Just moved house

What about a gateleg table that can be folded up and tucked against a wall when not in use and folding chairs, or keep the garden chairs near the backdoor so they can be brought in, given a wipe and used, then put back outside.

I saw on a TV programme the other day a gateleg table with collapsible chairs that slotted inside, that could be an option as it was quite small - if you Google table with collapsible chairs you should be able to see them.

You don’t say if your kitchen is 11 x 11 with units fitted or wall to wall, if it’s the latter then you really are best having a fold up table that can be put in your sitting room if and when you have company.

If you are refitting your kitchen , you could leave one wall clear to have a fold up table that you could pull out to eat on?

If the space available is very limited then a small conservatory or even a Pergola with sides and some form of heating for colder months might suffice, my SIL did this so that family could visit when we had the Pandemic as she didn’t want anyone indoors, but she left the sides opened!

Where do you both sit at the moment to eat?

I’m boasting a bit bit I’m really clever with physical space. 11 x11 is plenty big enough if you look around for other places to fit kitchen stuff and concentrate on making it an eating/cooking space.

In my last house I made a laundry cupboard under the stairs. That removed the washing machine and accoutrements. A unit in the living room took out loads of not very often used dishes from the kitchen etc.

In the end I didn’t need many units and could have a table for eight. And one wall was floor to ceiling units that took masses of stuff because I could use the table as a worktop instead of having a gap between, if you see what I mean.

Oh, I wish I could do a plan?

I used to have one of those gateleg tables into which four chairs stored. Folded it took up so little room, used to keep a vase of faux flowers on it. However, be warned, when open they seat four comfortably - but it is difficult to get any more chairs around them as the two longer sides are taken up with the cupboard space for the chairs so you cannot get peoples legs under there. Would be probably ideal to have for use in your kitchen, but may still need a proper table for larger family meals.

There are some lovely dining tables around these days, which add to any sitting room. I have a round one which will seat up to four comfortably as it is, and six - eight when extended. The extension is so easy, no lifting of anything. Something like that in your living room/lounge with four dining chairs around it, then you can always use the chairs from the folding kitchen table to give you up to eight places.

Hi there, here’s a link to Skovby, this company specialise in extending tables. The quality and design are superb.
I used to work in the furniture trade!
They are not cheap but worth every penny.

www.skovby.com/

Actually, in the long run (25 years) we gave up and extended the kitchen.

Hi lila. We found ourselves in the same predicament, it’s the only thing I don’t like about my house. Our kitchen has been refitted, we only have 5 x 5 left so no room for a table.
When we have people round we bring the garden table in from outside, our lounge backs on to the garden, so just have to get it through the patio doors. I dress it up then with a nice tablecloth etc. Apart from that, we use trays and sit on the sofa.

I think a lot depends on your layout, and storage.
I would consider an old-fashioned trestle table if you could have a cupboard (say outside the kitchen door) in which it could be stored.
Our kids have very happy memories of our Middle Eastern relatives who had very limited room in their flat. 6 adults squeezed round a tiny table, and 6 kids sat round a circular tablecloth on the floor. They ate 'Arabic' style - sitting crosslegged on cushions - all food was prepared or cut up so it could be eaten with fingers or forks. This was not a picnic 'free for all' but properly organised with good manners.

And I want to acknowledge what you are doing for the well-being of your family - this can't have been an easy decision.