What is a transforming table
This interesting model attracts attention with retractable sides, thanks to which the table turns into a six-seater.
One of the problems of small apartments is dividing the premises into different functional areas. After all, the space in such cases does not allow for a separate room to be allocated for each zone. And for different types of activities: work, eating, sleeping or playing, a suitable environment is needed. In this case, light and comfortable furniture that can be quickly folded or unfolded and converted into another piece of furniture is ideal. The optimal choice is a transforming table, spectacular and eye-catching. Using a built-in mechanism, the table changes its size, height or transforms into another piece of furniture.
Photos of tables in the interior of rooms
To choose the appropriate transformer option, you should look on the Internet for collections of photos of multifunctional furniture in real interiors.
To the children's room
A transformable table in a children's room will save the space children need for games and activities. For parents, furniture costs are reduced. The same transformer can be used by both a preschooler and a teenager for several years. There are models of children's rooms in which the table transforms into a bed. Children's transformers are characterized by a laconic design and bright, clean colors.
The photo shows a children's table in combination with a children's bed. The calm color scheme of the headset does not distract the child from his studies.
For the living room
In standard apartments or studio apartments it is impossible to allocate space for a spacious dining area or study. For such cases, transformable coffee tables with layout options for a dining or work table are suitable.
The photo shows a coffee table made of natural wood. The low transformer in the hall becomes convenient for work or drinking tea, thanks to the retractable top panel.
For the dacha
Furniture in the country is used mainly in the summer outdoors or on verandas. It should be durable, moisture-resistant, easy to assemble or disassemble. Transformable country tables are made of plastic or wood treated with furniture wax. The transformation mechanism is painted with special anti-corrosion paints, the fittings must be made of stainless steel.
The photo shows a wooden transforming table on the open veranda. The table and chairs are made in Art Nouveau style.
To the kitchen
When folded, the transformable dining table can be easily placed in a Khrushchev-era kitchen or in a studio apartment. The kitchen table can be combined with a set or a window sill: using a rotating mechanism, the tabletop rotates at an angle of 90 degrees. The table-book base is used as a bedside table or minibar.
To the balcony
The transformable table is ideal for balconies and loggias. It takes up minimal space, allowing you to use the balcony for work or dining.
The photo shows a slatted table in a yacht style. The side parts rise up to form an oval tabletop.
To the bedroom
In the bedroom, the transformer can combine a bedside table, dressing table, work table and even a changing table.
Advantages of transforming tables
1. They take up little space. Many models, when folded, fit into a pantry or closet, thus adapting to human needs. Some transformers are attached to the wall. When the work surface is not needed, the table top hangs along the wall (folding model);
2. Versatility. A small table turns into a full-fledged dining table, a children's chair and even a bed. The latter option will fit perfectly into the bedroom;
3. Availability of storage space. All kinds of shelves, drawers, cabinets, hidden in the most unexpected places;
4. Model diversity. Transformers are so unique and sometimes have such bizarre shapes that everyone will find furniture to their liking;
5. Saving money. Since transforming tables replace two or more pieces of furniture, your costs will be significantly reduced;
6. Ease of use. You will easily understand how to unfold the transformer, and will not spend much effort on it;
7. Reliability. The safety margin of transformers is quite large; mechanical structures can easily cope with everyday loads.
The following materials are used for the manufacture of transforming tables:
- Chipboard – chipboard. It weighs little, unlike wood products. Easily processed. Can be repainted and laminated many times. The cost of chipboard is lower than the cost of wood;
- MDF is a medium-density fibreboard, the binding element of which is urea resin. Compared to chipboard, the emission of harmful substance formaldehyde from MDF is very low. Therefore, it causes less damage to the environment and is not so dangerous to humans;
- Glass. Special tempered glass is used, the strength of which is much higher than ordinary glass. Various images and patterns look very attractive on glass surfaces;
- Metal. Typically, metal transformers are made from hollow parts. Such tables do not weigh down the space; the designer can show all his imagination and bring the most original ideas to life.
