From ancient times, the dining table has been considered an important object of the interior, intended for serving, eating. The round shape always symbolizes the equality of those sitting (for example, a round table of legends about King Arthur). Round tabletops were widely used at the beginning of the 18th century. However, they did not accommodate an insufficient number of people. This problem was solved by the invention of the Frenchman A.J. Lorio, who created the folding table, which is still popular today.
Main characteristics
Features of oval sliding models are as follows:
- when assembled, it is a round table, taking up little space, for which 3-4 people can fit;
- when disassembled, it takes an oval shape, thanks to an additional insert it increases up to 40 cm long, depending on its size it can accommodate from 5 to 10 persons;
- It is intended both for daily use by one small family, and for gala dinners with a large number of guests.
Advantages and disadvantages
Sliding worktops have a lot of advantages.
- Practicality. Small, succinctly fits into almost any room in a disassembled state, it easily becomes a large festive table, designed to receive guests.
- Security. The oval shape implies the absence of angles, respectively, there is no risk for small children, inaccurate adults to get injured.
- The combination of design with functionality. A dining table with rounded edges will always be beneficial to look in the kitchen, regardless of its decoration. Modern materials allow you to create different types of surfaces that are original, but do not lose their functionality.
Some note the flaws:
- fragility of the sliding mechanism;
- difficulty cleaning the joints of the sliding cover.
Product Material
The raw materials used to make transformable furniture are diverse.
Glass
Glass models look spectacular, can decorate any dining area, make the design airy, weightless, are not popular. The reason for this is the opinion of the fragility of the structure. However, modern technology allows the manufacture of household items made of tempered glass, able to withstand high loads, high weight, having shockproof properties.
Wood
A wooden table is recognized as the most durable, durable variety. This material of the countertop will be the decoration of the kitchen and living areas. It copes with mechanical stress without deforming. If damage occurs, they will not be very noticeable.
The service life of furniture from a quality array begins from 15 years.
Wood, being a natural raw material, is characterized by high environmental friendliness, safety, does not emit toxins and other harmful substances.
Metal
Metal products are mainly used in country houses, arbors, parks. Due to its functionality used for eating, preparing grill dishes, butchering meat.
Plastic
The most economical and easy to use type of material. The sliding mechanism is made of metal, which guarantees its strength. The model with a plastic surface is resistant to high temperatures, does not spoil the view from the touch of hot dishes. The small weight of the product allows you to move it around the apartment, located in the desired area.
However, plastic is a toxic material, therefore, it can emit harmful substances.
Dimensions
Not every kitchen or living room is able to accommodate a piece of home furniture of large size. That is why it is necessary to calculate its size according to the standards per person.
- Length. At least 60 cm should be allocated for one person. Only such a length will allow you to place all the necessary devices, conveniently accommodate.
- Width. When placing seated opposite each other, the minimum width should be 1 meter: 40 cm for each and 20 cm in the middle. Then it will be comfortable for both, between them it will be possible to place any dish, vase, lamp, other necessary things.
- Height. According to GOST, the standard height should be from 75 to 78 cm. However, this indicator is individual. The home interior object must be selected so high that it is convenient for all family members, regardless of their growth.
Product Design
When choosing colors, design must be guided by some rules.
- It is necessary to take into account the style of the room where the furniture is planned to be placed. If this is a classic, then the standard version with a wooden cover is suitable. In the high-tech style, you can place an unusual model of bright colors from various materials.
- The selected interior item must necessarily correspond to the design of the rest of the room furniture and kitchen unit. For example, a traditional white or delicate beige table will be pleasantly combined with bright orange chairs.
Varieties
Sliding dining tables come in various forms: stationary, folding, built-in.
- Built-in folding table when disassembled, it represents a whole kitchen set with many cabinets, drawers. Saves the space of a small dining area. Such products are usually made together with an auxiliary support, a headset. The reclining worktop becomes part of the kitchen facade.However, the modest size is not designed to receive a large number of guests.
