The main problem of small-sized apartments is the lack of square meters. Therefore, the best option for such housing is ergonomic furniture. The use of functional and small models in the kitchen is especially important; for example, a folding table mounted to the wall will be an excellent solution that will save usable space without sacrificing comfort. When folded, it will not interfere with cooking or other manipulations in the room, and when unfolded, it will provide a standard place for lunch for the whole family. There are many models of such furniture on the market, so when choosing it, it is important to take into account many nuances.
Advantages and nuances of using the design
A folding table with wall mounting is a tabletop fixed with a special triangular or rectangular fastener. When closed, this design looks like a small bar. When unfolded, it looks like a regular dining table extending from the wall.
This model of furniture would be quite appropriate in the kitchen or on the balcony. Wall mount tables are popular due to the following advantages:
- Compactness. Such products, when folded, do not occupy a large area.
- Functionality. When unfolded, wall-mounted folding tables perform all the functions of stationary products.
- Stylish appearance. The models fit organically into almost any interior.
- Ease of installation. Folding tables with wall mounting are delivered to the buyer ready-made with full instructions. The owner only has to fix the product on a vertical surface, which does not require special skills.
A transforming table is more relevant for a kitchen where it is not possible to install stationary models, since it folds up and saves usable space. You can install a folding table in the kitchen on any part of the wall; the main requirement is that nothing prevents the product from folding and unfolding freely.
Transformable furniture will not hold tightly to plasterboard structures.
Compactness
Functionality
Stylish appearance
Ease of installation
The best manufacturers
Samples of folding furniture are present in the catalogs of leading domestic and foreign manufacturers. The most famous among them is furniture from IKEA.
The Ikea wall-mounted folding table is a welcome acquisition for any kitchen. The models “Norberg”, “Bjursta”, “Norbu” are especially popular.
"Norberg" when folded becomes a shelf for things; the model has a reliable plastic tabletop covered with melamine.
The “Byursta” model has a tabletop made of chipboard with ash veneer, and the “Norbu” model is made of natural birch. The dimensions of the models are presented in the table:
| Norberg | Byursta | Norbu | |
| Width, cm | 74 | 90 | 79 |
| Depth, cm | 60 | 50 | 59 |
| Minimum depth, cm | 10 | 10 | 8 |
All models have a durable metal table mount that is easy to attach. Thanks to the original design, the products will decorate any interior.
Materials
In addition to the dimensions, the material from which the table is made is important. Most often for the manufacture of such furniture they use:
- Plywood. Popular due to its environmental friendliness and low cost. Sheets are obtained by gluing 3 or more layers of veneer with urea resin. It can be used both in its natural form and after painting or veneering.
- Chipboard is the cheapest option; it is a board made of wood particles (sawdust, shavings) glued together with formaldehyde resin. It is easy to process; with the help of veneering and lamination, different textures of the material can be achieved.
- MDF is a board produced by dry pressing of tiny wood chips under high temperatures and pressure. Urea resins and modified melamine are used for gluing. When facing, dowels, plastic, and film are used.
The optimal material thickness for making folding tables is 19–23 mm. Brackets are most often used as a lifting mechanism, which are attached to the wall with dowels. Furniture hinges and screws are required for fittings. The tools you need to prepare are a screwdriver and a drill.
Plywood
Chipboard
MDF
Required materials and tools
Drawings of a folding table for the balcony
First you need to think through the project. You need to choose the material from which you will make the table, think about the appropriate dimensions and design features. Also at the preparatory stage you will need to prepare tools for work, fasteners and fittings.
Next, it is recommended to follow the instructions:
- The shape of the table is cut out. Usually they choose a semicircular one, but to simplify manufacturing, you can choose a square or rectangular one.
- Production and preparation of structural structural parts - so that the table holds well and can withstand normal loads.
- Processing of all workpieces. It is necessary to remove burrs and process the edges so that they do not leave splinters.
- Assembling the product, using purchased accessories. It should be noted that you need to choose expensive and high-quality fittings, even if the other materials are budget. The convenience and service life of the finished table directly depend on it.
- Final work, which includes the use of finishing materials, aerosols, paint and others.
Drawing selection
Before you make a folding table with your own hands, you should choose a folding mechanism. Then you need to draw a diagram of the product. When starting to make a folding table, it is important to create the drawings correctly. Of course, you can try to do them yourself, but it takes a lot of time and the likelihood of error is quite high. Therefore, it makes sense to find a ready-made drawing on thematic resources and adapt it to the desired dimensions. Many sites offer special calculators for this purpose.
For details you need:
- First, transfer the drawing in detail onto thick paper.
- Draw a sketch on plywood. For measurements you should use a ruler, square, level.
Once the image has been completely transferred, you can begin cutting out parts from the plywood sheet. For this purpose, special equipment will be required. If there is none, you can contact specialists. After sawing, you should treat the edges of the plywood around the perimeter with glue, this will help avoid shedding and destruction of the sheet.
If the material is purchased at a hardware store, you can usually order the sheet to be cut to your own dimensions.