Transformable table characteristics
A coffee table is a piece of furniture of miniature size, which is intended for use by several people; it is installed in living rooms. The transforming coffee and dining table changes its size so that up to 10 people can comfortably sit at it. The parameters are selected individually, they depend on the size of the room and the needs of the buyer. A standard transformable coffee dining table with a primitive lifting mechanism has the following characteristics:
- It is recommended to select the size taking into account that for one person, when unfolded, there should be up to 60 cm in width and up to 40 cm in depth. Multiplying these sizes by the approximate number of people, we get the required size. For serving, you need to add another 20-30 cm. The height of the transformer when unfolded should be at least 45 cm.
- Adjusting the table height is an important point, so you should pay attention to the folding mechanism, smoothness when changing position, and absence of jamming.
- Caster wheels on the legs make it easy to move around the room.
Table lifting mechanisms
Modern furniture stores offer a wide selection. Magazine folding transforming dining tables differ from each other in their lifting mechanisms.
- A book
is a table with a folding mechanism. When unfolded, the size can increase three times, and there is often a storage compartment in the middle. - Blinds
- this design slides apart on the sides and is easy to use. - An automatic mechanism
is a relatively expensive mechanism compared to others; a transforming coffee table with a lifting mechanism of this type unfolds independently when one part is pulled out. - The rotating mechanism
is not very convenient to use; it requires skills and a lot of free space.
Transformer options for different rooms
The small dimensions of this table make it most suitable for small kitchens. The sides of the table rise, increasing the usable area.
Furniture that replaces several pieces of room furniture at once will make your apartment stylish and bright. And besides, there will be a lot of free space that you can use as you wish.
Living room furniture
The living room is the room where people gather on holidays and important family dates. Therefore, it is so important that all guests can be seated at a set table. Buyers prefer folding transforming tables. They go well with classic interiors, modern styles, and ethnic styles. The accent on the dining area will be placed by a coffee table. Compact when folded, it becomes a full-fledged place for eating in just a few seconds, and also replaces a desktop.
In a village house or on a summer cottage, a table-bench will come in handy. With a slight movement of the hand, the table turns into a bench for sitting, sitting on which you can enjoy a leisurely conversation with loved ones or guests. And when it's time to sleep, the table will turn into a comfortable bed. Or maybe you would like to have lunch or dinner in the shade under the trees? The bench table will look great in the garden.
If you want to place an extra bed in the living room, your choice is two-in-one and three-in-one models. We had lunch, lowered the tabletop down, and in its place is a bed or sofa. The advantages are obvious: now there is no need to move furniture from other rooms or lay it on a hard floor for guests.
Multifunctional transformers: upholstered furniture, beds and tables
In their simplest form, these are sofas with folding tables, which are usually located in the central part of the seat or backrest. Opening work surfaces in the form of bar tables and shelves on which you can place a computer or tablet can be mounted into the upper part of the back of the sofa.
The title of transformer is fully justified in models of sectional multifunctional furniture, in which the back side of single and double beds turns into a tabletop. Such furniture, which undergoes dramatic metamorphosis, is suitable for one-room apartments and studios, which, being intended as a space for one or two people, can briefly turn into a banquet hall.
There are also less alternative options in which the bed is fixed on the wall or placed in a wall niche in a vertical position, while a folding work table is mounted on the back side.
The bed looks funny when folded across and turns into a stylish coffee table. Such furniture is quite suitable for occasional overnight guests.
While watching the wonderful transformations of furniture, we must not forget about the convenience of its various forms. The ability to shrink in size or change function should not come at the expense of ergonomics - convenience and safety of use. Upholstered furniture and beds should provide comfort when sitting and lying, and tables should be stable and level.
Bedroom furniture
Manufacturers offer interesting examples of tables for the bedroom that transform into a closet, bed, cabinet or sofa. By purchasing one of these models, you kill two birds with one stone: make a great impression on your guests and free up space for something else.
The combination of a computer desk and a bed is what you need for a one-room apartment or a teenager’s bedroom.
Before installing the transformer in the bedroom, find out whether it needs to be attached to anything. Some models are built into the wall, others are best installed in the middle of the room.
