Drop Leaf Tables

Drop Leaf Tables

The concept and design of drop leaf tables is actually pretty clever. The table itself can be pretty much any shape, but the most common are round, square, or rectangular. The drop leaf means that one or more sides, called leaves, can actually fold down due to a set of hinges holding the sections together and essentially make the table smaller. For support there is generally a single post in the center of the table, or two posts, but still toward the center. The leaves can only drop in as far as the posts are placed. If its a four legged table then the surface is either round or oblong and can fold down into a square shape.

Practical uses are put into play when there is a smaller seating area but you want a bigger table in the space to accommodate more people. By using this type of table you are able to have it fully up and in use during a meal, and then shrink it down to 1/3 to half its original size when you don't need it to take up quite so much room. Small kitchens, smaller dining rooms, and even a hallway often see this type of table being used simply for space saving reasons.

Most people would drop two sides of the table at once in order to reduce it to the smallest footprint possible. However, the practical application in a hallway would be for only one side to be lowered down, and put that side against the wall. The rest would stick out in a decorative fashion.

A drop leaf kitchen table is the most common kind, as a lot of kitchens weren't really built for eat-in use, they're just too small. But if a family wants to maintain that ability they can get this table and have it folded up and out of the way most of the day. It would only be fully extended when preparing for a meal.

My in-laws have a drop leaf coffee table which the kids like to play on. The hinges are a pinch point and we are always cautioning them to keep their fingers out of the cracks and hinges. No accidents yet, but it's definitely something to make them aware of.

The point for getting one of these is because need a table that plays double duty. It has to be big and small at the same time. That's why this drop leaf function is so neat. It actually allows it to be two things at once.

You can buy a table by itself, or as a set with chairs or bar stools, depending on the manufacturer and table heighth and purpose. Prices range from $299-$1500 depending on the size. They come in all variety of woods and finishes, some are painted to match the room.