I Test Furniture for a Living — This Is My Favorite Extending Dining Table for Spaces Both Large and Small

I’ll admit that out of all the furniture categories I test for Apartment Therapy’s Personal Shopper series, dining tables are probably my least favorite. With sofas and accent chairs, I get to touch different fabrics and sit on fluffy cushions to find out how supportive they are. But when I’m looking at 20 neutral dining tables, the models all tend to blend together by the end. Still, there are always standouts that stay in my mind a long time after I look at them — and when it comes to the handful of dining tables I truly love, they’re all extendable. 

It makes sense when you consider that I live in New York City, where apartments are small and dining rooms (if you’re lucky enough to even have one) are even smaller. Specifically, Pottery Barn’s Cayman round pedestal extending dining table is my favorite and the most versatile dining table I’ve looked at. As a result, it’s the one I would recommend for most homes.

Although the Cayman table is decidedly coastal in style, thanks to its weathered ivory finish, it has a modern vibe that would blend in well with a variety of interior decor styles. Aside from its light finish, another reason this table stood out to me was because of its criss-cross pedestal base, which served as a refreshing departure from all of the four-legged dining tables I looked at on Pottery Barn’s floor. 

Material-wise, the Cayman table is made from sustainably sourced mango wood that’s been kiln-dried for added durability. This process helps protect the wood against warping, splitting, and cracking, so you can rest assured that the table won’t easily become damaged from everyday use.

The key feature of this table is its drop-in leaf. Without the leaf, the surface has a diameter of 48 inches, and the table can seat up to four people. If you need more space, simply pull apart the two halves of the surface and drop in the extra piece to extend the diameter to 66 inches. With the leaf, the table can seat up to six people.

Personally, I prefer a round or oval dining table over a rectangular table because it contributes to a more intimate dining experience, and you don’t have to lean in order to see or hear someone sitting on the same side as you. I also think the rounded surface of the Cayman table just looks nice and homey; plus, it offsets the cool-toned wooden finish. 

Although the split in the middle of the surface is visible, it didn’t make a huge impression on me — perhaps because the tabletop was covered in serveware and decor when I viewed it in the store. In any case, I wouldn’t describe the bisected surface as distracting or obtrusive.

As I noted in my initial review, most of Pottery Barn’s other extending dining tables were oversized and can seat up to eight or 10 people, but I like that the Cayman only seats four to six. If you have a small family or live with a couple of roommates, you can keep it closed most of the time. If you have a large family or plan to host guests, you can extend it for more space. 

Additionally, the pedestal base not only serves as a cool design feature, but it also means each person gets their own leg space. And, if you extend the table, you don’t have four legs at each corner where people could bump their legs. Every aspect of the design has clearly been carefully thought-out.

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Pottery Barn’s Cayman furniture collection. But when the pieces are this streamlined and sophisticated, can you blame me?

Buy: Cayman Round Pedestal Extending Dining Table, $1,399