When it comes to multi-generational homes, choosing a transformer table that morphs into multiple heights, sizes, or uses is easy when you know what to look for. For example a coffee table that expands out should be able to give grandparents an elevated surface so they don’t have to bend, slouch, and risk falling if they need to reach, and not require heavy lifting or latches that can be difficult with arthritis.
The same table must have locking mechanisms to keep little kids out if you store items inside, and be able to withstand wear and tear as kids may use the surface for arts & crafts, toys that can scratch the surface, and more. You also want something that works with your home’s aesthetic. That’s where we come in.
As a leading manufacturer of transforming tables, we design with your household’s needs in mind. This includes our coffee to dining tables, console to dining tables that expand to seat 12 or more, and extending dining table sets that are easy enough for a single person to use. To help ensure you know what to look for we considered the following to make our recommendations:
- Ability to modify and meet the usage of the rooms
- Safety for both the elderly and children
- Ease of morphing the table from one formation to another
- Durability to protect against spills, stains, and scratches
- Eating and relaxing height for all ages and purposes
What’s comfortable and efficient for one person may not work for another. Kids need low, sturdy surfaces for safety, comfort, or ease of use. Grandparents need more accessible tables and furniture that don’t require bending or twisting. Add in arthritis, limited mobility, messy playtime, and family dinners, and it’s clear why flexible, transforming tables make sense. Here’s what to look for by the type of table.
Coffee Tables
What to Look for
Coffee tables for multi-generational households should have:
- Surfaces that raise and lower so kids can play while sitting on the floor and grandparents can set drinks and the remote down without having to slouch or reach.
- Easy to lift mechanics or motorized ones to work with arthritis, but also have locking devices or safe guards if the kids are too little to operate it.
- Storage that can hold puzzles, games, books, and blankets so all people can access the items without having to walk to different rooms.
- Durable and easy to clean surfaces so kids can play and study, and spills are easy to clean.
The first type of coffee table to look for is one with multiple sections that lift or expand independent of one another. Your kids could sit on the floor and do homework on one side while your parents can have a raised surface about TV tray height to set drinks, books, or glasses on.
The heights to look for are 16” - 18” inches which is the standard height of a coffee table and works for someone seated, and a lifted height of 26” - 28” inches which is a standard TV tray height and makes resting items easy without having to lean, stand up, or risk falling.
Our Occam coffee table is a good example of an option that works when you have school age kids and grandparents living in the same home. You can pick right or left for the lifting side depending on where your parents sit, and the kids can keep the main surface area lowered or raised. Inside the middle is plenty of storage for school and crafting supplies, or games for family game night.
If you have a separate living space like an apartment for your parents so they can remain independent, go for an extending coffee table that turns into a dining table so they can save space and have both a coffee table when they relax and dining table if they have guests for card night or a dinner.
Things to Avoid
Tables that require deep bending or kneeling to use, and locking mechanisms or clasps that are difficult to unlatch can be hard on older adults with mobility challenges or arthritis.
While some may assume motorized models are unsafe, they can actually be a smart solution in multi-generational homes as the remote control can be kept out of a child’s reach and the transformation happens with the push of a button. Some modern tables may use apps and technology helping to add to ease of use and safety.
Kitchen and Dining Tables
What to Look For
Extending kitchen and dining table sets are the ideal solution for multi-generational households as they can expand for holiday meals and collapse for intimate dinners. Look for:
- Surfaces that are easy to clean including treated woods and non-porous materials.
- Light weight extensions and panels so they’re easy for adults of all ages to lift, place, and store.
- Simple extensions with mechanics that allow for a single person to move it to all formations.
- Out of the way storage for panels so they don’t become play toys or get damaged.
As your kids grow up they’ll be bringing dates over, and since your parents live with you, holiday meals just got larger so you’ll want seating for your siblings, cousins, and other relatives as they join. This is why an extending table works better than a standard dining or kitchen table. And the shape of the table matters as much as the size.
A round table has a larger surface area and because it does not have corners, more people can sit at once. The extensions take round dining tables to an oval shape which also allows for more people than a rectangle for the same reason, no corners blocking a seat. The lack of sharp corners and edges may prevent some boo-boos if your kids are playing or trip while in the room.
If you have your heart set on a traditional non-extending dining table, you can still host large gatherings. Console to dining tables are decorative pieces of furniture that begin as a display console for keys, a vase with flowers, or sculptures and extend to 6, 8, and 12 person dining tables. When you aren’t having guests it is part of the decor and functional furniture. When you’re having a party, it extends to a normal table size to hold presents and foods in a smaller setting, and an entire buffet for larger scale gatherings.
Our Junior Giant which you may have seen on social media or TV is a perfect example. It comes in classic colors like white and black and only takes up 15.75 inches when collapsed. As you need space, it expands to seat up to 10 people. This makes it perfect for kitchens as it can store in the hallway, living rooms as you can place it near the front door to set keys on, and family rooms because it can double as a desk when not in use.
What to Avoid
Check the weight of the panels and extensions before buying an extending dining table. You don’t want your parents to struggle if they insist on helping, or worse get hurt. It is also important to ensure they store away from your kids as they may try to play with them causing damage, and heavy panels can turn into a hazard.
Make sure the table is easy enough for one person to extend and collapse so you can focus on preparing for guests or cleaning up without having to wait for anyone else to assist.
Entertaining and Guest Tables
Just like above, console to dining tables are perfect when space is limited or you have more guests than your normal tables can seat. But they are not the only options as modern transformer tables have begun replacing the standard and unsightly folding table.
There are two types of tables that help with multi-generational households and entertaining.
Coffee tables that convert into dining tables and expand are the first. While kids play games, color, and have fun in one room, the coffee table can remain lower to the ground making it safer as they run and letting them stay seated for board games. This lets the adults enjoy sitting at the dining table and having a conversation.
As it is time for everyone to eat, the coffee table can remain lower to the ground or convert into a taller dining table and pair with folding chairs for a kids table or second adult table. There is no shortage of styles either.
Two of ours include the box coffee to dining table which is a sleek, sophisticated, and modern coffee table that lifts and expands to a rectangle that seats 10, and our Alazare square that starts as a coffee table, lifts and unfolds to create a square dining table that seats 8.
What to Avoid
When it comes to entertaining you’ll want space for kids to move freely without bumping into sharp corners or knocking things down. You also don’t want to have to find and move heavy folding tables and chairs when it is time to eat.
This is why coffee tables that lift and expand are the perfect alternatives to classic folding tables. They are quick and easy to morph into a dining table, then free up space so the kids can go back to playing after everyone eats.
The main thing to look for when picking tables for homes with multiple generations is safety for both kids and grandparents. This includes the height of the tables so kids don’t risk bumping their heads, while grandparents don’t risk falling when they reach and need something, and the ease and security of the expanding, lifting, and other mechanics.
