Dining tables are necessarily of various sizes and forms, to suit the apartments, number of guests and other circumstances. Various methods have been created to increase the size of tables and of building them so that they might occupy less space while providing a maximum of seating.

One of the most usual is the common dining table made of mahogany, with a fixed centre part and folding leaves or flaps supported by fly-rails and legs to draw out, or put back when the table is placed at the side of the room. These tables may be square or round. A variety of them, called cottage dining tables, has the fixed centre no larger than 18 inches wide so that it takes up as little room as possible when put away.