For those with space constraints, and that is nearly all of us, a folding table and chairs can be essential furniture. The ability to have them when needed and not to have to move around them when they are not needed is a great characteristic of this furniture.
There have been folding card tables and chairs for many decades. These sets allow a host or hostess to have many tables in play at the same time, whether it is a duplicate bridge tournament or a poker party. The size of the table allows enough room to play, but very little for extraneous objects, like drinks or bowls of peanuts. Those must be placed elsewhere, which also allows the greatest freedom of movement to the card players and prevents damage to the cards by knocking over a drink. Keeping any food and drink off off the table during play also prevents gumming up the cards. The table top is usually slightly padded and covered with a resistant plastic vinyl material. The chairs are also padded, more or less, an usually have the same material on the seat and back. The steel frame and legs of the table and the steel frame of the chairs are usually painted with enamel paint that resists some wear and tear, although intentional scraping will break the finish and begin the rusting process.
Another form of folding table and chairs is the heavy-duty table and chairs used in convention centers and recreation venues. These are sold separately, so you can get exact number of tables and chairs you need, even if that is one table and eight chairs. The table’s legs are usually paired in fold-up braces and the table is usually around twice as long as it is wide. Some are narrower, such that if people are seated on both sides they knock knees, so if you buy this type of table, use it for children’s parties or plan on seating people only on one side of the table. The narrow tables do make good serving tables as they can be put up against a wall and everyone can still reach everything on the table. Wider tables allow for seating on both sides, and are harder to reach all the way across, but if the food is duplicated, you can run a serving line down each side and serve more people in less time. These tables are heavy enough that two people are required to carry them from storage to the set up point, but they stand up to use well and will remain functional for a long time. The chairs are steel frames with formed seats and backs, and these are also made from heavy-duty materials, including the heavy-duty enamel paint applied at the factory, which will resist damage and rust better than that used on card tables and chairs.
There are folding tables that not only fold the legs up to the bottom of the table, but that also then fold the table in half, enclosing the legs inside and halving the length of the table for storage. These table are usually not heavy-duty, and therefore weigh less and allow one person to carry them. They make good tables for picnics and camping or for other occasional use scenarios, but they will not stand up to year-in, year-out use like the heavy-duty convention center furniture described above.
Finally, off and on, a folding table and benches much like a redwood picnic table is available. The benches are joined to the table and they fold up as the table legs fold. The final result is a relatively narrow package the size of the table top and five or six inches deep. Again, this is NOT made from heavy-duty materials, and is best used as a kids folding table and chairs. Most adults are too large and heavy to sit at the table comfortably. But this can be a useful addition to your household if you have kids and can find it.
Folding tables and chairs can be useful for family gathering, special occasions, or just to provide extra seating and table space as needed. Check out what is available, compared to what you need now and think you will need in the future, then buy the best table and chairs you can. They will repay your investment over time.
* * * See more about plastic stacking chairs. * * *
* * * You should also consider cheap folding chairs. * * *
* * * Folding outdoor chairs may be the best answer to your dilemma. * * *
* * * Options for bathroom storage. * * *
* * * Perhaps you can store your folding table and chairs in a beautiful new Rubbermaid shed. * * *
Click * here * to return to the home page.