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Original poster

What do we do re our dinner table at Christmas?

43 replies

MorningActivity · 10/12/2025 11:14

We have a table that sits 4 people comfortably. The ends are round/oval.
There will be 6 of us at Christmas.
Any ideas of what we could do?

Id rather avoid getting a new table (or similar) just for that….

OP posts:
gogomomo2 · 10/12/2025 13:12

Piece of plywood on top with tablecloth over the top

CheeseIsMyIdol · 10/12/2025 15:24

BiddyPopthe2nd · 10/12/2025 13:07

Are you or DH any bit handy?

For securing a tabletop, I would get the bigger sheet of mdf, put it on the ground, turn the current table upside down onto it (nicely centred) and draw around that onto the mdf.
take the actual table off again, and even if it is only 6 or 8 short battens (pieces about 6 inches long of 2x2 wood - just cut down 1 (maybe 2) lengths of 2x2 from diy shop), make a bit of structure around the shape and screw down the battens to fit just outside your shape. (You need screws longer than your 2” battens but shorter than ( the 2” added to the depth of mdf,), mdf can come in different thicknesses).

Then, once you check on the floor that table fits into the structure, turn both right way up, and it should at least stop your top sliding on the table, and give something to attach a clamp to (you could use a cup hook on the outside of the battens and a screw on the inside of the table to tie something together to make it less likely to go up if someone leans on the wrong spot, as well…or use longer(deeper?) wood for the battens on the mdf to match the current table supports to clamp together).

I hope that makes sense, hard to explain without pictures.

It would be easier to go out and buy a folding table.

TheCorrsDidDreamsBetter · 10/12/2025 15:46

gogomomo2 · 10/12/2025 13:12

Piece of plywood on top with tablecloth over the top

This is what we do. Quick and easy, and we get the camping chairs out.

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StrawberrySquash · 10/12/2025 15:48

You can just stick a small square on next to the circle. Then cover with a tablecloth. Just make sure people know there's a bit of a gap before they put things down.

StrawberrySquash · 10/12/2025 15:51

@Ihateslugs that annoying point when the nephews grow man shoulders and this no longer works!

MotherofPufflings · 10/12/2025 15:56

We have a massive sheet of plywood that sits on top of our normal table when we have lots of guests over Christmas (it's actually 2 pieces because that's easier to store and manoeuvre).

We straps it down with ratchet straps. We got given ours by a kind lorry driver in a service station many years ago (long story) but you can buy them on Amazon. We cover the whole lot with a tablecloth, you have to be careful not to put something like a bottle of wine on the ratchet strap or it would tip over, but otherwise you wouldn't know that it's not a proper table. The plywood wasn't cheap but much cheaper than buying a massive table that only gets used for a few days a year.

TrickyD · 10/12/2025 16:04

I think you need to follow BiddyPop’s advice and find a way of securing the mdf or plywood to your table. Otherwise it will be very easy, with so many around it, to dislodge it with dishes falling off or spilling.
We have been there! .
Our dining table is an antique drop-leaf one, holding 8 at a pinch, but not the 12 expected at Christmas. So we collapse the leaves and put it against the wall making room for the long garden table to be brought in. Room for everyone.
DH has just spent a happy hour washing this ready for its seasonal and festive rôle.

Sonia1111 · 10/12/2025 16:08

I think you could still add a table or desk at one end, even if the ends are rounded on your normal table. It doesn't have to be perfect, just have something simple to say if it comes up. I've found it quite freeing to do things as I see fit and not overthink things too much as I've gotten older, after suffering anxiety for many years. I have a lot of judgemental family members, but honestly they will find something to criticise anyway.

Last was, after they invited themselves to stay, why were the Christmas decorations still up on Jan 2nd, and why don't I play Minecraft with the kids in order to bond with them, since the kids love Minecraft a lot. Answers were simple - I'm busy with the kids when they're off school and I'll pop the decorations away when school restarts, and I don't enjoy Minecraft but do loads of other things with them so our bond is quite good.

Original poster
MorningActivity · 10/12/2025 16:23

Thank you all again!
I agree re securing the plywood top if we go with option.

Dcs are young adults, both at Uni, tall, broad shoulders (just like dh). I can’t send them to a kiddies table or squeeze them between 2 adults 😁😁

And I need something that’s will last a week too. Just Christmas meal.

@BiddyPopthe2nd your explanation is very clear! Thank you.
(and yes dh can easily do that. If I can manage to convince him)

OP posts:
Original poster
MorningActivity · 10/12/2025 16:27

@Sonia1111 i sgree about doing things to suit ourselves too.
Something I’m not always very good at!

OP posts:
ByQuaintAzureWasp · 10/12/2025 16:28

Put an appropriately sized piece of board on top of the table and a table cloth

BiddyPopthe2nd · 10/12/2025 16:46

@CheeseIsMyIdol yes, but while a new folding table might be easier - what do you do with the existing table for a week of visitors? And even if it’s a faff to set up the first time, the plywood top customised for your own table can slide off afterwards and be stored behind a couch or under a bed for most of the year, but come out again when you next have a bigger crowd to feed. You could even think about starting to have dinner parties more frequently 😂

But just ratchet strapping down plywood/mdf works well too, as @MotherofPufflings suggests.

I grew up in a house with a small round table where a few more long ones were added from various places and copies of the national geographic places under table legs to get them all to the same height to expand a daily trio to a seasonal 24 seater table with one flat and one rounded end! And DMIL has a round one that has had the flat top treatment as well (so ask how I know the importance of it not moving…).

saveforthat · 10/12/2025 16:50

Years ago my Dad used to take a door off to use as an extra table.

friedaddedchilli · 10/12/2025 17:37

I screwed some battens to a piece of MDF (one on each side) to hold it in place on our existing table. Doesn’t help much if anyone leans on an “empty” end, but does stop it sliding off. We used to keep it under a bed throughout the year and only brought it out at Christmas. Make sure you get a thick enough piece for stability.

Original poster
MorningActivity · 10/12/2025 20:04

@damemaggiescurledupperlip that’s a really nice idea! But the price 😱😱

OP posts:
Wetcoatsandmudagain · 11/12/2025 00:34

MixedUp7 · 10/12/2025 11:22

Buy a piece of MDF and sit in on top with a table cover

We did this for years! Ours was chipboard I think as thicker. Lovely big tablecloth and no one noticed

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