I want a Christmas table

[Wishmas]

I don't have a dinning table . I have no room for one. Not even a folding type. We normally eat dinner on our laps. But I would love to have a Christmas dinner table with everything nicely set out. I did look into hiring a table but it's expensive. I look on amazon at folding picnics type tables but they are quite narrow. And time I find chairs that will work it will probably be expensive. I need to seat 8 people. In reality it's for 1 meal . But I just wish it could be nice at a table.

Could you buy 2 trestles, and a sheet of plywood? Dress it up with a nice cloth and nobody will notice. Store the plywood under the bed when not in use. The trestles can go behind the sofa. Use folding chairs as well.

Yeah I think your right. It's silly really . I been watching to many Xmas Dinner adds.

I won't be moving. As I'm in council. No one can host as adult dd is simlar situation but smaller place . Ds is in a studio. In reality it's not worth it

Where are you? Just wondering if there's a MNer who could lend you a garden table or similar.

Can you ask some of your guests to bring a chair with them? Then look at the folding table which was suggested up thread ( I have one and they are really good).

or go Japanese and sit people on cushions at a low table (or piece of wood on some blocks) which is what I used to do when I lived in a tiny bed sit

Could people bring a chair of you got a folding catering/buffet table? I have some emergency grey metal folding chairs for Argos (Habitat), that are perfect for things like this.

@londonmummy1966 has provided a great idea. Not all local halls are run by the church, my local halls and centres are community managed and a couple do lend out tables and chairs for the community to use.

Thank you for everyone's suggestions I think @Flickersy is right. As much as it would be nice it's not worth the money and stress for the sake of one meal.

It's not silly at all. It's just sometimes it's best to be pragmatic even when you really don't want to be.

Hopefully once your children are older / more settled they can host and you can have the lovely Christmas table you want.

Have you googled hiring? This sort of thing? www.thenorthernentertainmentco.co.uk/category/add-ons/146/6-ft-table-hire

Bugger being traditional, just do you. Try to make it fun and think outside the box.

I used a plastic garden table with table cloth.

There's a place near me that will hire out trestle tables and chairs for a very reasonable price. It would be worth taking a look!

I have not sat at a table for Xmas Dinner since I was a child . Mu kids never have . Oh well . No one even cares to be honest

@Wishmas I'm in my 50s and it's only in the last ten years that I've had room enough for a table. We always made the most of what we had. I understand that you're not me and there's nothing wrong with having a good moan about your situation.

I can’t imagine not having a table - would prioritise that over a sofa. It sounds like you could just fit one in so I would get a small extendable one and some stackable stools. My dining area is not very large so I also have a bench that slides under the table when it is not being used. It’s just a cheap one from ikea but looks good. IKEA is great for the kind of thing.

We always use different things to make a big enough table. Previous years have been fold down tables, wall paper tables and garden tables or big pieces of woodon a smaller table.
Chairs again improvised, some folding ones, some people bring their own chair, computer chairs, stools.
I think most people have to make do on Christmas day unless they live somewhere huge or limit who they invite to how big the table is! Whatever you do be grateful to have this problem rather than be lonely at a big empty table.

This looks great
https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/vangsta-extendable-table-black-dark-brown-10420152/

2 trestle tables from Ikea, or wallpaper trestles, lift off a door, buy some Xmas fabric, or nice table cloth... Done

No I really don't have the room . I have a large corner sofa. Which I'm still paying for. Which is needs that takes up 2 walls. The other wall has a floor to ceiling unit. which is new. The last wall is all windows. Plus a table would not even get used after Xmas day.

Do you have space for everyone to sit on the sofas to eat? If so, don’t worry about dining chairs, just get a table to go in the middle of the room (even a large coffee table would do) and make that look nice.

You can still decorate it and put the food on there, and then everyone can help themselves and sit on the sofa.

Put a post on your local facebook freebie page or check Freecycle. Use the table for Christmas and then stick it back on there when you’re finished with it.

I might get room in 10 years 😅 abd yes your right we can maje the most of it. We are in a better position that a couple of years ago so I should take that on board. No one special is coming I don't need to impress anyone its just me and my children. Would be better to spend money on the heating

We have a set like this for when everyone is here for Christmas. The rest of the year it lives under DS's bed.

https://vounot.co.uk/products/folding-table-bench-set-trestle-portable-party-picnic-bbq-camping-set-white

Once for a large holiday meal I bought folding trestles at a screwfix type store, then removed some of the hollow core doors to lay across (in a newer house they will often lift off the hinges). I unscrewed the handles and got some big paper tablecloths, worked like a charm !

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394701962357?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=CaVMeYtNRcy&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=3DtzRaRQT6C&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

I used to have one of these. Had it for years. Chairs fold and tuck away inside it No room needed at all.

How about getting an old fashioned drop leaf table from a second hand shop or eBay/marketplace. They have a very small footprint when folded up but can be a good size with the leaves up.

This kind of thing Table