Table shape
In addition to the aesthetic function, the form affects the possibility of installing a piece of furniture in the room and how many people fit behind it. We will talk more about how to calculate dimensions in the next section. And now we will discuss what are the configurations of the countertop.Rectangular
Classic pattern. Good installation possibilities: in the center of the room, near the wall, in the corner. Depending on the length of the tabletop, a large number of diners can be seated behind such furniture, while there is no feeling of alienation due to the large surface, and everyone can reach the middle.As for materials and design, there are no restrictions. You can find products in a variety of stylistic designs. It is among these types that transformers are most often found.
Square
Good for tiny kitchens where the object is in a corner or against a wall. However, only two or three persons can sit behind it. If you put the table in the center, then 4 people will sit down. At the same time, it makes no sense to increase the surface area, otherwise a solid area is formed in the center, to which it is inconvenient to reach.
The range of such products pleases with variety: due to the fact that they are popular in small apartments, manufacturers are trying to release as many models as possible.
Round
Not suitable for tiny spaces due to the fact that they require placement in the middle. They allow more people to sit than behind the square (up to 8 people). But at the same time, they also have limitations in size: if the diameter exceeds 1.5 m, then the same drawback will appear as in the previous variety.
Often they are made of wood, glass and rattan. Harmoniously, such samples look in classic interiors. Look.
Oval
A compromise between rectangular and round. It retains the convenience of placing the first and the spaciousness of the second. An additional plus for families with children is the absence of corners that kids often hit.
Triangular
non-standard models. They look very impressive, but in terms of functionality they lose to the rest. Able to accommodate no more than two or three people, look inappropriate against the wall and in the corner.
Usually they are placed as a second table when organizing a tea corner.
Bar counter
Although this is not quite a table, but now many are abandoning traditional products in favor of a bar counter. Here you need to take into account that the height of the bar exceeds the standard height: not everyone will like it. Also, you need to buy special chairs for it.
Due to its compact size, space is saved great, and a variety of stylistic solutions makes it possible to choose a design to your taste.
The size
The dimensions of the furniture depend on two factors: the area of \u200b\u200bthe room where the table will be installed, and the number of people who need to be seated at it.
So, it is believed that landing requires at least 60 cm of surface width and 40 cm of depth. These are the minimum allowed parameters. At the same time, you will have to take into account that there should still be room for common dishes, so you can safely add 20 cm to the depth.
If landing is supposed from all sides, then the smallest allowable depth is 80–85 cm, and preferably more. However, a product wider than 105 cm is also not very successful, since it will not be convenient for everyone to apply food.
Experts advise to calculate the dimensions based on the size of the family, plus 1-2 places for guests. It turns out that for a family of 3 people (if the object is installed on one side against the wall), the following dimensions will be optimal: width 80–90 cm, length 120–150 cm. You can move the furniture away for the celebration and seat six people behind it.
These calculations apply to rectangular and oval models. A round table for 6 people must be at least 1.3 m in diameter.
When choosing, consider the availability of free space for installing chairs and moving around the room. If the chair is in the aisle, then there must be at least 1 m from the edge of the tabletop to the nearest object, and in the case when only a chair is installed, 70 cm is enough.
Material
Whether the item will serve you for many years or will loosen after a couple of years depends on the material. Consider the most commonly used bases from which table tops are made for a dining table.
Wood
The number one raw material both in beauty and practicality. Thanks to the malleability of wood, real works of art are carved out of it. Coated with varnish or paint, such products become the center of the whole environment. It is popular now to use an array with minimal processing in order to preserve the natural pattern and texture of wood. And of course, there are universal painted options with strict laconic forms.
The most durable are beech, oak, cherry and walnut. At the same time, an array of valuable rocks costs a lot of money.
Although the surface is reliable, some care should still be taken. Otherwise, there is a risk of leaving ugly scratches. If the upper protective layer is damaged, the tree can absorb dirt, swell and become moldy, and serious restoration is indispensable here.
Glass
No less popular now than wood. Bribes with its unusual appearance and external weightlessness, due to which the space visually expands. Perfectly complements all modern trends: minimalism, hi-tech and others.
The glass lids are made of laminated tempered glass, which gains increased strength and impact resistance. But it doesn't need to be checked specifically. If it was not possible to preserve the integrity, then the triplex splits into large parts and does not scatter around, which reduces the likelihood of injury.
The glass itself can be not only transparent, but also matte, colored, with a pattern or pattern, mirror. Lots of alternatives.
You need to be prepared for the fact that additional efforts will have to be made to care for such a surface: wipe it from drops and stains with special products and napkins. Also, not everyone is pleased with the sound that is obtained when dishes come into contact with glass. You can solve the problem by laying mats or napkins under the appliances.
Rattan
Lightweight wicker furniture immediately brings back memories of a summer vacation by the sea or in the country. Therefore, for a city apartment - this is a rare type of situation. Appropriate in country style interiors.
Such products, despite their weightlessness, do not break for a long time. They require periodic brushing, otherwise dust and dirt will accumulate between the rods. To increase practicality, the wicker base is covered with a sheet of glass on top.
