An important element of the kitchen is the dining table. The overall impression of the room, as well as the mood of the residents, will depend on its appearance and convenience. A great choice would be an extendable table that saves space.
Features
When choosing a dining table model, you need to focus on the amount of free space in the kitchen. You should not buy overall furniture in a small room. There will be a lot of inconvenience: the edges will cause injuries not only for children, but also for adults. The size will be an obstacle when moving other furniture, as well as during cleaning. Fixed tables are original, but even for a modest option, you need a kitchen of at least 10 square meters2. And most apartments have very small rooms.
An extendable dining table is a great choice for a small kitchen. It is compact and neat, besides functional - if necessary, it can be used to receive guests. To understand how compactness and large size are combined in the design, you should familiarize yourself with its device. A regular table has a tabletop and legs that are connected with fasteners. Atsliding design there are removable or retractable tabletop elements. The design has a built-in mechanism, due to which the extension and increase in the area of the tabletop is carried out.
Sliding tables come in different models. Some of them are suitable not only for the kitchen, but also for the living room. There are oval sliding tables, round, square, rectangular. In modern designs, there are devices that allow you to instantly perform the transformation by turning a special handle. But luxury furniture, which is much more expensive, usually has this function.
Extensible top, drawer top
The mechanism of this sliding table consists of guides, along which the main panels of the tabletop roll out to the sides. Free and easy sliding is provided by rollers, limited at the edges by locking parts to protect against falling out of the guides. When pushing the parts of the tabletop to the sides, an additional panel is installed in the opening that appears. This increases the surface.
Tsargoy is called the frame on which the countertop is fixed. Such designs have been used for more than one century, they are called one of the most durable. The tsar's include a "book" table. It increases the size of the countertop by 50%. Usually these have a drawer-tray that allows you to store kitchen utensils or napkins. Retractable elements are usually located under the main cover, and may be separate. In shape, these structures are rectangular, oval orround.
Original sliding table-transformer with a round top. Usually it stands on 1 leg, which, during the transformation, is divided into 2 support legs. Although gaps are visible in the joints, they are usually small and do not interfere with the placement of cutlery. And if you put a tablecloth or napkins, then the flaws will not be so noticeable. Usually this mechanism is present in wooden structures. Now tables are made of high-strength glass - stalinite, triplex.
Glass
The sliding glass table is much more complicated. It is considered a multifunctional transformer, the size of which can be increased with the help of two side panels that move towards the table top on the sides. When folded, the table top is lowered, revealing a small glass table.
Raise the countertop with special legs that resemble those on an ironing board. With the help of the height adjustment function, it is possible to adjust the required size and fit comfortably both on the sofa and on the chairs. Docking seams are noticeable in glass sliding kitchen tables, but they look harmonious in the overall design of the product.
Butterfly
Dining extendable table of this type has been known since the Soviet period. This design is considered a classic. When unfolded, the structure can be installed in a small corner of the kitchen, since it occupies about 50 cm of area. When a feast is planned, it is pushed to the center of the room and the tabletops hanging on the sides are lifted, which must be secured with extended spacer legs.
If necessary, lay out only one side. Such a sliding table accommodates many people. It may have special drawers designed to store kitchen utensils. The advantage of butterfly designs is multifunctionality. This extendable table combines 4 pieces of furniture:
- cabinet with drawers;
- table - 26 x 90 cm;
- table for 8 people;
- table for 12 people.
Flipaway
This sliding table is presented in the form of narrow shelves, fixed against the wall in a convenient place in the room. If necessary, they are turned into a dining surface. Usually they are used in the interior of a small kitchen (about 6 m2). To use the structure, you need to raise the hanging part of the tabletop and pull out a spacer from under it, on top of which the tabletop is placed.
Flip-up designs vary in size: from small surfaces (for a family of 2 people) to a large kitchen table (for 4-5 people). In the latter case, the function of double transformation of the folding table is assumed. Then there are 2 panels on the wall, folded up and securely fixed.
One of them is designed to set up a small table for one person. The second allows you to place two. Such a model is called a table-picture. If the panels of the structure are made the height of the entire wall and fixed in the ceiling area, then you get a huge folding table that will allow you to take a large number ofguests.
Coffee table
The base of this extendable kitchen table is a large cabinet. She has wheels to move around. Externally, the design is similar to a classic coffee table, which goes well with the sofa in the kitchen. The tabletop of the product can rise above the base and unfold like a "book". Chairs or stools can be attached to the table.
Slight unaesthetic is considered a design flaw. The side view is a little strange, so this model is preferable to cover with a long tablecloth. This table is convenient for those who do not often have feasts, and most of the time is spent on a low sofa-sofa.
Sizes
When choosing a kitchen sliding table, you need to decide on the size. It is important to calculate how wide the structure will unfold so that it is completely comfortable to use. The height of tables for the kitchen can be in the range of 70-78 cm. Such parameters correspond to the physiological characteristics of the average human figure.
The height of those products, in the mechanism of which there is a function of turning into a coffee table, is noticeably different. For such, the height is 44-45 cm. Their width varies (it all depends on the characteristics of the table). When choosing this furniture, sellers indicate the nuances of the design, report on the types of completed inserts and show the layout process using an example.
