its proportions should sit naturally within the room. Its materials should have a considered relationship with the interior. Its details should reward closer inspection, while its construction should withstand the demands of everyday life.
Most importantly, it should provide a beautiful and enduring place for people to gather.
This is the value of commissioning rather than compromising: creating a table around your home and lifestyle instead of adapting both to suit something made for everyone.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can an existing Sherwood dining table be customised?
Yes. Many designs within our collection can be tailored through dimensions, timber, finish and selected design details. We can advise whether the requested changes will preserve the integrity and proportions of the original design.
Can Sherwood create an entirely bespoke dining table?
Yes. For spaces or briefs that cannot be resolved through our existing collection, we can develop an original dining-table design specifically for the client and setting.
Are Sherwood dining tables made in Perth?
Yes. Our dining tables are designed in Perth and individually handcrafted by skilled furniture makers in our local Western Australian workshop.
How long does a custom dining table take to make?
The timeframe depends on the design, materials, finish and current workshop schedule. An estimated programme is provided once the design scope and specifications have been established.
Can you help select dining chairs?
Yes. Our furniture and interior-design experience allows us to consider the table, chairs and surrounding room as one complete composition.
COMMISSION YOUR TABLE
Explore our collection of dining tables designed and handcrafted in Perth, or speak with us about creating a customised or entirely bespoke piece for your home.
Explore our dining tables or begin your commission!