In a large kitchen a huge kitchen table serves a wide array of functions, providing additional preparation space for chopping and mixing and will also serve as a repository for large items in frequent use, such as a food processor. The chances are that, if your food processor has to be taken down from a high shelf and returned after use, that you will not get good value out of it. It provides a convenient surface to dump large shopping bags which you can then pack away without stooping. It provides a play area for young children on rainy days, where they can spread their paints and crayons and puzzles. Covered with a blanket or sheet it makes a perfect tent or cave for the kids. Best of all it conjures up a picture of a large and cheerful family sitting down to a lovingly cooked Sunday roast. The large kitchen is the hub of the home.
Alas, these days many of us are constrained to live in small spaces but there is no need to have an awkward and inconvenient table. Manufacturers and designers have put their heads together and come up with a sweeping variety of styles and designs to satisfy each and every need. The size and shape of your kitchen will determine your choice of table.
Generally, if the table is to be placed in the centre of the room an oval or round table is more space-saving than a square tables with no dangerous sharp corners. Conversely if the table is to fit into a corner, a square or rectangular table will be the better choice and many tables are designed with rounded corners.
Tiny kitchens beg tiny tables and good alternatives are pull-down tables which can be accessed as and when necessary. Depending on your personal style bistro tables are available in both elegant and cheerful designs, do not take up much space and provide ample dining space for one or two people. If space is at a premium, ensure that the accompanying chairs are of the fold-up variety which can be packed away or hung from a convenient wall when not in use.
If not required for dining purposes a well designed butcher’s block will provide a lot of storage room, utilizing minimal floor space. It is important to have plenty of room to move freely through the kitchen, especially when carrying hot saucepans from stove to sink.
With so many alternatives available on the market you can ensure that you choose a table which makes optimum use of available space and provide and attractive and functional piece of essential furniture.