A small-sized kitchen space poses a difficult task for the owners to place the furniture in the room as successfully as possible. The right choice of a kitchen table for a small kitchen will allow, without sacrificing convenience, to give the room beauty and originality.
Designer recommendations for choosing a table for a small kitchen
The location of the table is determined by the shape of the kitchen set. If the modules are located along one wall, the table should be placed opposite, close to the opposite. If the set is L- or U‑shaped, then the table will look better in the center of the room.
The distance from the eating area to the stove should be at least 60 cm, this will provide the necessary freedom of movement.
The dimensions of the table must correspond to the dimensions of the room. A massive countertop in a small-sized kitchen will look heavy and inorganic, it is better to choose a thin countertop with graceful legs.
Tables and chairs for a small kitchen are better to choose a rounded shape: sharp corners can interfere with movement within a small space. Behind an oval or round tabletop will accommodate more people.
The design of the table should be determined by the style of the kitchen. Plastic, glass and metal surfaces will fit well into modern or high-tech interiors, while wood or stone (natural or artificial) will suit any interior.
The color of the countertop does not have to match the color of the rest of the kitchen furniture. A contrast of colors or an unusual color scheme will emphasize the individuality of the room. However, it is worth considering that too bright color of the countertop will make the space of a small kitchen visually even smaller.
A good solution is to place a table in a small kitchen near the window. The window sill can be replaced with a countertop immediately when installing a double-glazed window. This will increase the usable area and save on artificial lighting.
Helpful Hints
Before purchasing a product, you need to consider several factors:
| The area of the kitchen and the dimensions of the headset installed in it. | A large table in a small kitchen is unlikely to look organic. Standard modular sets for small kitchens are made by many manufacturers, the size of the table in them is related to the total area of the furniture. Now there is an opportunity to make custom-made furniture, in which case the table model can be the most unusual. |
| The number of family members. | For a family of two, a small table that does not take up much space will suffice. Sometimes a family consists of 4–5 people, but the daily routine of its members is such that they rarely gather at the table at the same time, so there is no need for a large surface either. |
| The needs of the people living in the house. | Diners outside the home need a table only to drink tea or coffee or have a light snack. Another thing is if family members respect the tradition of sharing meals or there are often guests in the house. If the area of the kitchen does not allow the use of a large countertop, you should consider organizing lunches and dinners in the living room, and use the table in the kitchen for cooking and serving. |
Under any conditions, you can make a table for a small kitchen an interior item that attracts attention. It must be remembered that it must correspond to the general style of the room.
Table designs for a small kitchen
Small kitchen tables have become a familiar piece of furniture in small kitchens. But it is much wiser to purchase such furniture, which, depending on the situation, can perform different functions or become invisible if it is not used.
Folding
Such designs will be a good solution for families who spend little time in the kitchen and rarely receive guests.
There are portable models with a swivel top, which, when folded, takes a vertical position, and the legs continue to stand on the floor. They are good because they are easy to move and can be used, for example, on a balcony or terrace.
Folding model, built into the wall or kitchen set, is easily transferred from a horizontal to a vertical position. It is used as needed, and the rest of the time it does not take up any space.
A variant of the folding tabletop is a design of two parts located one below the other. The lower section extends when more surface area is needed to fit more people behind it. When folded, it is designed for two or three people.
Mobile
The simplest option is a traditional table on wheels, the main advantage of which is mobility. The small size allows you to move it around the kitchen easily and quickly. When it is not needed, it is placed in a corner or against a wall to save space.
The mobile table can be attached to the kitchen cabinet with one part and move along a given radius, relying on legs with wheels. Roll-out countertop, if desired, can serve as a bar counter or a work surface for cooking.
hinged
This type of kitchen table is a folding surface that rests on a leg or spacer. The design is simple and easy to use: the countertop can be quickly raised or lowered along the wall, and the kitchen will become more spacious. Sometimes the countertop is the door of the sideboard-cupboard, which is folded back if necessary, and small kitchen utensils can be placed inside. Legs for this lightweight design are not needed, it is attached using special loops.
The advantage of a folding table is that it can be made by hand from inexpensive materials.
Table transformer
The market offers a wide variety of transformers for a small kitchen, which, when assembled, look compact and, if necessary, increase in size.
The classic version of the transformer is a rectangular folding kitchen table. The sliding mechanism is located in the center or along the edges, and additional details are hidden under the main table top and form a single whole with it when unfolding.
Among folding structures, a book-table with a fixed central part and side parts attached to it with hinges has long been popular. The legs are movable and serve to support the planes brought to a horizontal position.
The assembled transformer-console is a narrow pedestal, inside of which additional details are placed. When unfolded, they are added to the central part, and you can use any number of elements, adjusting the size of the tabletop with their help.
Window sill table
A window sill that flows into the countertop creates a spacious work surface. Sometimes a sink is built into it or cabinets are placed under it for storing household appliances, dishes, kitchen utensils. This is an effective way to increase kitchen space.
Table shape selection
A rectangular or square table is suitable for any kitchen space. It can be placed against a free wall or window; a clear geometric contour will successfully complement the straight lines of a simple-style headset.
A round table is more suitable for a spacious kitchen or living room, because it looks best in the middle of the room, and this arrangement is not always possible within a small space. If the kitchen is small, and the owners prefer a round worktop, a small portable table on one leg or a folding semicircular tabletop can be the way out.
Oval tables go well with kitchen sets that have smooth, curved worktop edges and wavy line designs. They are often sliding, which is convenient and practical, and look beautiful. Oval or round tables are safe because they do not have corners, which is important if there are children in the family.
Other options for tables are less common and, for all their originality, have a number of disadvantages. For example, a triangular table looks unusual, but it will look good in the corner or in the middle of the kitchen, and no more than three people can be placed behind it.
A tabletop in the form of a narrow wall shelf or bar counter is also unlikely to suit a large family. And for people who lead an active lifestyle and visit the kitchen only early in the morning or late in the evening, this is a great find.
materials
When choosing a kitchen table, you need to take into account the features of the material of manufacture.
The tree is wear-resistant, but products made from it are expensive and weigh a lot, so moving such furniture will be problematic. But the service life of a wooden countertop is long. Stone surfaces have the same advantages and disadvantages. It is worth considering that such expensive materials are still preferable to choose for large kitchens made in a classic style.
Often you can find countertops made of laminated chipboard. They are the cheapest and can imitate any texture, but they have a number of disadvantages: they are not resistant to moisture and are easily damaged by mechanical stress.
An alternative is plastic-coated surfaces. Plastic is a lightweight material, easy to maintain, relatively durable, moisture resistant. Products from it are distinguished by the richness of the color palette.
Tables made of special durable glass are becoming more and more popular. They look elegant, do not clutter up the kitchen space.
Thus, when choosing kitchen furniture, you need to remember that it fits harmoniously into the space and matches the overall design of the room, as well as the needs of family members.