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Original poster

Ceiling mounted table recommendations? Or is this a ridiculous idea?

22 replies

mynamechange94 · 27/02/2023 13:59

We have a double-height dining room and I am trying to make the most of space given we've just had a baby, so I was wondering about a ceiling mounted table that we could raise and lower as needed. Then, we could use the floor space for playing as the baby gets a bit bigger. A bit like this sort of laundry pulley. Has anyone ever done this, and if so who fitted it for you? Or, am I bonkers?

Ceiling mounted table recommendations? Or is this a ridiculous idea?
OP posts:
ClaraThePigeon · 27/02/2023 14:04

Having had one of those pulleys fall on my head from a height, which was painful enough, I can't imagine ever feeling completely relaxed with a whole table suspended above me.

MrsBunnyEars · 27/02/2023 14:07

I’ve seen them, but fixed to the ceasing rather than going up and down. I’d imagine the engineering to allow that, but without the wobbling you’d get from having it hanging, would be quite major!

Folding table might be easier?

ApolloandDaphne · 27/02/2023 14:15

A folding table would be a much better idea!

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Mamette · 27/02/2023 14:16

I wouldn’t risk having anything suspended above a space a baby is playing in.

MrsTerryPratchett · 27/02/2023 14:18

You can get very clever folding tables.

I wouldn't have a massive piece of wood suspended at height over my child.

TressiliansStone · 27/02/2023 14:21

I have a folding table on wheels, with chairs stored inside. It's ace!

Like these: homedesigninstitute.com/read_news/889/10_drop_leaf_tables_with_chairs_inside/

stopringingme · 27/02/2023 14:49

Can you imagine cutting your dinner up the table would be swinging about.

pawz · 27/02/2023 14:56

What about one of those large dresser style cupboards that pull out and have a table within them? Less fall risk!

verdantverdure · 27/02/2023 15:06

I think a gate leg table is a much less ridiculous idea.

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 27/02/2023 15:23

I dropped our dining room table on my foot last August, from a height of about a foot. My foot hasn't been the same since.

Don't do it.

Original poster
mynamechange94 · 27/02/2023 15:41

stopringingme · 27/02/2023 14:49

Can you imagine cutting your dinner up the table would be swinging about.

I wasn't planning to eat from it while it was suspended! I wanted one on a pulley so I could raise it and lower it as desired...

OP posts:
thisplaceisweird · 27/02/2023 15:42

so you want a table WITH LEGS suspended above your heads? nope.

ClaraThePigeon · 27/02/2023 15:42

I dropped our dining room table on my foot last August, from a height of about a foot. My foot hasn't been the same since.

OMG. Poor you. I can't imagine how painful that was.

Ewk · 27/02/2023 15:44

As others have said, get a folding table, things like this can break, you don't want a whole dining table landing on you.

BlueSeaWave · 27/02/2023 15:44

I wouldn’t risk it sorry.
there’s an avert going round my Facebook feed ab t a table that extends to sit 10 and fold to like a foot and looks decent which probably costs the same as the engineering required. If you’ve a double height ceiling could you build a platform or den/play area/climbing frame?

Augend23 · 27/02/2023 15:45

I was imagining a flat board suspended from the ceiling like a chandelier and given the answers I don't think I am the only one.

What about one which folds down from the wall? Might be easier to achieve and could probably be built bespoke if required.

I have a gate leg table which might also work quite well.

Littleflowerseverywhere · 27/02/2023 15:45

mynamechange94 · 27/02/2023 15:41

I wasn't planning to eat from it while it was suspended! I wanted one on a pulley so I could raise it and lower it as desired...

Show quote history

But surely it’s still suspended from the ceiling when it’s lowered?

if not do you just want ceiling storage for a table on some form of canti lever system, that will look awful , table hanging from the ceiling. I’d not want that where I had kids.

get a folding table.

derbylass81 · 27/02/2023 15:45

I think you're delightfully bonkers.

I'm picturing the scene in Mary Poppins at the old chaps house, where they are having tea up on the ceiling, laughing and doing cartwheels.

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 27/02/2023 15:45

mynamechange94 · 27/02/2023 15:41

I wasn't planning to eat from it while it was suspended! I wanted one on a pulley so I could raise it and lower it as desired...

Show quote history

So what is it lowered onto to keep it stable?
Do the legs fold up? Would you have a winch to get it up and down? Do you not worry it'll fall?

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 27/02/2023 21:23

derbylass81 · 27/02/2023 15:45

I think you're delightfully bonkers.

I'm picturing the scene in Mary Poppins at the old chaps house, where they are having tea up on the ceiling, laughing and doing cartwheels.

I can't tell you how much I have always wished I could do this. As a kid i would laugh myself stupid trying to float

parietal · 27/02/2023 21:28

in terms of engineering, it is very hard to build a mechanism that (a) raises / lowers the table safely & reliably and (b) holds it still to eat (not swinging around). If you have £20K to spend on specialist engineering, it could be fun. but I don't think you can buy the thing you want off the shelf.

search google images for 'suspended dining table' and you will see most are also fixed to the floor.

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