How far should a dining table be place away from the wall to allow for seating? Other issues?

We have an eight be eight space for a dining table with a family of six and we are trying to figure out what kind of table to get and how far we need to place it from the wall. This ';space'; is not bound by walls but is part of a large kitchen and we want to use it efficiently for dining. Thoughts?How far should a dining table be place away from the wall to allow for seating? Other issues?
36'; is comfortableHow far should a dining table be place away from the wall to allow for seating? Other issues?
As far as placement is concerned, do you have an overhead light you have to work around? That could be a problem or a plus.

You have to decide the shape of the table you want. Round, rectangle? I would think a rectangle would take up less room.



I just had a great idea!! It sounds like your room is more of a great room, right? What if you had TWO pub tables? I have an ebony colored pub with four chairs and I love it. I think that would be so cute in a large area. And that way you can separate people that are fighting and don't want to look at each other. Or you could have a ';good'; table and a ';bad'; table......Seriously, wouldn't that be a different idea????
From the National Kitchen and Bath Association - Planning Guidelines:



';In a seating area where no traffic passes behind a seated diner allow 32'; of clearance from the counter/table edge to any wall or other obstruction behind the seating area.

a. If traffic passes behind the seated diner, allow at least 36'; to edge past.

b. If traffic passes behind the seated diner, allow at least 44'; to walk past.';



I think this should really help with placement - try taping it out on the floor with masking tape. (As a side note; I know at first these measurements seem wrong - just trust me - try them - I use this type of info everyday for other people's kitchens - and it works just fine every time - although modify this slightly if you have larger or handicapped people in the home).



As far as any other issues - just make sure traffic patterns move easily. The light can be replaced, if need be, by one of those that has the chain and the hook so that you can reposition it.



Hope this helps!