Custom Solid Wood Dining Tables for Ontario Homes: Choosing Size, Wood and Stain
Choosing a custom solid wood dining table starts with your room and the number of people you seat, then moves on to the wood species and stain. At Oak Unlimited in Bowmanville, you can test every one of those choices on Handstone and Cardinal Woodcraft floor models before your table is built.
Key takeaways
Measure the room first and leave space to pull out chairs and walk behind them.
Cherry, maple and red oak are all durable, so the choice is mainly about grain and colour.
See stain samples in person, ideally next to your own flooring or cabinets.
The shape and base of a table affect seating as much as its size does.
Oak Unlimited carries Handstone and Cardinal Woodcraft dining tables, all built to order.
Sizing your table
The right size depends on your room rather than the table. Measure the length and width of the space, then allow enough room for every chair to slide out and for people to walk comfortably behind seated guests. Think about how many people you seat on an ordinary weeknight and how many gather for the holidays, and if those numbers are very different, a table with leaves may be the best fit.
A simple trick makes this easier. Mark the outline of the table on the floor with painter's tape, set a few chairs around it and walk the room. If you find yourself bumping into walls or cabinets, the table is too big. Bring your measurements to the showroom and we will check them against real tables with you.
Remember to measure the route into the room as well. Our delivery and measuring guide shows how to measure doorways, hallways and stairs so your new table arrives without any trouble.
Choosing a wood species
Cherry, maple and red oak are all durable solid hardwoods, so you are really choosing between grain and colour. Cherry is smooth and warm and deepens with light over time. Maple is pale, very hard and tight-grained. Red oak has a bold, open grain that takes stain easily. Seeing them side by side in the showroom makes the decision much simpler, and our post on the best wood for your dining table goes into more detail.
Cherry
Cherry has a fine, even grain and a rich reddish warmth. It naturally deepens in colour as it is exposed to light, which many people love because the table gains character as it ages. It suits traditional and transitional rooms beautifully.
Maple
Maple is one of the hardest domestic woods, with a pale colour and a subtle, tight grain. It is a natural fit for lighter, Scandinavian-inspired and modern spaces, and it stands up well to everyday family life.
Red oak
Red oak shows a strong, open grain and takes stain readily, so it works with both light and dark finishes. It is a classic choice for a hard-working family table where you want the character of the wood to show.
Choosing a stain and finish
The best way to choose a stain is to see it on the wood species you want, next to your own floors and cabinets. Lighter stains brighten a room and let the grain show through, while darker stains feel more formal and do a better job of hiding everyday marks. Bring a flooring sample or a photo of your cabinets to the showroom and we will compare it with our finish samples. You will find more tips in our guide to choosing a stain colour for solid wood furniture.
The finish matters just as much as the colour. Handstone protects its pieces with a post-catalyzed finish designed to handle daily meals and homework at the table, and we can explain how each maker's finish stands up to heat, spills and cleaning.
Shape and base
The shape and base of a table change how many chairs fit and how the room feels:
A rectangular table is the most flexible choice for long rooms and larger gatherings.
A round table encourages conversation and fits well in square rooms and smaller spaces.
A trestle base is a classic option that keeps the corners clear for chairs.
A pedestal base frees up leg room, especially on a round table.
Sit at a few floor models before you decide, since the base has a real effect on comfort. Our post on choosing between a round or rectangular table can help you weigh the options.
It is also worth thinking about chairs at the same time as the table. Arm chairs take up more room than side chairs, upholstered seats feel different from solid wood ones, and the gap between the seat and the table apron affects comfort. Matching chairs, a bench or a mix of the two can all work well.
Handstone or Cardinal Woodcraft for your table
Both makers build solid wood tables to order in Ontario. Handstone, in Wallenstein, offers dining pieces in its Tribeca, Pemberton and Evora collections in cherry, maple and red oak. Cardinal Woodcraft, in the Elmira area, specializes in custom dining tables, chairs and sideboards handcrafted by local Mennonite craftspeople. Our Handstone vs Cardinal Woodcraft guide compares them in detail, and you can browse the Handstone dining collection and the Cardinal Woodcraft dining collection online.
Where to order a custom dining table in Durham Region
Oak Unlimited at 95 King St W in downtown Bowmanville is a family-run dealer for both Handstone and Cardinal Woodcraft. You can see floor models, compare woods and stains, and order a table built to your exact size. The maker builds your table, and once it is ready, delivery is free across Durham Region, the GTA and cottage country.
For a closer look at what separates well-made furniture from the rest, read about the key features of high-quality wood furniture, and when your new table is home, our guide to caring for a solid wood dining table will help it last for generations.
Frequently asked questions
How much space do I need around a dining table?
Leave enough room behind each chair for someone to pull it out, sit down and have others walk past comfortably. The painter's tape trick is a quick way to test this at home, and we are happy to check your measurements in the showroom.
Which wood is most durable for a dining table?
Cherry, maple and red oak are all durable solid hardwoods. Maple is the hardest of the three, but the choice usually comes down to the grain and colour you prefer.
Can I order a dining table in a custom size?
Yes. Both Handstone and Cardinal Woodcraft build to order, so your table can be made to fit your room.
Bring your room measurements to 95 King St W in downtown Bowmanville and we will help you choose the size, wood and stain.
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