Small Extending Dining Table

A small extending dining table is the only logical answer. It is a bit of a compromise, but a sensible one. You get a compact footprint for the 360 days a year you are just eating toast over the sink. Then, when you actually need to be a host, you pull the thing apart. It is heavy work. Real oak is like that. If you want something you can lift with one finger, go buy a plastic garden table. This stuff from Oak Castle Furniture is built to stay put. It is kid-proof, too. My own lot have tried to ruin my solid oak dining table with crayons and hot mugs for a decade. They have failed.

I get asked a lot if these tables match other bits in the house. Usually, people are trying to pair them with a Sideboard they already own. Look, wood is a natural product. It has knots. It has grain. It has character. It will not be a 100% identical match to your old Oak Sideboard, and if a salesman tells you it will be, he is lying to you. If you are worried about the finish, read my bits on Oak Sideboard Care. It tells you how to keep things looking decent without spending a fortune on fancy oils.

The mechanism on these tables is simple. I do not like over-complicated gadgets. They break. These use a straightforward internal leaf or a pull-apart system. It might be a bit stiff at first. That is just the wood being tight. Give it a bit of time, or a tiny smear of wax, and it will settle. It is not for everyone. If you move house every six months, do not buy this. It is too heavy for a van-man who is in a rush. But if you want to buy a table once and never think about it again, this is what you get. You can find more of this sort of thing in our Kitchen Furniture section. Or don’t. It’s your house.

Common questions I get asked at the workshop

How do I stop it from marking? Use a coaster. I know it sounds like I am being a nag, but heat and water are the enemies of wood. If you spill something, wipe it up. Do not let it sit there. A bit of Osmo oil once a year will keep the barrier up.

Will the extension leaf be a different colour? Probably, yes. The main table top gets light from the window every day. The leaf is tucked inside in the dark. Over time, oak changes colour with UV exposure. If you are worried, leave the table extended for a few weeks when you first get it to let the light hit it evenly.

Does it come with chairs? No. You need to pick your own Dining Chairs. Make sure you measure the gap between the legs of the table. Nothing worse than buying chairs that do not actually tuck in properly.

Is it hard to put together? I hate flat-pack as much as you do. Most of these just need the legs bolted on. It takes ten minutes. If you cannot manage that, you should probably stick to ordering takeaway.

Can I put it near a radiator? I would not. Wood breathes. If you put it right next to a blasting radiator, it might warp or crack. Give it some space. It is a living material, even if it is a table now.

“The table turned up on time and it is much heavier than the stuff I saw in the big retail parks. The extension part is solid and doesn’t wobble when you lean on it. Good bit of kit for the price.”

Anyway, that is about it. If you want a table that does not fall apart when you put a turkey on it, you know where we are. Shop our Kitchen Furniture or have a look at our Sideboards if you have more room to fill.

Dining Tables