Step-by-step master class on self-production
Wanting to save money, many people make a table with their own hands. This is not difficult, but requires compliance with certain requirements.
Wall mounted kitchen wall mounted
To make a folding table with your own hands, you will need to prepare plywood sheets; you can also use chipboard or MDF as a basis. Additionally, you will need screws, hinges, confirmations and anchors.
Manufacturing algorithm:
- Prepare a drawing of the model and parts separately. Moreover, it is necessary to draw a diagram according to the exact dimensions of the future product.
- To make a tabletop, use an electric jigsaw to cut the selected material, giving it the desired shape.
- Using a sanding machine, sand the edges of the product and cover them with special tape.
- Prepare supports. This can be a triangle or a support element in the shape of the letter P. For a small wall-mounted tabletop, a triangular-shaped support is most suitable. It is secured with a bracket on the wall and hinges to the tabletop. Using two strips on both sides, the structure can be strengthened.
- Attach the triangular support to the back.
- Mount the structure to the tabletop using hinges.
- Attach the wall table itself.
A suitable place to install a wall-mounted folding table is the wall next to the window sill.
Cut the material into the desired shape, process the edges of the product and cover it with special tape.
Prepare supports
Paint the parts, attach the triangular support to the back, mount the structure to the tabletop
Attach a wall table
Desk folding with cabinet
You need to prepare:
- sheet material for assembling the cabinet box, the thickness of which is at least 16 mm;
- a block for fixing the structure to the wall;
- chipboard or MDF sheets for countertops;
- strip for mounting the product on the wall;
- wooden beams for making supports.
In addition, you will need screws, furniture corners, and a bracket. The manufacturing process itself differs little from assembling a regular wall table, because the cabinet is a box without a back wall:
- The parts are fastened with self-tapping screws and reinforced with metal furniture corners. If desired, shelves and partitions can be secured inside the cabinet using corners.
- The tabletop is cut to the size of the previously made box. The edges are processed and secured to the bottom crossbar of the cabinet using brackets.
- Assemble a U-shaped support from the beams and fix it with loops to the tabletop.
- They make fasteners that will hold the tabletop in the assembled state. The table is ready.
Installing such a model does not require a lot of time and effort; the main thing is to choose the right place so that nothing interferes with the product’s unfolding and folding.
The built-in wardrobe can be replaced with a regular shelving unit.
Fasten the parts with self-tapping screws and reinforce with metal furniture corners
Cut the tabletop to the size of the box, trim the edges and secure it to the cabinet crossbar
Assemble the support and attach it to the tabletop
Make fasteners and install the structure on the wall
If desired, attach shelves inside the cabinet
Decorating ideas
The folding surface may well serve as an additional decorative element. Ideas for decorating such furniture:
- You can apply a painting to the back side of the tabletop, complement it with a painting or panel - when assembled, it will be a stylish decoration for the room.
- A creative solution would be to add a mirror to such a table. In such cases, a mirror surface is attached to the reverse side of the tabletop (the support legs, when folded, act as a frame).
- In addition, the back of the tabletop can be turned into a board for chalk or marker. To do this, an appropriate coating is attached to it. Such a surface will be a godsend for creative people, allowing you to conveniently take notes, and it is also suitable for children's games.
By showing your imagination, you can easily create a multifunctional piece of furniture from a folding table. The reverse side of the tabletop can be decorated with an author’s photo, an image of a pet, or you can draw your own unique masterpiece there. The main thing is that the homeowners like the decoration.
Making a folding table for the kitchen or living room does not require much time; even a beginner can install the product. However, the final result cannot but please us - the product saves space, has a stylish look and is convenient to use. A kitchen table of this type can act as a work surface for preparing or directly eating food. Folding tables are the optimal solution for small apartments, loggias, kitchens and other small spaces.
Design and mechanism
The tilting and folding mechanism for different models differs in accordance with the design features. Standard design elements: tabletop, fastening hinges and support in the form of a leg. The support is attached separately from the main structure; when unfolded, it is placed under the center of the tabletop. For additional fixation, a recess is provided, which increases the stability of the product.
In improved versions, the leg is pre-attached to the lid, and they unfold simultaneously. The mechanism consists of a stop, a special recess fixed on the back side of the cover, and a hinged mount.
Accordion models are very easy to use and can be quickly folded in one easy movement. Good stability is demonstrated by structures with a support in the shape of a right triangle with magnetic fixation. To fold the product, the tabletop is raised and the support is turned 90 degrees to the wall. The product is very reliable, but due to the presence of a rotating mechanism when folded, it protrudes from the plane of the wall.
Of interest is the design with stainless steel brackets. When you lift the tabletop, they unfold independently, forming a right angle. And to fold the product, you need to lift the lid and press the lever.
An original modification of the folding mechanism in the form of a gas-filled shock absorber is also used. The tabletop is mounted on hinges, with a shock absorber located underneath it. When unfolding, the gas activates the piston and the lid quickly and smoothly lifts up. A product with such a mechanism is very compact; when folded, its thickness does not exceed two centimeters.
