Folding tables in the kitchen: advantages and disadvantages, varieties and installation recommendations

The kitchen is a small space, especially in small apartments. There is often not enough room for a dining table. In such situations, folding (hanging) tables are the best solution. They are quite easy to make with your own hands.

Folding tables for the kitchen are sometimes the only right solution for arranging a small space. This option has many positive qualities.

• The main advantage of such furniture is saving space... Folding tables can be easily folded and removed if not needed.
• Ease of assembly... There is no need to contact the master furniture makers, you can easily design and assemble such a structure yourself.
• Variety of solutions. Today, a large number of design ideas for suspended kitchen furniture are known.

But there are also some disadvantages.

• Small size... An oversized tabletop will also have a tangible weight, under the influence of which the fasteners will loosen.
• Limited material used... The best option is a wooden folding table. Glass is practically not used due to its fragility and excessive injury hazard when broken, and metal products are too heavy.

If you want a natural wood side table, choose a material that will not deform over time. Many people advise using maple or oak wood as a material.And also stock up on varnish to cover the table surface to avoid splinters.

Folding tables can be quite varied. Depending on the purpose, such structures can be divided into several types.

• Dining - tables for eating.
• Kitchen surfaces - peeling, cutting vegetables, fruits and other products and cooking.
• Decorative furnishings. Usually these are small tables that serve to decorate the kitchen, sometimes they are used for drinking coffee or tea. This type also includes structures suspended from the ceiling.

According to the type of construction, the models of hanging tables can be divided into stationary and folding... As the name suggests, foldable furnishings can be folded when not needed. Stationary ones are not removed after initial installation.

There are many options for the execution of suspended structures. Let's list some of them.

• Folding table with mountsfixed to the wall.

• Extending an existing dining table using a hanging part.

• Attachment hanging table to the windowsill.

• Hidden models. They are usually built on runners and retractable as needed.

• Unusual tables... They are used in cases where the space is very limited, and only a triangular (polygonal) model can be squeezed into the free space.

First, select the location of the future table. The method of fastening and the shape of the product will depend on this. Then you should select the material of the table canvas. It could be plywood sheet, chipboard or wood.

And also prepare:

• fastening elements (hinges, screws, anchor bolts);
• additional details - legs (1 or 2), side rails for finishing the product;
• instruments - a drill or perforator (if the table will be attached to a concrete or brick wall), a saw or a jigsaw, a screwdriver (a set of screwdrivers), a grinder.

Measure the area under the table with a tape measure. Then mark the canvas of the countertop, cut off the excess with a saw or jigsaw.

For the simplest option - a wall-mounted folding tabletop on hinges (without support) - you need to drill holes for the hinges in the wall, then, according to the markings, do the same operation with the tabletop canvas. After that, the hinges are bolted. For reliability, the holes are pre- you can insert plastic dowels, and only then fix the hinges.

To fix the wall table in the raised state, mark the location of the fasteners (hooks, belts, etc.) on the wall, drill the necessary indentations and install the fastening elements.

Test the product - is it securely held in the raised position, is it comfortable to sit behind it. If there are no shortcomings, you can try your creation - have lunch, for example.

There is nothing complicated in the manufacture of a retractable model either. To do this, grooves for guide rails are machined in the side edges of the tabletop. The guides themselves must be fixed inside the cabinet or other furniture from which the table will be pulled out. And also think over the mechanism for fixing the product in the extended state - so that it does not "walk". That's all.

The next option is a folding table with a vertical support. The procedure is similar to the first (simplest) method described above. The difference is that a support is attached to the lower surface of the tabletop. It can be a swing-out support or a swing-angle bracket. And usually such a piece of furniture is folded not up, but down.

Here is a description of the manufacturing process for the swing-out countertop.

• Prepare material, fasteners and tools for work.
• Make a sketch and drawing of the future product.
• Mark out a sheet of wood (MDP, chipboard, plywood) according to the drawing made.
• Saw off any excess and sand the cuts to make the surface smooth.
• Attach the slats to the bottom of the tabletop along the perimeter with an indent of several centimeters.
• Next comes the support fasteners. First, the brackets are screwed to the table, then they are attached to the support at the other end. Everything should be secured in such a way that the leg can be safely removed.
• Now the turn has come for finishing work. Sand the top surface (lid) of the countertop, paint if desired, cover with varnish, for reliability it is better to make two layers.
• Now you need to attach the side edge of the table to the wall (window sill). To do this, grooves for anchor bolts are drilled in the marked places, hinges are attached, and that's it - your table is ready!

When choosing the right model and installing the product listen to the recommendations of experts.

• To preserve the harmony of the kitchen interior, select the material of the countertop to match the overall finish of the kitchen or the installed furniture set.
• The most convenient forms of tables are considered to be a semicircle and a rectangle, square and round hinged products are less preferable. Round countertops are difficult to secure, most likely you will have to use hangers, and with an equal area of ​​the work surface, if they are spread out, they take up less space due to their lower thickness.
• Choose models with a vertical support - they are much more stable and reliable than unsupported hinged structures. Moreover, users recommend installing products designed in accordance with modern trends - they have one central folding support, and not two, as in outdated versions. Although, of course, it's up to you to decide.
• Before manufacturing and installing the product, make a preliminary drawing indicating all dimensions and marking the locations of the fasteners. This will make your work easier and ensure the accuracy of all stages of design.

For information on how to make a folding table in the kitchen in 20 minutes, see the next video.