The problem with dining tables in a kitchen is sizing. Most kitchens are small or moderately sized, and this space has to be dedicated to function. The cook has a tough job assembling and organizing a variety of materials, and the more complex the meal, or the more guests attending, the more complicated this task becomes. Therefore they need as much space as they can possibly get to work. Thus, unfortunately, a dining table is not appropriate for each and every kitchen setting.
However by using a few clever size, shape, and positioning tricks, it should be possible to maximize the space, and may even be possible to fit a table in the room that you wouldn’t have otherwise thought possible.
The first thing you should do is look at the angles of the room. In general a round table will take up less space than a square one, simply because the rough piece won’t have any corners. However, if your kitchen has a nook or a corner where a table can be slid, then a square piece may actually be more beneficial and room efficient. You can but one of the corners up into the angle, and leave two of the others trailing the two converging walls, with only the last corner still jutting out into the room. This table can then be pulled out away from the wall when you are done cooking, and want people to be able to come and sit around and enjoy the meal.
There are also a variety of smaller side pieces that can be used to fulfill the role of a kitchen table, without taking up quite as much space. Bistro tables are one option. Generally sized smaller than standard kitchen tables, bistro pieces are much easier to slide into an unused corner of the space.
Another thing that you can try are table alternatives. A lunch counter or bar area can often be set against a wall, or even affixed to the wall, and left hanging in the space. These are small and relatively out of the way, allowing you to have the same horizontal table space, without taking up all of the room that a full dining table entails.
This article was written by Jim Slate on behalf of PebbleZ.com’s line of attractive kitchen tables. These pieces are hand made in the United States, and assembled using a variety of mosaic cut natural stone pieces. The line includes over 40 models to choose from, each available in a variety of large and small sizes, and various shapes.
Tags: decorating, design, dining tables, family, food, home, interiors, kitchen dining, kitchen tables, kitchens, organizing, small kitchen tables