Can You Use a Sofa Table as a Dining Table?

Hosting guests and having lively conversation around a dining table counts as one of the activities that makes entertainining so enjoyable. However, not all homeowners have a dining table for this purpose, or the table they do own will not accommodate the number of guests invited to the house. If this is the case, using other alternatives like the sofa table is acceptable, and, in fact, echoes the way guests dine in some Eastern decorating motifs. Does this Spark an idea?

The Setup

Using a sofa table as a dining table isn't a far-fetched idea. In fact, many decorating traditions, like Japanese decorating, actually encourage the use of tables that are no higher than the coffee table as part of their dining room decor. These styles make use of cushions positioned around the table to function as the seating. When using the sofa table, you can add cushions, but also make use of the couch and chairs you have around the table as well, depending on how high these furniture items sit in relation to the table itself.

Adjustable Tables

Some of the newer styles of coffee tables come with adjustable legs or pull outs, which give you greater latitude when trying to convert the sofa table to the dining table. The pull outs expand the actual amount of table space you have on which you can place dinner plates, silverware and glasses while leaving the center of the table free for the serving platters. The tables with adjustable legs raise up to dining table height, allowing you to scoot chairs underneath the table.

Protecting the Table

If you normally use the sofa table for other activities, you'll want to take steps to protect the table against scratches or burn marks from hot plates. Add a tablecloth to the table and place mats to each place setting before you lay anything else down on the table. These items will guard against scratching and provide the first layer of defense against the damage that hot cups or plates can do. Also look for wooden trivets or hot pads to put under hot dishes you have on the table; a large butcher block provides an even better option because of its thickness and portability.

Considerations

If you've only provided floor cushions for your guests, there will be some guests who will have difficulty with this arrangement. They may not have the ability to get up from the floor because of age issues or physical ailments. Several solutions exist for this. If the table is physically close to the couch, have the guest sit on the couch instead of the floor. TV trays set up next to a chair nearby will allow the guest to interact with the others while still acknowledging the limitations the guest faces.