An extendable dining table is a functional furniture unit that saves you space by its extending
tabletop mechanism. It is also known as the table with supplementary tabletops. Therefore, you can easily convert
your table from a smaller to bigger table.
Types
In the market, there are many types of extendable dining tables, characterized by shapes and material.
Rectangle
By far, this is the most common shape you will find. You can extend your rectangle table's length for a longer
table.
Round
The alternative to rectangular tables are the round ones. Its original tabletop shape is round. After you extend
the tabletop, the end result is an oval shaped tabletop. This way, you make your round table longer into an oval
table.
Modern
You can also find the modern extendable dining table type easily because the demand for extending tables are
huge. Manufacturers have noticed this and served you, the customer a wider range of choices and provide you with
the contemporary design. Now you don't have to settle with old-looking wood tables that can extend anymore. Go for
the modern look and expect them to come in black and white high gloss colors and glass tabletops.
Glass
Yes. You can have choose to buy glass extendable dining tables. In this type, the tabletop is made from glass,
in which you can see through the tabletop. All the delicate folding and sliding mechanism will be visible to you.
Sometimes, the glass is opaque and you can't see through it. Most of the time, they have a metal frame for the
table legs. Note that you should only go for them if you are very into the modern perspective.
Wood
Finally, you have the wooden extending tables. They are the most common material and are usually made from oak.
Some models even combine both glass and wood to form the tabletop. For the most part, they will be made from 100%
wood.
Butterfly
Butterfly dining tables are also predominantly made from wood. It take more effort to extend this type of table.
The difference is you have to extend both leaves at the sides first, then only you unfold the 2 center pieces.
Benefits
The best advantage you get from the extending dining table is more space for your kitchen. For example, if you
have a tight or small kitchen area, it only makes sense to buy a smaller table.
What happens when you have visitors to your home? Then you can simply extend your small kitchen table by sliding
the tabletop and voila, you have a bigger dining table instantly. This way, you only convert the table only if
necessary.
More suitable for larger number of people, 6 and above. Compared to the square flip top dining table, an
extension dining table has far more length. The former may only cater between 4 to 6 people at most. But your
extension table can easily extend and cater for as many as 10 or 12 persons.
Instructions: how it works
There are 2 types of extending mechanisms. The first requires a little bit more effort from your part because it
is a butterfly dining table. The second mechanism type cuts your workload into half. Here are 2 short videos to
show illustrate these 2 points.
Tips
Since you will extend and unfold the table for quite a number of times, you will have to be concerned about the
quality of the table joints. There is a solution to this worry. Find extending dining tables that are made from oak
wood.
This is a reason why the most common material oak. It is because the wood is very suitable for making interior
table joints. This is also true for other carpentry joint work. Therefore, when you stumble across an oak extending
dining table, you know it is a good extension table.
When buying one, make sure you test it repeatedly. Don't be satisfied with just one go at the extension
mechanism. Work (open and close) the table repeatedly as many as 5 to 10 times before you buy it.
Check whether there are visible, open lines in the center when the tabletop is extended. A good unit should not
have any lines or gaps in the middle.
Again, you don't have to worry about not finding manufacturers for the extendable dining table. They are pretty
common to find due to its popularity.