How to choose a folding table for the kitchen?

Buying a folding table for the kitchen is a necessary measure. This is the case when there is very little space in the kitchen for the location of the minimum set of necessary furniture. Being a folding type design, such a table allows you to rationally organize the dining space. It is worth considering the main criteria for its selection, based on information about its features, advantages and disadvantages.

A folding table for the kitchen is referred to as furniture with a transformation system. When closed, it does not take up much space, as a rule, it is ergonomic and compact. Moreover, the transformation system can be very diverse. It depends on the design features of the furniture itself. In most cases, such a product has one stable support. On the opposite side, the table is mounted into the wall or is a component of hanging furniture, performing the function of a table in the open form, and in the closed form as a deaf facade.

Products can be classified according to the fastening principle. These are wall and wall options. They differ from folding counterparts by the transformation mechanism: when opening, the lid leans forward. In this case, folding tables can have kitchen racks, wall cabinets. The transformation system can be represented by two sections of the same size, one of which, when unfolded, becomes the supporting leg of the table.

When closed, it is a panel connected to a transformation mechanism. Depending on the design, the mechanism may be different. At the same time, folding models do not move out: the lid leans forward, which is a key feature of these products and distinguishes them from folding, pull-out and roll-out counterparts.

In addition to wall options, brands produce folding tables with four legs. In fact, this principle of their transformation reminds everyone of the well-known table-book. The folding part rises, while for stability, the support legs are turned by means of a special mechanism. These modifications are of the folding type, which are often attached to the wall, increasing the work surface if necessary.

Folding tables for the kitchen have the following advantages:

• they significantly save kitchen space when they are not needed;
• the models are compact, but sufficient for the location of the minimum amount of dishes for eating;
• products are variable in design, they are made from different materials, due to which you can choose an option taking into account the furniture already available in the kitchen;
• models can be an independent element of the dining area or be part of a set with a folding chair of a similar design;
• depending on the type of product, they differ in installation, but it is simple, every head of the family can install such a table;
• products differ in the shape of the tabletop: the folding part can be rectangular, semicircular or even semi-oval;
• such tables can be installed not only along the walls: they look great near the window, when closed, representing a laconic panel with a small width and a length equal to the window opening;
• such products can be purchased in stores or made independently; it will not take much time, and the manufacturing process itself does not require a large amount of materials and labor costs;
• color solutions of these products can be varied, due to this, folding tables can become a support for a kitchen apron or facades of a colored set;
• such products can replace children's tables in small apartments;
• when there is enough space in the kitchen, such tables can be used as a mini-greenhouse, mounted under the window of the room;
• These pieces of furniture can be placed in the kitchen as an additional shelf-table for small household appliances, for example, a microwave oven or a coffee machine.

However, in addition to the advantages, folding tables also have disadvantages. For example, the load on the fasteners for such products is greater. Considering that they have to be constantly opened and closed, this loosens the transformation mechanism. In addition, the constant assembly and disassembly can get bored with household members, they will want to buy a stationary table. As for the material of manufacture, chipboards are not designed for long-term operation. Over time, the fastenings of such structures become weak.

Today, different raw materials are used in the production of folding tables for the kitchen. It can be wood, its processed products, plastic, and also metal. Fasteners, support, and sometimes decorative elements are made of metal. As for the table top, its material of manufacture depends on the table model. Rarely is it made of glass: this is impractical, since frequent transformation can shorten the life of the material.

In order not to increase the weight load on the wall, lightweight materials are used in production, for example, MDF, chipboard or plastic. Regarding plastic options, it is worth noting that these are the least successful products, since plastic deforms over time. It is not designed for contact with objects that are too hot, does not correct when scratches appear.

The choice of a folding table for the kitchen is made up of several key criteria.

To find the right option, you need to inspect the kitchen: as a rule, compact furniture is installed in a limited space. Therefore, the table should be just as compact. If the product will stand open more often, the remaining space for moving around the kitchen should not be less than 1 m... In this case, the size of the countertop itself must be sufficient so that at least two users can fit behind it. Such a product can also be placed in a bachelor's home.

In a limited kitchen space, it is preferable to use streamlined tables. They have no corners, so in case of accidental mechanical contact, the user will not get bruised. If, at the same time, the rest of the furniture in the kitchen has strict right angles, the table will have to be selected similar, mounting it in a place where there is more freedom of movement. In this case, you need to pay attention to the shape of the chairs, because there should be harmony in everything. For example, if an L-shaped headset with a wavy edge of a corner countertop is installed in the kitchen, it is quite appropriate to supplement it with a rounded table.

Color solutions for folding tables can be varied. However, when buying or ordering, it is necessary to take into account the shade of the existing furniture. At the same time, you can take a table, not necessarily tone-on-tone: a subtone, akin to the main color, will also do.The color of the table is preferable to light, which allows you to add a light spot to the interior of a small kitchen, visually reducing the severity of the limited space.

A folding table for the kitchen can be wall-mounted (mounted in the wall) or attached. Which option is better, everyone decides for themselves. The wall-mounted folding table of the side-by-side type is good because it does not need to be constantly opened and closed. This saves time and effort, as well as saving wear and tear of the working mechanism. A bachelor can not reveal it every day: it is enough to do it once.

If you plan to purchase a small table for small household appliances, it is preferable to buy an option with a reliable support: it will provide less load on the work surface. In this case, the shape of the tabletop of the product can be either rectangular or semicircular. Such products are more reliable than hinged counterparts attached to the wall. Those who want to buy a wall-mounted folding table should take into account: you can't put much on it. In addition, such a purchase is impossible if the walls in the apartment are porous. They simply will not be able to hold the structure with additional load.

When choosing this or that model, it is important to consider: it must correspond to the style of the interior in which the kitchen is made. This can be reflected in the shape, color, type of material used.

• For Provence style it is important to use natural material, so it is better that the table is made of wood. Moreover, this style is also picky about color: the product should be painted in light or white. In addition, unlike other branches of interior design, such a table can be decorated with bed covers or textile napkins.
• Considering modern design direction, here it is important to bet on the uniqueness of the texture of the material used. For example, for the Art Nouveau style, the presence of chrome textures in the interior is important, which allows you to successfully fit into it a kitchen table made of plastic and metal supports with gloss. And you can also take the version from wood derivatives as a basis, complementing them with metal fasteners and supports.
• For the classics, a table made of wood is desirable. It is problematic to fit furniture into the interior with elements of palace solemnity, the main purpose of which is to save space. The classics strives for the massiveness of furniture, its obligatory naturalness and high cost.

To learn how to make a kitchen table from a countertop with your own hands, see the video below.