Dining Tables That Can Double as Desks

"When I was transferred back to California, I went from 2,500 square feet to 1,000 square feet," says a contributor to HGTV's "Rate My Space" website. HGTV offers many helpful tips for adapting to smaller living spaces, such as making your furniture do double duty. For example, transform your dining table into a work space by having it do double duty as a desk. Design, durability, table surface and size are all important factors in selecting the right table. Does this Spark an idea?

Table Design

Smooth, rectangular surfaces work best for a dining table that will also serve as a desk. The table height required for seated office work is different from that required for eating, however. Consider purchasing a table with tubular legs that allow you to adjust its height. You can also fashion a desk from a drop-leaf table by raising one or both of its leaves to create a work space. Yet another option is a rectangular table with hidden pull-out leaves at each end that can expand the tabletop into a dining table.

Table Surface

Extra wear and tear is an important consideration when a dining table does double duty as a work space. The tabletop must be durable enough to withstand the weight of a computer and desk paraphernalia. Although expensive, marble is durable and has a protective coating that resists wine and coffee spills. Another option is a table with a glass top. The Double X ClassiCon glass-topped table with an X-shaped frame provides maximum support and stability. Chipping and fingerprints are a problem with glass surfaces, though. For both glass and finer wood surfaces, consider using a desk blotter.

Size

If you have a formal dining room, you may have a larger table that not only can seat six to eight but also function as a work space, especially if the dining room is underused. Select a dining table with drawers beneath the tabletop for storing office supplies. In smaller spaces, opt for a drop-leaf table. "Apartment Therapy" offers a drop-leaf table called a "disguised desk" that can accommodate four to six people when the sides are lifted.