5 Instant Dining Tables
Company coming? These console tables expand into a party-sized dinner table
So, you live in a condo the size of a shoebox and you'd like to have your whole family over for Thanksgiving? Not a problem.
You converted your dining room into a home office — now it's your turn to host Thanksgiving and you don't want everyone sitting in your living room balancing plates of gravy-laden mashed potatoes on their laps? No worries.
You have a great dining room with a wonderful table that seats up to 10, but 20 people are expected? Gotcha covered!
Recent innovations in the mechanisms for space saving and super-expandable tables mean you can take a console table and turn it into a dining table that seats ... wait for it ... 10. The five tables shown here all start as compact console tables that will fit beautifully into an entryway or tucked behind a sofa. Then when company heads your way, they twist, slide, or telescope their way out to a dining table.
And to go with those tables I'm including my top three picks for the slimmest of the slim folding chairs. When the company leaves, these can hide in a closet, under a bed or can even be hung on the wall.
You converted your dining room into a home office — now it's your turn to host Thanksgiving and you don't want everyone sitting in your living room balancing plates of gravy-laden mashed potatoes on their laps? No worries.
You have a great dining room with a wonderful table that seats up to 10, but 20 people are expected? Gotcha covered!
Recent innovations in the mechanisms for space saving and super-expandable tables mean you can take a console table and turn it into a dining table that seats ... wait for it ... 10. The five tables shown here all start as compact console tables that will fit beautifully into an entryway or tucked behind a sofa. Then when company heads your way, they twist, slide, or telescope their way out to a dining table.
And to go with those tables I'm including my top three picks for the slimmest of the slim folding chairs. When the company leaves, these can hide in a closet, under a bed or can even be hung on the wall.
The legs rotate and the top opens to create the dining table. It comes in three widths; the largest will seat six.
Tip: You generally need at least 36" between the table and wall so that people can get past other seated guests when getting up from the table. 48" would be even better. If you live in a small space, keeping your other furnishings lightweight will allow you to move pieces out of the way to make room for the table.
Tip: You generally need at least 36" between the table and wall so that people can get past other seated guests when getting up from the table. 48" would be even better. If you live in a small space, keeping your other furnishings lightweight will allow you to move pieces out of the way to make room for the table.
This table is a stroke of genius. Imagine a table that can expand right along with your waistline at Thanksgiving!
When I visited the Fall 2011 High Point Market I saw the Granddaddy of all console tables that expand to a dining table. This table from Ozzio has a telescoping aluminum frame that slides so far open, it will seat 12 people. The table's maximum length is 293 cm. — a little more than 115 inches long.
Tip: Shoot for about 24" of width per person to figure out how many people can sit around a table, taking care not to crowd people at the corners.
When I visited the Fall 2011 High Point Market I saw the Granddaddy of all console tables that expand to a dining table. This table from Ozzio has a telescoping aluminum frame that slides so far open, it will seat 12 people. The table's maximum length is 293 cm. — a little more than 115 inches long.
Tip: Shoot for about 24" of width per person to figure out how many people can sit around a table, taking care not to crowd people at the corners.
One of my clients used the Lance expandable console table in an entry niche. They have a separate dining room with a great table, but this table still gets constant use as a food station during parties. During the holidays it is pulled over to the dining area nearby and placed end-to-end with their regular dining table. I like the substantial feel it has when one side is folded down in back.
Contemporary Console Tables
Here is the same table in its open position. The legs are recessed under the ends and narrower than the table width so people can sit all the way around the table without bumping into table legs. The fold-down design means no leaves to store.
Expandable console table Ocarina Light Oak 3 extension
I think the light oak finish on this table would work especially well at a beach house. But it does come in other finishes of black, white, silver, taupe or wenge, so it would fit in a wide range of spaces. This one uses a similar aluminum telescoping frame as the Golia table shown previously, but it is smaller, seating 8 comfortably.
Deco Expandable Console & Dining Table
I particularly like the traditional inspiration for the leg shape on this table by Ozzio. All of the examples I found of these very expandable tables were quite contemporary in style, so it was nice to find one that would work better in a more traditional space.
Flux Chair
So, where do you keep 8 or 10 chairs when you didn't have space for a dining table to begin with? Folding chairs are the answer, and hands down, this one is my favorite. It folds completely flat — and I do mean flat. At just 0.6" thick, when flat, you can store 20 of them in a stack just one foot thick. The chair has a handle to make it easy to carry when flattened.
It may look like a fancy bit of origami, but it is stronger than it looks. It holds over 300 pounds, allowing you to indulge in that second piece of pie at Thanksgiving dinner.
It comes in several colors (I'd use the bright orange ones around that white table in the third photo in this ideabook). Seat cushions are available.
It may look like a fancy bit of origami, but it is stronger than it looks. It holds over 300 pounds, allowing you to indulge in that second piece of pie at Thanksgiving dinner.
It comes in several colors (I'd use the bright orange ones around that white table in the third photo in this ideabook). Seat cushions are available.
Jake Phipps Isis Chair
This folding chair is also very thin, at just 1.18” when flat.
Tip: When choosing folding chairs, pay close attention to their shape when flat, and how much room they would take to store together. Although this chair is twice the thickness of the last chair, it isn’t as tall or wide when flat, so that may influence your choice.
Tip: When choosing folding chairs, pay close attention to their shape when flat, and how much room they would take to store together. Although this chair is twice the thickness of the last chair, it isn’t as tall or wide when flat, so that may influence your choice.
Piana Folding Chair
Here’s one last super-slim option for folding chairs. With an option to hang them on the wall, they really can be stored in very little space.
Tell us: Would you be able to use a super expandable table in your house?
More: Make Room for a Dinner Party
How to Arrange Your Room for Entertaining
Tell us: Would you be able to use a super expandable table in your house?
More: Make Room for a Dinner Party
How to Arrange Your Room for Entertaining
Shop folding tables on Houzz