Q: I bought a 500 square foot apartment last year. I carefully chose the white
table and airy chairs to take up very little visual space in my smallliving room/kitchen/dining room. I'd like to keep a very minimalist,light look (although I love my purple rug for winter). However, in the last year, I have hosted friends for dinner far more often than I anticipated. If I have any more than 1 guest, we have to sit on the couch, slouching over the coffee table. I'd like a better seating arrangement for hosting dinner guests …
Sent by Katherine
… I'm thinking of a square/rectangle, extendable dining table to replace the white counter-height table. However, I'm worried that the room will look too crowded and dark with a table that's lower, wider, and longer than the current one. I'm looking for suggestions of specific light-looking tables that will seat at least 4, or other ideas about how to host more people in a room without making guests hold plates in their laps!
Editor: I'm a fan of round dining tables. They offer a different shape than most of your squared-off furniture and even if it is designed for four, you can almost always squeeze an extra guest or two in at the table. Round tables also work with 2 or 3 diners without being awkward — they're almost always comforting and intimate.
I'm a big fan of the Sprout series from Blu Dot and for less expensive round options, check out 4 Round Dining Tables — All Under $200.
For extension or dropleaf tables, make certain the legs are not going to be in the way when your guests crowd around the table. I once owned a Danish-style dropleaf table that should have sat 8 but could only seat 6 comfortably because of the awkward placement of the legs and extension supports.
Anyone else?
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Comments (16)
Your space would be ideal for a gate-leg table. Folded up, it takes up no more space than your current table and seats two. Unfolded on both sides, you could seat 6-8. It would require moving your coffee table or maybe throwing a cushion on top to convert it to seating for one side of the expanded table. Here's a nice white one from C&B:
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=885&f=33151
Oops, it appears that particular table seats exactly 0 when folded up. But they do exist!
Why not opt for a folding table you can store and put away. I use one that folds for my dinner parties. You can dress it up with a nice table cloth and even get chair covers for the folding chairs. Then, you just put it in a closet.
I was able to find one that folds into a neat square for storage.
What about Moroccan floor pillows? You could stash them away or keep them in a pretty stack when not using them, and then you could sit cross-legged and bare-foot on them around your coffee table for your dinner party...you wouldn't be slouching! Not ideal for a formal party, but for informal gatherings, I think it'd be fun.
Love the painting, by the way!
IKEA Norden gateleg table. It changes easily from 2-6 and has storage drawers in the middle that store quite a bit. I currently use 6 ottomans that work as my coffee table by day and seating at the table at night. It's all about furniture that pulls double duty!
Love your hanging lamp! The ideas above are great- I was wondering, though, is it weird sitting on the sofa and looking at your kitchen? You should think about adding a couple occasional chairs to your set up. I can't tell from the photo if there would be quite enough space, but if there is, what if you flipped your sofa around so it is back-on to the kitchen, then added a long narrow drop leaf table that could serve as an island when not in use as a dining room table, and then got two chairs to face the sofa (under the pretty leaf painting?)
To make this work in your small space, you might have to move that gorgeous coffee table and get something smaller (or use it as a bench instead of new chairs). Or you could sell your current table on craig's list and move the coffee table/bench to the space under the window...
I'd second using the coffee table as a bench, it looks the perfect height. After eating you could push it back into position?
A table with fold down leaves might be best - then just push them up when you have company. Most sit two folded down and four to six when extended. Some nice folding chairs could be easily stored somewhere and possibly the coffee table could be used as a bench seat.
I like the round table option. I personally have been looking for all kinds of dining tables for my small living/dining/study area. I have always liked Teepee Table from CB2 though it is quite large. I'm thinking to move my furniture around and stuff try to make space for it. The other table I was thinking was 2x2 Dining Table from West Elm http://www.westelm.com/products/g038/. This one too has a glass tabletop that visually doesn't take up much space. Unlike the Teepee Table, this one has tempered-glass top, which I like.
Whatever table you choose - get one that you can easily move to in front of the sofa and use the sofa as a banquette for your entertaining.
I'd prefer to see a round wooden table w/ a pedestal base in that room - something like 42" across.
I think the simplest solution would be to get a plastic folding table form Staples or somewhere. (Maybe a 4 foot one.) Normally you could keep it folded up in the back or side of a closet or under the bed. When needed, set it up between the sofa and the coffee table which then becomes a bench. (This presumes the coffee table would hold up under this use.) Use a tablecloth to make it prettier. Very versitile, and you can use your other table as a buffet.
Consider getting a round table-top to put on top of your current table when needed, plus two more stools. The table-top can be stored behind a bookcase, or covered with fabric and mounted on the wall as art.
I really like the suggestion from m_j_s! Very creative. I also second the idea of turning your sofa around to face the wall. Maybe a nice little stand or something behind it, to help distract from that back-of-the-sofa look. :) Like the narow black one in these photos...
I know you didn't ask about this, but I know a pair of panel curtains would really add some great warmth and texture to your wonderful large windows!
Katherine here -
Thank you for your comments and suggestions - all of them! My brother made the awesome coffee table, and we designed it to be used occasionally as a bench - we actually call it "the benchable."
Rearranging furniture is completely within my budget, so I'll try that first. Please keep the suggestions (including window covering and other topics) coming - I'm really grateful!
I like the idea of light occasional items that can just hang on the wall or go in a closet when not in use, like a vintage card table from the 40s and some cafe chairs. Kartel makes some cute stackable chairs, as well.
so many ways to go
this table goes from dainty to gigantic:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ETHAN-ALLEN-Georgian-Court-Pembroke-Drop-Leaf-Table_W0QQitemZ390147945108QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Tables?hash=item5ad6a13294
something more modern?
http://cgi.ebay.com/WRIGHT-TABLE-COMPANY-Swing-Leg-Drop-Leaf-Table_W0QQitemZ330398823969QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Tables?hash=item4ced4df621
this one could sit behind your couch:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ANTIQUE-MAHOGANY-DROP-SIDE-LEAF-SERVING-DINING-TABLE-TX_W0QQitemZ250569844700QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAntiques_Furniture?hash=item3a572067dc