Children's furniture
Children's furniture must meet the growing needs of the child. A common option for little ones is transformable feeding tables. They usually look like a high chair connected to a table. The seat is height adjustable and can be used separately. Until the baby is one year old, the transformer is placed on the common table. And when the child grows up, the structure can be easily converted into a separate table and chair. This way the baby will quickly learn to be independent.
A transformable computer desk is suitable for schoolchildren. Children will be delighted with the Ikea console table, which has a sliding mechanism. The console transforms into a work surface or a place for a computer, depending on what is needed now. The model is equipped with compartments for books and other items needed by the student.
Furniture for kitchen
If the kitchen area does not allow you to install a large table, it doesn’t matter: folding options will save the situation.
In some transformer models, the tabletop is modified, but the height of the table remains the same. Another variation is a book-table, the side parts of which are attached to hinges. If necessary, one or both sides are fixed, providing additional space.
How to make a transforming table with your own hands. Videos and drawings
The model proposed for self-production is accessible even to an amateur. However, if you do not have initial skills, it is better to trust the master of this matter. This way you will not hurt yourself and you will be sure that everything will go smoothly.
If you still decide, first read our tips and carefully study the video. Do you have any questions? Specialized literature on the topic and master classes on creating unusual models on the Internet will satisfy your curiosity.
Required materials and tools
You will need:
- Wood, chipboard or MDF as table material;
- Screws, as well as nails and screws, to hold the parts together;
- Wooden parts or metal profile (for transformation mechanisms);
- Tools: wrenches, hammer, screwdrivers;
- Finish paint or varnish.
Procedure:
1. First of all, you need to build a drawing of the table. It is important to calculate everything down to the smallest details, taking into account every millimeter. Otherwise, errors are inevitable that lead to defects in the product. Therefore, you need to thoroughly study the theory of furniture production down to the smallest details;
2. Mark the workpiece in accordance with the drawing and cut out the necessary parts;
3. Assemble the transformation mechanism, check whether its parts fit well relative to each other;
4. Connect the main structure with the mechanism;
5. Paint, varnish or otherwise decorate according to your taste and imagination. When everything is dry, you can use the transforming table for its intended purpose.
Folding transforming table in the living room
Few apartments can boast of having a room intended only for receiving guests. Often the living room has to share one room with a nursery, dining room or even a bedroom. It is clear that in such conditions every piece of space is valued very, very highly. In this situation, a multifunctional transforming table becomes a real lifesaver. Based on their design, the following types of transformable tables are distinguished:
- with variable tabletop area - dining models, the working surface of which changes by installing inserts or raising the side wings;
- with variable tabletop heights - tables in which, due to lifting mechanisms, the work surface can be lowered or raised;
- combined - that is, those in which you can change two tabletop parameters at once: both height and length.
Separately, we can highlight a wall-mounted transformable hanging table for the living room, which is ideal for small-sized homes, if necessary, appearing literally out of nowhere, and then merging with the surrounding space.
Transformable table-table for the living room
The best transforming table for the living room is the one that performs maximum functions with a minimum of occupied space. Thus, a table-cabinet, in addition to its immediate functions (coffee and dining), can also serve as an additional storage space for 1000 and 1 necessary small items. At the same time, it does not look heavy or bulky. When folded, it is not much different from a regular cabinet, but once you lift the side tabletops, a spacious surface appears to accommodate a large group.
Transformable console tables for the living room
Unusual in appearance and at the same time incredibly practical, transforming console tables for the living room, in their original state, are a cabinet with a narrow upper surface. In the “combat” transformation, the console table top moves apart and lengthens due to special inserts, which in a passive state can serve as hanging shelves. This allows you to use such a table both as a storage room for useful little things and as a full-fledged dining place.
Transformable book-table for the living room
One of the classics of the genre of transformable furniture is book-tables, which were successfully mastered by Soviet industry. Such models consist of a base tabletop made of wood or metal and side “wings” made of glass, wood or chipboard, which, when lifted, form a large transformable table for the living room. For added convenience, many manufacturers equip books with wheels and a lifting mechanism that allows you to adjust not only the width, but also the height of the table.
