If you’re trying to revamp your kitchen, one important element to look at is the use of space. Whether your kitchen is large or small, you can completely change the appearance and function of your kitchen by changing up the dining table location.
Anyone who has a dining area in their kitchen knows that choosing the perfect dining table location is a tricky business. You have to make room for all the members of your household while still maintaining enough space for foot traffic while cooking.
With those challenges in mind, we’ve put together a list of some of the best kitchen table ideas. Read on for inspiration on where to put a dining table in your kitchen.
Make a Breakfast Nook
To open up your kitchen layout, forgo the classic dining table altogether for a table and booth arrangement. If your kitchen has a wall or corner with a nice window, consider installing a cute bench with a matching table.
A breakfast nook keeps the dining area nestled to one side and clears up the rest of the kitchen floor space for preparing food. A classic dining booth is charming and homey and will encourage your family to all stay in one space during mealtimes. As a bonus, a dining nook can double as a neat social space for chatting with guests or as a comfortable spot to get work done.
Put Dining Table Against Wall
One of the easiest ways to clear up space in your kitchen is to place your dining table against a wall. Of course, before you do this make sure there is enough seating room for your household along the remaining sides of the table.
By placing the dining table against a wall, you will leave the center of the kitchen full open for moving about. You will also be reducing space by cutting out the chair that would have been put on the now wall-facing side of the table.
Install a Slide-Out Table
If space in your kitchen is tight, you may want to consider alternatives to a table that can be incorporated into existing countertops and cabinetry. A creative and visually interesting option is to install a table that can slide in and out of a wall counter, functioning like a drawer.
With this concept, your dining table will not only perfectly match the aesthetic of your countertops, but it will also seamlessly disappear whenever you don’t need it.
Build a Bar Top
Similar to putting a dining table against a wall, a bar top will keep the dining area off to one side of the kitchen and maximize the floor space for actual cooking. A bar top can be even more narrow than a regular small dining table, and some space-efficient barstools can help create a compact dining area with plenty of seating.
Bar tops are also a great interior design option, with plenty of unique materials and designs with which to work. You could put the bar top against a solid wall and hang up some nice art, or place the bar top in front of a kitchen window for some natural light and a pleasant view.
Center Your Dining Table
While it may seem counterintuitive, for some kitchen layouts the best option is to place the dining table right in the center of the room. This can be especially true for kitchens that have countertops and cabinets lining the majority of the walls, and not enough wall space for a table or breakfast nook.
In this scenario, try to find a space-saving table, such as a rounded pedestal table (fewer legs and no corners means a small footprint) or a table with folding leaves. By placing a compact table in the center of the room and keeping the chairs neatly tucked in, you can increase the walking and standing space along each section of the kitchen counter.
Extra tip: with this layout, you can maximize your space even more by picking out compact chairs, such as small round stools or high-quality folding chairs.
Final Thoughts
Opening up your kitchen layout can be a struggle, but by switching up your dining table arrangement, you can clear up a notable amount of space. Designing a more compact dining area doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice seating. Changing the location of the dining table will often allow for more seating options.
There are plenty of creative kitchen dining table locations. While you work on your new kitchen, keep these ideas in mind to design an open and convenient kitchen layout.