5 Space-Saving Kitchen Table Designs

As the cost of living rises and space comes at an increasing premium, it makes sense to consider living on the smaller side with smaller houses, smaller cars, and smaller energy consumption. There are many benefits to be had with this style of living including lower living costs and a lower carbon footprint. Of course, the obvious downside of downsized living is that you need to work with less space.

Most of the time this might not be that big of an issue, especially if you’re living alone. However, things tend to get a lot more complicated if your household grows or if you begin to have guests over. The good news is that many people throughout the world have been making do with less space since time immemorial, and we’ve come up with a lot of tricks to make the most out of limited space.

Dining tables are an example of this inventive spirit, as there are different kitchen table designs that attempt to address the space issue in various intelligent ways. If you’re just aching to freshen up your kitchen with some new furniture, here are five of the best space-saving kitchen table designs we’ve come across.

1. Counter Table

Counter Tables Give Two Uses From One Premium Fixture

Why get a standalone small dining table when you can kit out an island worktop for double duty instead? Thanks to their premium materials, a small kitchen island with seating can make a pretty special place to dine, and since they’re larger and sturdier than most small kitchen tables, you have a lot more to work with. Plus, because there is enough room for people to dine all around the worktop, all you have to do is add a few more chairs when some of your friends pay a visit.

Also, there’s something to be said about being able to serve food while it’s still piping hot without having to carry it to a dining room. It certainly puts a whole new ring on “from stovetop to tabletop”. If you have an open concept layout, you can take advantage of it to add some elegance and comfort to this setup. You can design your kitchen in such a way that your television is just across from your worktop so you can enjoy a nice movie as you eat.

2. Fold-Down Table

Fold Down Tables Offer Amazing Versatility

What better way to save space than to have a small dining table that folds up and out of the way when not in use? This means that your table will be virtually invisible most of the time and only comes down when you need it. Small kitchen table sets that fold up in this way can be found for very reasonable prices and are easy to DIY install in just half an hour.

Small dining tables of this kind are usually made of plywood and so can last quite a long time with little to no maintenance. The fact that most of these small rectangular dining tables are so easy to install and use is the cherry on your space-saving Sunday, to say nothing of the fact that it means that you don’t need a big tablecloth to make things look nice.

3. Ditch Right Angles 

A Circular Dining Table Is Great for Seating More People

To truly maximize space usage, the smartest thing to do is avoid small square dining tables and instead look for something more circular. Small round dining tables are generally better when it comes to efficiently use space, especially if you need to comfortably seat more than two people. Round kitchen tables can house more people than a comparably sized table that is square-shaped.

Plus, small round dining tables also tend to be sturdier to their design which allows for greater structural integrity. This is only more true if you opt for a version of this table made with premium materials such as mahogany, cast iron, glass, or even marble. Some versions of this table can be built-in with retractable leaves so that they only need to take up their full size when you need the full size of the table. The wider range of choices in small round dining tables also means there are more options to fit with each budget. As an extra bonus, these tables are generally quite easy to keep clean since there are no corners out of reach.

4. Expanding Table 

Expanding Tables Offer Unparalleled Versatility

One of the most common ways the classic European apartment adds versatility to a dining space is through the use of an expanding table. And while expanding tables may not be as common on our side of the pond, they definitely should be. They may be simple in design, but expanding tables are a great way of making a small rectangular dining table a lot more practical. Most small dining tables will struggle to contain enough food for more than a handful of people.

So when it comes time to host, an expanding dining table will be the ultimate one and done. All you gotta do is pull out the wooden leaves, click them in place, and presto! You might have the impression that all small extendable dining tables are of poor quality and therefore too flimsy, but you’d be surprised to know that there are actually a wide variety of options in this segment.

There are of course quite a few simple models made of rickety plywood which are affordable but not necessarily long-lasting, and they may be poorly designed owing to retractable leaves that never want to stay in place. Having said that, there are also quite a few high-quality models that can use premium woods such as oak or mahogany and can make quite a stylish centerpiece for your kitchenette.

5. Corner Table

A Corner Table Is Great for Space Saving and a More Familial Atmosphere

Whether you just need a cozy breakfast nook or an everyday spot for the day’s meals, a corner table is a great option to consider. Corner tables come in a few forms, but the most common one is a small rectangular kitchen table set with its own matching L-shaped bench. This bench is designed to fit in the corner of your small kitchen, saving space and offering sufficient seating for you and a few of your friends.

As with small extendable dining tables, corner tables are another cool space-saving solution that’s quite popular in the small apartments of Europe’s major cities. Aside from their practical benefits, there’s also something very intimate about the space a corner table can provide. Because of the L-shaped bench, everyone can be closer and face each other as they eat, creating a familial atmosphere. The only real downside of this type of table is that it can be rather inconvenient to get under the bench when it’s time to sweep up all those crumbs.

If that doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, there is another even smaller version of corner tables that is usually a small square dining table set up in the corner of the room. This setup saves even more space but limits the number of people that can sit at the table owing to the fact that two sides of the table will be against the wall. This table design really embodies the concept of “cheap and cheerful”, offering a closer dining experience for all meals.