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[GingerPeach]

Years ago it used to be common to find dining tables with extension leaves so as to be able to convert the table from normal use to become a place where a larger group could be seated.

I see so many HGTV shows lately in which it seems to me the dining tables are all in one piece, consistently very long, and without the leaf option.

It makes me wonder if real life people like all of you on this board would prefer a table with leaves or a very long table to fit your maximum group that you might host on a holiday like Thanksgiving.

Here's just one example of a table with extension leaves:

[elizabethl123]

ONE WITH LEAVES 

[151949]

My dining room table is 44" across , octagon shape, seats 4. When I add in one leaf it will seat 6 or 2 leaves it will seat 8. The problem is in order to add the leaves I have to rearrange my living room furniture to accomodate the size the table has expanded to. We keep the table at the small octagon shape 99% of the time.I keep telling my DH that I think at my age I'm done having big dinner parties.

[ALRATIBA]

Growing up - leaf was used often for company dinners.  Same at grandparent's house.

The leaf to the table I have now has been in the closet since the table was delivered it

Doesn't really matter all that much to me ... it's the style and color of the table that's important.

[StylishLady]

Mine has two leaves that I can use when we have a larger number for dinner.

Usually I keep one in and one on reserve.

[ScrapHappy]

I always wanted a large farm table.  In my old house in California, I did (and still have) a nice dining set.  The dining table has a leaf but my dining room could not accomodate the leaf.  The California house was barely 1500 square feet.  We moved to the Southeast to a much larger home, 7500 square feet, and one of the first things we purchased was a large farm table.  It's 114 inches in length and I always have the leaf in.  I just love it.  I also have a dining room with my same dining table but now I can always keep the leaf in.

[giddy up]

Sure, why not have leaves?  It is a convenient option to add more surface to your table without having to keep it larger permanently.  I have a kitchen island with hinged leaves on three sides.  So if I need more work space/seating I can flip up as many as needed and then when I want a more streamlined look and ease of movement I flip down.

[GCR18]

I think the leaf is a great idea if you have a small room and use them infrequently.  If the room is big enough for a big table, I'd go with the big table.  I remember helping my mother put the leaf in when the grandparents came over.  It was virtually impossible to move around the table when it was extended.  My current table has one extension.  I don't think I've ever taken it out.  

[LilLadyNJ]

I have had a dining table that seats 6 without leaf and 10 with the leafs. I rarely would use the leafs. I love the table and have no regrets about buying it, and if I had to buy another I wouldn't buy one with a leaf. 

[SilleeMee]

Personally I like drop-down style tables because for me I don't need a very big table. After company is gone I can just let down the sides of the table and not have to worry about a place to store those leaf-extension pieces.