A comfortable dining table that can accommodate all family members is the main criterion for a cozy kitchen. It is in this place that families gather in the evenings, and sometimes the dining table is used to celebrate special occasions, so it is important to choose it correctly. Kitchen tables vary in shape, which determines the standard size.
How does the shape of a dining table affect capacity?
Kitchen tables, unless they are made to order, always come in standard sizes. As we have already noted, this parameter depends on the shape of the product, of which there are four:
- Rectangular. The most popular classic type of table, which can accommodate from 4 people and up to 8 people as standard. The advantages of such models include convenience, simplicity and practicality, while the disadvantages include the risk of injury due to sharp corners.
- Square. Depending on the size of the tabletop, the table can seat up to 8 people. Square models are usually installed in large kitchens, but they are not suitable for small and narrow rooms - here it is better to give preference to a rectangular shape. One of the advantages is the space saving, and the disadvantage is the presence of sharp corners.
- Round. Such tables look very harmonious in spacious kitchens. Capacity – from 4 to 8 people. The round tabletop has no corners, which makes the product safe. This is especially true for families with small children. They also look original, interesting, but at the same time simple and concise. One of the disadvantages is that such a table cannot be moved against the wall - it requires a lot of free space. For this reason, round models are in most cases installed in the center of the room.
- Oval. The rarest and most unusual type of kitchen tables. It can accommodate from 4 to 10 people. In terms of convenience, such tables can be compared with rectangular ones, but unlike them, oval ones do not have sharp corners. However, installation will require a lot of space.
But these are not all the forms that kitchen tables can have. For very small rooms, you can choose compact semicircular or triangular options that take up very little space. They are often installed in a corner. If there is very little space, a folding table would be a good solution. Of course, such models accommodate a very small number of people - up to 2.
So, when choosing a dining table, you need to take into account the number of family members, the area of the room and the style of the interior. The last criterion can influence the shape of the product; for example, round products are often found in high-tech style.
What does ergonomics dictate?
The main work surface in the kitchen is the countertop. Vegetables are chopped on it, meat is beaten, and dough is kneaded. To make all these operations convenient and not tiring, it must be correctly located. Ergonomics dictates in the kitchen compliance with the rule of the “golden triangle”, the vertices of which are the stove, sink, and work area. The distance between them should be as convenient as possible so that the housewife does not have to wind up extra meters when moving from one zone to another. Any unnecessary movements in the kitchen are a source of fatigue and discomfort.
On the other hand, the stove should not be placed next to the sink to prevent splashes from flying onto the hob. A work area should be located next to the sink - this makes it more convenient to wash food before cooking. Follow these rules whenever possible. We've sorted out the horizontal placement a bit, but what about the vertical one? In other words, at what level from the floor should the tabletop be located to achieve maximum comfort?
How to calculate the size of a dining table
There should be 60 cm width and 40 cm depth per person. This is the best option to start from when calculating the size of the dining table. If the condition is met, everyone sitting will be comfortable and comfortable.
Also, do not forget about the free space, which should also remain on the table. To do this, about 20 cm is allocated in the center.
Calculating the perimeter of a rectangular kitchen table is very simple. Since the width per person is required to be 60 cm, this number must be multiplied by the number of family members. For example, if you plan to purchase a table for 4 people, its perimeter should be 240 cm. If space in the kitchen allows, it would be useful to provide two additional seats in case guests drop by.
Don't be a bull in a china shop...
Does your back and neck get tired when working in the kitchen? You have chosen the wrong height of the kitchen unit.
When designing a kitchen set, there are certain standards that are designed for comfortable use of furniture and household appliances, storage of food and other things.
The height of the kitchen table for cutting and preparing food should be equal to half your height, rounded up within 5 cm. With a height of 1.72 m, it will be 0.9-0.95 m.
These optimal sizes are designed for the average height of the housewife.
The height of the cabinets should be 820 mm, and together with the tabletop - 850 mm.
There is another method for selecting a comfortable kitchen table height.
- Bend your arm at the elbow.
- Measure the distance from the floor to the bend of your elbow.
- Subtract 15 cm from it.
- Use the obtained result when selecting a kitchen set.
All nuances must be selected in accordance with the needs of the owners and the characteristics of the room.ON A NOTE! To find out the value for a dishwasher, add 10 cm to the height of the kitchen table.
The most common diameters of round kitchen tables
The average diameter of a round tabletop is 80 cm - this table can accommodate 4 people. A table with a diameter of 130 cm can accommodate 6 people, and if you increase this number to 150, you can seat 8 people.
