Oversized Kitchen Tables

The kitchen is a place of function. Its purpose, obvious enough, is the preparation of nutritious and delicious foods. However, the space can also serve a second more social purpose. The warm air, the delectable smells, and the friendly atmosphere all contribute towards making the kitchen a great place for people to come together and talk and love and enjoy one another's company. That's where the kitchen table comes in.

The table is the gathering point, the social center of the space. It's the excuse to come in, sit down, and have a chat. It provides a reason for being there, and is a natural beacon for the ones you love.

The problem is, in such a functional location, often you simply don't have the room for a kitchen table. You don't want to interrupt the flow of the space because that would interfere with the chef, and if you make the kitchen feel cluttered and over stuffed nobody is going to be comfortable in there anyways.

One way to avoid these problems is the use of angles. Find a random corner; a square table can usually be pushed neatly into it. This effectively eliminates half of the table's floor space, leaving the other half open to use.

Another thing to consider is square versus round tables. A square table may butt easily into a corner, but if it is floating in the center of space, a round table will actually take up less room. That is because the round table doesn't have any edges sticking out into the space.

Another thing you should consider is forgetting the table, and going with a smaller, more out of the way seating and setting option. A bar top is considerably smaller than a table, yet it provides the same function. Bar stools can be butted up against it, and food can be served on its surface. A lunch shelf can also serve a similar purpose.

By thinking creatively you can often fit a kitchen table, or something similar, into a space that you might otherwise never think could hold such a piece. Examine your angles, and decide whether you can afford to give up the floor space. If you can't, consider smaller options to help make ends meet.