- Fixed sliding different forms when folded, they take up little space, during parsing they increase by 30-60%. There is an additional section under the product cover, which is placed between the extended parts by a special mechanism.
- Folding Sliding Variations occupy the smallest space of all the above. Here, the additional section is not under the tabletop, but lowered down. It is installed in the required position by a special folding mechanism.
- Folding and portable sliding kitchen tables. Such furniture is suitable for very small rooms, where the constant availability of space for eating is optional. One of the modifications of this model is the “book”. This is a small folding table, which in assembled form resembles a closed book.
If necessary, they are easy to assemble, can fit in a cupboard or refrigerator, but the capacity is minimal.
Location
The size of the room where you plan to place the furniture affects the place of optimal location. Let's consider the main options.
- For small kitchens, the best location next to the window. So there will be more space directly for cooking, a beautiful view from the window, if any, will improve the appetite. In addition, the meal will be under natural light. The only negative with this arrangement is the inability to use the window sill as a storage place.
- Small kitchen areas are also suitable in the corner of the room. The described method will allow people to dine in an atmosphere of comfort and privacy, a corner sofa will add additional convenience.
In the case of more spacious rooms, this placement will be auxiliary, for example, ideal for a snack for a family of 2-3 people. The only inconvenience is that people are sitting side by side to each other, which means that they cannot succeed in leaving the table without disturbing their neighbor.
- For large kitchens, the optimal and most attractive accommodation option is center of the room. The oval shape makes it easy to maneuver around the kitchen without fear of touching an acute angle. It will be possible to approach from any direction, which greatly facilitates the serving process. You can sit and go out in such a setting without disturbing anyone. If a beautiful lamp is still installed in the middle, then together with the dining table under it, they become the compositional center of the kitchen decoration.
Manufacturing companies
As indicated above, today the market offers a wide range of models of tables for the kitchen interior. Below is a ranking of the most popular manufacturers.
Ikea
A Swedish company that has earned the trust of consumers due to many factors: a diverse design (from classics to modern ideas), the use of only high-quality accessories from Blum, as well as only environmentally friendly chipboard and MDF, the manufacturer provides a guarantee for your furniture up to 25 years, It is possible to independently create a project of your own kitchen online on the Internet resource.
"Maria"
A Russian company specializing in the production of kitchen furniture. All materials and components are purchased in Germany, Italy and Russia. A guarantee of up to 10 years is provided, and an individual approach to each customer is also provided.
"Stylish kitchens"
The Russian brand, the peculiarity of which is that this company produces all the components of furniture on its own using its own equipment developed by well-known foreign machine-tool companies. Warranty - 5 years, prices are much lower than previous manufacturers.
"Leroy Merlin"
A Polish organization whose products are available to almost every consumer. The main plus of the company is low prices for furniture and components. However, the quality of the raw materials used by the manufacturer is also low.
Operation and maintenance
It is very important to use the sliding transformable furniture, take care of its condition in order to extend the service life.
- It is necessary to monitor the junction of the sliding tabletop. If particles of food or water get there, it is necessary to disassemble the lid, wipe with a damp soft cloth, and collect completely after drying.
- Check the operation of the sliding mechanism. Periodically, you should disassemble the table and install an additional section, even if there is no need. This will allow not to lose the mechanism of functionality, ease of assembly.
- If the sliding mechanism is equipped with hinges, they need to be lubricated 1-2 times a year.
There is a catch phrase: "The kitchen is the heart of the house, and the table is its owner." Dining table is an important piece of furniture that brings together the whole family for talking, eating, cooking, serving. You can not only eat delicious food, but also spend time in a pleasant conversation while drinking a cup of coffee or tea. That is why it is necessary to approach the choice of model with all seriousness, to take into account many factors.
An overview of Ikea tables and the rules for choosing kitchen furniture, see below.