When choosing the size of a round table, you need, as in any other case, to take into account the number of people. The most popular models have a diameter of 110 cm - this size is enough for a family of 4 people. 10 extra centimeters provide one more place. Obviously, the larger the table, the more people can fit behind it. But if you need to seat a lot of people, then it is better to choose rectangular or oval models for a simple reason - it will be uncomfortable to sit at a large round table, since you will not be able to reach the dishes in the middle. In addition, they take up a lot of space.
Designers recommend placing a round table in the center of the room - this is how it looks most harmonious. It can also be placed in a corner, and it will be great if there is a window nearby - this will visually increase the area of the room. If there is no window, you will need additional lighting in the form of a floor lamp or sconce to highlight the dining area.
A little arithmetic
If the countertop doesn’t fit, you can always spend a little more to replace it. The reason could be any: damage, design, material, shape, color. A miscalculation with height will cost more than the countertop, because you will have to pay with convenience and health.
In the kitchen
Typical situation: knees rest on a low table - a blow from below - and now part of the dinner is on the table. The result is irritation, quarrel, lost appetite and spoiled mood. A low position also threatens to make you slouch. As a result, the stomach and intestines are pinched. There will no longer be time for comfortable digestion. No heartburn or pain – that’s already good.
Standard Height Wooden Table
If the low one doesn’t fit, then you need to take it higher, with some extra. But then you may encounter difficulties of a different nature. If you drink tea quickly, then there will be a minimum of negative influence, but what if there is a feast coming up or you need to do some work during it?
Pros of oval dining table models
Each table shape has its pros and cons. Some of them, for example, rectangular ones, are preferable for long kitchens, while square ones can be installed in a small room. Another practical option is a folding table, the dimensions of which can be easily increased if necessary. Oval countertops are especially popular, because they have many advantages:
- Oval tables are comparable in capacity to rectangular ones. Both there and there you can arrange almost the same number of dishes.
- Practicality. Many round tables fold out and turn into oval tables.
- Lots of manufacturing materials. Wooden models are the most common - they can fit into almost every interior.
- Convenience. Large and long oval tables are much more comfortable to sit at than round ones.
- Safety. Due to the absence of sharp corners, the risk of injury is reduced to zero.
In fact, oval tables are the same rectangular ones, only without sharp corners.
Capacity of oval tables:
- Width from 110 cm implies seating for a maximum of 4 people.
- The 130 cm wide table can accommodate 6 guests.
- 150 cm is 8 seats.
- Width 170 accommodates 10 people.
For a family of 4 people, the best option would be an oval table 1100 x 900 cm. If there is not enough space in the room, you should not choose oval models that are too small - they can make the interior look incomplete. It is better to opt for compact square or round models.
Correct body position on a chair
The ideal parameters when sitting on a chair are the following:
- the table cover is 30 cm away from the eyes;
- the knees should be bent at a right angle and the entire foot should be on the floor, and the knees should be higher than the pelvis;
- there should be support in the lumbar region so that the muscles are not in a state of tension;
- the depth of the seat should ensure that there is no pressure under the knees;
- the distance from the knees to the inside of the table top should not be less than 10-15 cm;
- hands lying on the table top should not be raised upward.
To ensure that the workplace is not cluttered and your eyes do not strain when searching for the necessary items, the table must have a width of at least 50 cm.
When sitting, the upper body should not be tilted forward or thrown back. It is better when the axis of the back is at a right angle to the seat. However, when feeling tired, a person should be able to lean on his back to rest.
How to calculate the height of a dining table
People's heights vary greatly, but all standard tables have a height of 75 cm. This value is calculated for the average height of a person - 165 cm. Of course, if your height exceeds this figure by many centimeters, you will find it uncomfortable to sit - your knees will rest against the tabletop. In this case, you need to calculate the height of the table yourself.
To do this, you will need to multiply your height by 75 and divide by 165. For example, your height is 180. Multiply 180 by 75, then divide by 165. We get 81.8 - this is the ideal countertop height for you.
However, we have calculated the table height for only one person. In fact, in a family there are often people of different heights. In this case, you need to add up the heights of each family member (with the exception of small children, because they grow) and divide by 2. You will get the average height of family members. Next, based on this number, you need to make a calculation, as we did in the previous example.
For families with small children, children's chairs and tables with adjustable heights are an excellent purchase. As your baby grows, you can raise the base to adjust it to your baby. Such furniture is used for several years until the child becomes comfortable sitting at a regular table.
The importance of dimensions when choosing furniture
First of all, you should decide whether the furniture is being purchased for a specific person (for example, for a child’s desk or for a theater living room). If yes, then it is his build that should be taken into account. If the chair will be used by different people, the average parameters are taken into account. In this case, not only the height of a person matters, but also the length of his legs, the upper half of his body, the height and design of the table.
