apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

We have a group of friends over for dinner every week on Thursdays- usually 10-20 people. We don't all fit around our dining table (plus we don't own that many dining chairs) so we sit around our coffee table, on the couch, chairs, floor, anywhere there is space. We would love to all eat together around a table one day, but we also enjoy how relaxed our meals together are.

I think that these are all great ideas. But what if I want to have a Thanksgiving party for 6? I think that's where the real challenge comes. One hates to resort to large plastic trays with compartments for applesauce like Grandma used to have. Any ideas?

Folding chairs and tray tables.

Our table only holds four (and that's kind of pushing it...), so our larger gatherings usually end up in the living room. We usually serve things buffet style and people put their plates on their laps or on an end table. But for times this doesn't work, like Passover or Thanksgiving, we've set a piece of plywood on top of several Rubbermaid bins (the large ones for clothes etc.) in the middle of the living room floor and put a tablecloth over it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eeka/2429528250/

Fortunate to have a yard, we do our entertaining in the warm months. Inside, there is a dining "nook" that isn't large enough for a table! (Due to a closet and the kitchen counter extending into this area.) For an intimate dinner for four, we can use the kitchen counter as a table, but this is the one downside to the 900 sq ft home.

Where are those floor cushions from in the first photo?

This is my perpetual conundrum. I have a small living room that is also supposed to take care of dining. When my in-laws come, I can't ask my 70-something MIL and FIL to take a seat on a floor cushion. Do I set up the living room with sofas and chairs and resort to tray tables? Thoughts?

Back when I lived in a tiny studio, I used a folding table (draped with fabric) as my headboard (I had, literally, no other place to store it). When I had dinner guests, I simply removed the "headboard" and unfolded the table. The bed served as a banquette, and I pulled up the only two other chairs I owned. It wasn't perfect, but it worked.

With a nice tablecloth, even a cheapo folding table can look nice. (I still pull it out from time to time, when I have more people than my dinner table can seat.)

When we moved into our apartment, one of our first purchases was a stainless steel chef's table and two counter-height bar chairs to go with it rather than a traditional dining table. Our open floor plan has no designated dining area, and it just seemed like natural to me that we would sit around the coffee table for dinners. But fast-forward three years - we decided it was time to make a change. My great idea of coffee table dinner proved to be totally impractical. What works just fine for the Moroccans and the Japanese, it turns out, is not so comfortable for most Americans, especially the - ahem! - older ones. And even with guests who were comfortable with it, we were limited by the size of our coffee table to two in addition to ourselves. Also, having to bring in the floor pillows to sit on, as small a task as it might seem, was a deterrent when we were by ourselves after a tiring workday. We ended up eating most of our meals in the den while watching TV, and not entertaining nearly as much as we would have liked. So just a few months ago we purchased a dining table and six dining chairs - and we are so happy with the change.

@marissachristy - We're hosting 14 for Thanksgiving and are renting tables from Classic Party Rentals. It's not as expensive as you might think. But for six, perhaps you could borrow two card tables from friends or neighbors and cover with a nice tablecloth?

I live in a small studio with little space for even a temporary folding table. I often use an idea my mom also employed in her studio apartments when she was younger: simply spread a colorful table cloth or blanket on the floor and have an indoor picnic.

Granted this isn't very practical if you're having elderly guests, but it can make for a fun themed dinner party with the right crowd.

@Lisa-very clever headboard idea!

Love it. I wished I had thought of that when I lived in my really small space. I now live in a bigger small space and have room for a real table.

http://smallspaceresources.blogspot.com

I have these they are very comfortable and easy to sit on, a little height helps too-
http://stores.rianrae.com/Detail.bok?no=366


neerland the cushions are from here, I have been eyeing the table myself-
http://www.soukshop.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_12&products_id=134