Metal
Everyone is used to steel legs: they can often be found in tandem with glass, plastic and other materials. But a countertop made of stainless steel, tin or copper is a curiosity. They are found in such areas as art deco, high-tech. They are resistant to mechanical stress, have heat resistance and are not afraid of water.
Unfortunately, over time, the surface becomes covered with a network of scratches and scuffs, which is why it loses its luster. Also, with careless handling, dents may appear.
Plastic
Budget variety, but you can not count on its long service. The surface is rather brittle and does not withstand shocks well, it melts from exposure to temperature, it will soon show abrasions in which dirt accumulates. But they are lightweight and can be easily carried from place to place.
The design is diverse, but for some styles, the use of plastic is strictly contraindicated. Plastic furniture will fit well in high-tech.
As a temporary option, in a rented apartment or in the country - a completely reasonable solution.
Stone
It is used in expensive exclusive decorations, since such models are usually made to order. They differ in considerable weight, so it is very difficult to move such a whopper.
The operational characteristics of the stone are excellent, since it is not afraid of anything: neither shocks, nor hot dishes, nor water, mold does not get along on it and bacteria feel bad. However, in the care he is capricious: you have to use special tools.
Chipboard
These are the cheapest items. The variety of colors and shapes of such products is huge, so there will be no difficulties in choosing a design.
There is laminated and veneered chipboard. The first is preferable because it has a more solid margin of safety than veneered.
You need to know that a chipboard table is unlikely to last you even five years. This is due to the fact that the top layer is easily damaged, and the plate itself swells from water, which leads to the appearance of “bubbles” and gradual destruction.
MDF
Veneered MDF in its characteristics is practically not inferior to natural wood, but it will cost much less. These products are practical, beautiful and, if handled with care, please for many years. Most folding samples are made from this material.
Source: https://vsvoemdome.ru/dom/tovary/kak-vybrat-stol-na-kuhnyu
Number of legs
At first glance, this is not an important criterion at all, but one has only to think, and the understanding comes that this is not so. Ill-conceived legs make it difficult to take a comfortable posture.
One - usually present in round or square models and is very convenient, because you do not have to think about where to put your legs. Look at this type.
Two legs in the form of solid racks on the sides - they immediately take away two places from the ends. If you still have to seat one of the guests there, then the poor fellow experiences obvious difficulties with the placement of the limbs.
Three is typical for triangular specimens and is found in round specimens. If there are three people at dinner, then this is a great solution, but for a larger number of people, the non-standard arrangement of the supports will be uncomfortable.
Four is the standard value. The location of the supports in the corners minimizes inconvenience during landing.
It turns out that when choosing the number of legs, it will be correct to focus on the shape of the furniture and the expected number of guests.
Transformation method
In order not to buy a bulky table for a large company, you can get by with a folding one. This miniature object for daily use turns into a full-fledged huge table during the holidays. The design may be different.
Folding - two parts are stacked on top of each other and for celebrations they simply unfold like butterfly wings. This doubles the area. See.
The book is a variety familiar from Soviet times. When folded, it is a small cabinet, and if necessary, one or two side wings are installed on folding supports.
Sliding - the cover is divided in half, and in order to increase the size of the seats, you should move the halves apart and install an additional insert in the middle. See.
Transformer - this furniture can turn from a kitchen table into a compact coffee table, for example. When changing, not only the size of the surface increases, but also the height. .
Retractable - the tabletop is hidden in other furnishings, for example, it is a continuation of the window sill, kitchen set or bar counter. It is located in a niche, and extends and slides in with a slight movement of the hand. Furniture with a retractable insert is very convenient in a limited area.
Room features
In order for the table to harmoniously fit into the room, you need to take into account the features of the space in which it will be placed.
Small kitchen
The most difficult task is to choose furniture for a tiny kitchen. There is so much to put here that there is simply no room left on the table.
Salvation in such a situation can be a folding option, one side of which is attached to the wall. After the meal, the tabletop lowers, and there is room for moving and cooking. Chairs in this case, you can also pick up folding.
For two or three people, you can choose a compact square or rectangular model that will save precious centimeters. Here you definitely need to pick up chairs that can be pushed under the furniture, otherwise they will occupy the entire free area.
Of course, we must not forget about convenient transformers. Also, many refuse a full-fledged dining group altogether and replace it with a compact bar. In conditions of limited space, this is quite justified if the residents themselves like it so much.
Big kitchen
Happy owners of a spacious kitchen can choose a piece of furniture, focusing solely on their own preferences and the overall design of the apartment. In such a room, any size, material and shape will be appropriate.
It is worth remembering that in large rooms too small tables will be “lost”, and the interior will not look complete.
Studio apartment
To separate the kitchen area from the rest of the apartment, they often use such a technique as installing a bar counter (example in the photo). This element visually divides the room into zones and allows you to more clearly identify its functions.
Canteen
Housing, in which there are separate apartments for eating, is certainly not small-sized. The main object of the spacious dining room is just the same dining table. It must be quite massive and located in the center so that there is no feeling of empty space.
Ideally fit models in the form of a circle or oval (depending on the layout of the room).