If furniture is purchased through an online store, then you need to choose sites where detailed information aboutgoods and indicate in the description the material of manufacture of the tabletop, underframe, legs, as well as their dimensions.
Width domestically produced sliding tables start at 26cm (butterfly look) and 80cm long. The maximum length is 183 cm (transforming table with cabinet), 215 cm (butterfly with sections and reinforced legs) and 227 cm (classic collet tables with inserts in the middle).
Popular models include the following:
- From solid wood, laminated chipboard or MDF - dimensions 60 x 90 cm. They have an additional tabletop, a “book” transformation function, with which, in the unfolded form, it will be possible to increase the surface up to 120 x 90 cm. Production - Russia.
- Design on chrome-plated metal legs with a glass sliding tabletop and Russian-made photo printing. When folded, the dimensions are 70 x 90 cm, and when unfolded - 70 x 135.
- Folding product made of solid beech, made in China. When folded, the size is 1200 x 800 x 760 mm. When unfolded, the length of the table is 1640 mm.
- Sliding version in solid wood and MDF with Malaysian veneer finish. Dimensions are 120 x 80 cm. Center insert measures 30 cm and can be extended up to 150 cm in length.
Materials
For the production of sliding tables for the kitchen, various materials are used. Budget options are those with legs and a collet (frame) made of solid wood, with a chipboard or MDF top, covered with wood veneer. Original sliding wooden tables,decorated with carved inserts, but their cost is quite high.
Now, products with stone countertops made of light, durable artificial stone or ceramic tiles are quite in demand. They are more suitable for stylish modern kitchens with an abundance of household appliances. The designs are practical because they are resistant to high temperatures and are not afraid of cuts. Relevant folding products made of impact-resistant glass. The hardened materials from which countertops are made include triplex, satin, optivaite or stemalite.
Colors
Classic is the shade of natural wood, oak or wenge. Now white sliding tables are also relevant. Thanks to light solutions, traditional furniture becomes visually light and does not clutter up the space in a small room. If the dimensions of the kitchen allow the use of massive and dark furniture, then natural ones will be the best choice.
Variants with glass tops are made in different colors. Black folding tables can be completely mirrored or only partially. There are photo-printed countertops that have brightly colored glass, or transparent ones that create the effect of extra space in the room.
The base in these designs can be wooden or metal legs, and in some models it can be a stylish white wood cabinet. Countertops are decorated with ceramic tiles or mosaics. This decor looks great, is practical and doesn't get in the way while cleaning.
Choice
Whenchoosing a sliding dining table oval round or square design must take into account the size of the room. It does not take up much space, but if necessary, the size can be increased by almost 2 times. This should be taken into account when choosing the right model. Taking care of the comfort of people, it is necessary to calculate the supply of space.
There are advantages and disadvantages to tables with different top shapes. When folded, they are round, and when unfolded, they become oval. Square countertops are also very popular, which, after transformation, acquire rectangular shapes. Round products have the following advantages:
- At this design, more people are accommodated, since there are no corners in it that “take away” useful territory.
- The model is suitable for caring parents, because the risk of child injury is excluded due to the absence of sharp corners.
A notable minus of the sliding table is that it cannot be placed against the wall. In addition, due to the large diameter of the tabletop, it is difficult to access dishes located in the center of the table. This should be taken into account when serving meals for large lunches and dinners.
Square design can be installed against the wall, saving space. When folded, it does not take up much space. It is also made in the form of a "butterfly", and it is like a small cabinet.
Self assembly
When buying a sliding table is delivered disassembled. Usually the store offers assembly for an additional fee (approximately 10% of the cost). If desiredsave the owner can do this work themselves.
Required for assembly:
- Read the attached drawings.
- Check that all required elements of the kit are present.
- Submit an image of the finished table to determine where which parts should be placed.
- Carry out a "fitting", assembly of parts (without tightening the fasteners).
- Specify the sequence of work, check for holes and drill manually if there are none.
- Tighten all the details of the table.
You must carefully assemble the glass structure. In this situation, it is preferable to order work from professionals.
Original solutions
Crafted from beautiful wood, glass and metal, the furniture will make any kitchen attractive. For a small room in a studio apartment, you can place a folding hanging table. The design, fixed on the wall, will perfectly fit into the interior and save space. It is attached to the wall, built into a rack, window sill or bed. Modern design ideas allow you to turn the table even into a wall mirror.
With the help of functional furniture details, a small room will become more spacious and comfortable. A small sliding table with metal legs can be placed in the corner near the kitchen set, and if necessary, spread out. The original will be the option when the surfaces of the table and the corner are combined in color.
The butterfly table is original, which has several built-in drawers or it performspedestal function. Often countertops are made of chipboard, MDF, and expensive options are made of wood. The color of the wood harmonizes wonderfully with laminate or parquet, carpet or floor tiles in pastel shades. To accommodate guests at such a table, you need classic chairs with armrests, or a sofa from a soft kitchen corner.
