Undoubtedly, there is no better place to witness glamour and style than in a dining room. The elegant dining tables in movies and television series such as "Something's Gotta Give," "Beauty and the Beast" and "Downton Abbey" help make those stories memorable.

The dining table is the unequivocal focal point of the dining room. Aesthetics aside, the shapes and dimensions of all dining tables have social and functional implications. As the specifics of each dining room vary greatly, these are some general guidelines that will help in determining which is best for your needs.

Let's consider rectangular tables. These are the most elegant and traditional tables. They generally are available in standard lengths from 54 inches to seat six diners to 144 inches for 12 diners. Rectangular tables tend to be used for formal settings, and depending on their length, this sometimes results in several pockets of conversation — not the best shape to encourage a collective exchange of ideas.

Among the advantages of rectangular tables is that seating can be arranged in order of social precedence or hierarchy, with the hosts at either end of the table. This shape prescribes that there is always someone seated at the head of the table. Rectangular tables are flexible and allow for the entertaining of a larger number of people at the same time. A great feature of many rectangular tables is the ease of adding or removing leaves according to the number of guests.

The round table is perhaps the most common shape and is extremely versatile because it allows for easy conversation among guests. There are no specific seats for the host and hostess. It is also a favorite because it offers an easy view of all the guests. It is an advisable shape to use when there is a single host. Depending on dimensions, a round table can seat anywhere from a few diners up to a maximum of 10 or 12 guests. The most common dimensions are a small 36-inch table for two diners, 48 inches for four diners, 60 inches for six diners, 72 inches for eight diners, 96 inches for 10 diners and, in extreme cases, 108 inches for 12.

Round tables are great because they promote social equality among guests. This is not the best type of table for "guest of honor" type celebrations because it is very complicated to accommodate guests according to any social or hierarchical rank at a round table

The oval or oblong table is best used in large spaces. They are convenient for placing multiple guests at the head of the table. If it is a long table, as with rectangular tables, it will not encourage conversation across the table. Like the rectangular tables, it is easy to arrange guests according to social hierarchy. A unique advantage of the oval table is that all the guests can see one another.

The square table is the most contemporary of all. It has the advantage that it can seat four, six and up to eight people (two on each side) in a small area if the table is large enough. Square tables are balanced and offer a certain formality. If the dining room is large, a set of square tables can be paired to make a large rectangular table — or used separately with a host at each table for less formal and more intimate entertaining.

Some interesting data: 57 percent of people prefer rectangular tables. Surprisingly, 26 percent opt for the variant square, and 19 percent prefer the round or oval table.

Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones, or to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: at Unsplash