Incorrectly selected dimensions of a chair can cause pain in the spine, blurred vision, and rapid fatigue while sitting on it. If the legs do not reach the floor, the femoral arteries, which supply blood to the lower extremities, are compressed. As a result, a person experiences numbness in the legs, and subsequently has difficulty walking. A seat set too high causes the person sitting to slouch and bend his spine so as to bring his eyes closer to the table.
If, on the contrary, the seat is too low, then the person’s position forces the back muscles to be in constant tension, raising the body as high as possible.
Which table to choose for your site, garden?
In addition to size and functionality, it is extremely important to pay attention to the material from which the table you are interested in is made of. Here are the most popular solutions:
Garden table made from pallets
Such a table on the site will almost certainly not leave your friends and guests indifferent. Pallets are a creative and unusual solution. Moreover, you can make a garden table from pallets yourself.
The size and color of such a table can be any - it all depends on your imagination. Typically, for the manufacture of such tables, Euro pallets are used, which can be purchased at any construction market. It is enough to screw the pallets to each other using screws, and then varnish and paint. It's cheap, creative and very attractive!
Garden plastic table
Perhaps the most popular solution among Russian summer residents, largely due to the low price and large assortment of colors. In addition, plastic garden tables are usually very light, so they can be easily moved to the right place. In addition, plastic is easy to clean, and the tables themselves often have a special hole for a garden umbrella, creating a very practical summer set.
However, this is where the advantages of plastic garden tables end. Firstly, plastic looks rough, cheap and ugly. Such a table is definitely not suitable as an element of garden decoration. In addition, plastic tables can easily be blown away by the wind, and they can begin to crack in freezing temperatures.
In general, plastic is not the best material for garden furniture. First of all, you should not place such a table near a grill or fireplace, as the plastic may begin to melt. Keep in mind that many models of cheap plastic tables can melt even if a hot pan is placed on their surface.
Metal garden table
Such tables are much more practical and durable compared to plastic products. They also have a very aesthetic, slightly rugged look that will look great in gardens and areas with a classic design. In many models of metal tables, their top is made of fine mesh - it looks beautiful, and it is also a practical solution.
However, we should not forget about the disadvantages of steel and metal. When planning to buy a metal table for your site, be sure to pay attention to whether it has been coated with an anti-corrosion layer. Otherwise, such a table, alas, will quickly rust.
Another disadvantage of metal furniture is its weight. Steel tables on site are quite heavy, and sometimes it is problematic to move them to the right place. This is why they must be reliably protected from rain.
Rattan garden table
Rattan furniture is becoming more and more popular every year among Russian summer residents and gardeners. Such products are distinguished, first of all, by their lightness, as well as their resistance to water, wind and ultraviolet rays. In general, an excellent combination of factors for outdoor and garden furniture. This makes rattan tables a great choice for years to come because you don't have to hide them in the garage or cover them with a special tarp.
Moreover, rattan tables usually have a very attractive design. Many buyers specifically try to find rattan furniture with a lot of patterns. However, keep in mind: the more complex the design of such products, the higher the price. Some models of rattan tables are even more expensive than metal and cast iron products.
Another disadvantage of rattan garden tables is that it is a rather soft and lightweight material. Such furniture can easily be blown away by a strong gust of wind, and the tabletop surfaces can bend after a couple of years. Many homeowners find it annoying that rattan can turn a different color or become discolored over time. Additionally, if you are looking for folding tables for your yard, keep in mind that they are not made from rattan.
Glass garden table
We are, of course, talking about a glass tabletop, and the frame and legs of such tables can be metal or wood.
The main advantage of garden tables with glass tops is, of course, their extremely beautiful appearance. Such tables look very good in areas with modern landscape design. The glass itself is often tempered and additionally decorated with carvings, which creates a truly attractive effect.
When choosing a glass table for your site, be sure to pay attention to its strength. It is better to choose thick or reinforced glass.
Wooden garden table
Wood is one of the most commonly used materials in the construction of garden tables. Mainly because it stands out for its natural look, which is ideal for almost any home garden.
These types of tables can be made from many types of wood. If you are planning to buy a table for your property for several years, choose products made from moisture-resistant (larch) or exotic wood (teak, beech). Such tables are not afraid of downpours and rain, changing weather conditions and even mechanical damage (for example, if you dropped a sharp object). All thanks to the high content of so-called oily substances.
However, the higher quality the wood, the more expensive the table will be. For example, teak wooden tables are one of the most expensive on the market; such garden furniture will cost no less than 30-50 thousand rubles. If you are not ready to pay such amounts, pay attention to garden tables made of oak or walnut - they will cost much less. The cheapest wooden garden tables are made from pine and spruce.
And one more important point - when choosing a table made of wood, you should think in advance about protecting the wood from moisture, sun and harmful insects. To do this, you will need to purchase special varnishes and impregnations to protect wooden surfaces.
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