A pool dining table is the best compromise when you want a pool table and the only place in your house for it, is the dining room. Because of this the pool diner is usually a very impressive piece of furniture and looks good whether in dining mode or pool table mode. The only fly in the ointment is that the height of a pool table is slightly higher than a dining table by about 3 inches or so. So remember this when ordering chairs for it. Often the pool dining table manufacture supply chairs as well at the correct height.
Another solution to the height problem is having a rise and fall mechanism to elevate the table when in pool playing mode and let it fall again for dining. This is very common in the snooker dining table as well. This does add somewhat to the cost however.
Table Shelves
Now these tables are not cheap, but they do serve a dual purpose and the way to look at it is that you don't have to buy a dining table as well (anything to talk yourself into it) and they do look rather special when you see them up in your dining room. But before you rush off and get one, check you have the room for one, add 10 ft to the table dimensions to get the ideal cueing area around the table, so for a 7 ft pool diner you will need a room of 17 ft by 14 ft to allow for playing the game.
There are different methods of achieving the dining and pool transformation, some tables are what you call swivel tables, where the table top is literally swivelled in place to reveal the pool table area when converted to playing mode, or a simple table top is supplied to cover the pool table when dining. Both are effective, and the big advantage of the swivel table is that there is no table top to lift off and put back on, the disadvantage of the swivel table is that there is a wood frame all around the pool table playing area so it looks like the pool table has been placed on top of the dining table.
The designs of the pool dining table encompass both traditional and contemporary looks to fit in with your décor so you can match up one with your room no problem at all. Just imagine having friends round for dinner then clearing the table ready for a game of pool in minutes, the best of both worlds, but beware you may end up inviting people for dinner much more often.