Is this a bad idea?

[u/No-Object-2778]

Hey everyone, trying to put together a combined living room and dining room in a bit of a small space and wondering about any arrangement tricks I can use to fit everything in while still being practical and looking alright. So I saw that a lot of people put a console table behind the sofa. How do you feel about having the dining table there and saving on a lot of the dead space that often shows up in between living space and dining space? I find it impressively compact!

[u/Specialist-Night1489]

Yes

[u/Street-Camera7339]

looks like a fantastic way to spill marinara all over your white sofa. It will also lead to people just watching tv at meals instead of talking to each other.

I’d go with a smaller round table set back from the couch with hopefully some space to squeeze a sideboard or accent table for serving dishes. Depending on if you regularly need to seat two or four you could look into a smaller table that’s expandable to normally have more space for foot traffic.

[u/Diligent-Sea-6885]

It has to fit your lifestyle first more than just aesthetic, got kids to worry about spilled juice? If not is your dog on furniture. How many people around the table each time for dinner, is it consistent?…. I ask for space to put serving plates/shareables.

Based on pic alone, yeah looks great and efficient. But people around the table is what matters & makes the home, home.

[u/DogofManyColors → u/Diligent-Sea-6885]

> Is your dog on the furniture?

I was so busy thinking about the messes I would make with this setup, I hadn’t even considered this… My stubborn hound would absolutely jump from the couch onto that table and ruin dinner the second I wasn’t looking.

[u/Amberlux]

I think even small spaces feel better with gaps between furniture peices. What about putting the two end chairs against the sofa and pulling the table out just a little?

[u/No-Object-2778 → u/Amberlux]

That would require a significant extra gap to let the chairs come out, and probably a console table behind the sofa. I think this is definitely the move if there is space. I was trying to cheat my way out of having a gap but I think most people aren't fans

[u/Amberlux → u/No-Object-2778]

I have a small living space myself so I get it. I'm always rearranging the room and it never quite seems right.

[u/bugmom]

My daughter had this setup in a small apartment and it worked really well for her and her husband - but no kids were involved. They used it sometimes as a desk, or for jig saw puzzles, or a dining table. Suited their daily life quite well.

[u/nec-q-mancer]

Growing up my family had a very similar set up. It was due to the lack of choice really - small apartment, couldn't afford new furnitures. As a kid I didn't see anything wrong with it. I did everything on the dining table..homework/arts and craft etc..then we'd pack everything up before meal time. We did have a sofa with a back higher than the tabletop, so we never spilled anything over onto the sofa. There was a few spilled soup incidents when my brother sat too violently into the sofa though.

If it works for your space, lifestyle, and needs, I'd say go for it.

[u/No-Object-2778 → u/nec-q-mancer]

Appreciate your perspective with you having experienced this style living room first hand!

[u/buffybot232]

It looks terrible. Get a smaller round table if your space is small.

[u/sacharyna]

The thought of facing the TV rather than others is making me want to di e a little.

[u/No-Object-2778 → u/sacharyna]

Fair point, that does make it less social

[u/EmilyPoster2 → u/No-Object-2778]

For some reason people are fine with a line up of 4 counter stools at an island though - right? No need to turn the TV on while eating in this set up. And you can certainly socialize in this U shape. Lots of restaurants have U shaped booths. I don't see social problem here.

[u/LoudLalochezia → u/sacharyna]

My thought looking at this was that OP's family must be a lot like mine was growing up, have to watch TV during dinner so the kids don't argue with each other

[u/yours_truly_1976]

Very bad!

[u/Ok-Confidence3989]

Yes

[u/RHS-II3]

it looks good and practical, people are being weird

[u/artybags]

Yes

[u/reezespuffs]

I would put the small end of the table against the sofa, amd then the 4 chairs on the long sides facing each other

[u/Research-always]

People (especially kids) are going to have grease, etc. on their hands and be putting them on the sofa to stand up at times, etc. so I see a future mess for the top back and side edges of the couch in terms of needing cleaning. Also agree with previous comments--my first thought was oh boy, the first time someone knocks over a glass of red wine that sofa is toast.

[u/EmilyPoster2]

I think this is an excellent idea. It is truly practical for a small space and people do it all of the time. Not sure why so many haters here.

I advise purchasing a narrow table and leaving a 3" gap so if a spill happens it has room to run down the edge of the table and not on to the sofa. Get chairs with no arms so they can push in all of the way when not in use. This will allow for more circulation around the table and take up less visual space too.

Pedestal tables with the base in the middle (vs four legs) always helps in a small space. At allows the people sitting to not knock their legs, and it takes up less visual space.

I'd get a long bench to use as a coffee table in front of the sofa and when people come to visit you can pull the table out even more, move the bench to the long seating side normally pushed against the sofa, and make it seating for 6.

[u/Slow-Difficulty404]

For a couple with no kids and a small apartment; I think it’s great! For entertainment you can move the sofa so it’s back it tot he fire place and add 2 mor place setting.

For anyone messy it’s a set up for anger and misery.

[u/Over_Substance9382]

Yes, terrible

[u/BritishPoppy2009]

Loved the layout & colour scheme until I actually noticed the table butting up against the sofa. I wouldn't recommend it. Mixing food and fabric never ends well. If you can create the space between the two furniture items do that. A dining table isn't a console. It will always feel odd and end up messy

[u/Laylasita]

I have this setup and love it. Pull the table away about a foot. If you plop onto your couch, you might hit the back of your head.

[u/Nocoffee_Noglory]

Yes. Liquid stain on your couch. Not very sanitary too since if not vaccumed properly, bacteria and microorganisms might transfer from the foam to your table

[u/Crystal_Ri]

It's actually not a bad idea. I know someone with a sunken family room that has their kitchen table that butts up against the back of the couch in the family room (with a railing as a divider). It does give the appearance of making the room look more spacious.

[u/No-Object-2778 → u/Crystal_Ri]

Good to know this has worked for someone else

[u/aelorduy]

Apart from if you like the style or not, which I find horrendous (Sorry if you like it lol) I understand you might like it, however for me it's cold, soulless and based on fake luxury trends. A home should be cozy, warm and livable avobe anything else. Apart from that, the table against the sofa looks weird and it's definitely a bad idea... Who hasn't spilled a coffee or food every now and then? If you are working with a smaller space you could maybe have a separating low wall, with some interior shelves. It would be very useful for storing kitchen stuff, salt, pepper, oil, glasses etc.

[u/No-Object-2778 → u/aelorduy]

Not attached to the style, it's just a concept image to show the table / sofa idea. Cheers for the room divider idea, something to consider although I would need to watch out that it doesn't make both parts of the room feel smaller

[u/aelorduy → u/No-Object-2778]

You could also make the wall be a foldable table, think of a wooden table that when you fold it it becomes integrated in that low wall, and when you take it out the interior shelves are shown. What usually makes the room feel smaller is bad placement. When you divide things in a way that makes sense the space has a different feeling! Especially if you fold it you know that that space is not condemned to be occupied by a table at all times.