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I'm a design and food-obsessed freelance writer and market research analyst, and a stay-at-home mom.

Making Room for Family: 10 Tips for Maximizing Table Space this Thanksgiving (11 comments)

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We've all been there. Dinnertime, Thanksgiving Day. The sun's going down, streaming in through the windows, blinding whoever's unlucky enough to sit across from them. Everyone's rushed to the table to take their seats, and you've found yourself with the last one available. Unfortunately, it's the corner. The sharp corner. And you're straddling the leg.

Dealing with less-than-ideal seating arrangements is a rite of passage at Thanksgiving, but it doesn't have to be. In a perfect world, every guest will have about two feet of space to themselves. But the world isn't perfect - especially not on Thanksgiving.

But if you're hosting this year (or even just helping your host with the set-up), these ten tips will help ease those seating arrangement woes:
traditional dining room by Austin Patterson Disston Architects
1. Stick with the traditional. If you've got the space, keeping everybody at one table is an ideal situation. Even if you have to squeeze.
by Austin Patterson Disston Architects  
traditional dining room by Nicole Hollis
2. Think outside the room. This open space actually offers multiple options for expanding the dining area. Some guests can sit at the island, while the living room table can be converted to a perfectly sized kids' table.
by Nicole Hollis
eclectic kids by Esther Sadowsky
3. Set a fun kids' table. A kids' table is often necessary - so make it fun...so the kids want to hang out there, giving the parents a break!
by Esther Sadowsky
contemporary dining room by Taylor Lombardo Architects
4. Bench it. If your table is angular enough, replacing chairs with benches makes it easier to squeeze.
by Taylor Lombardo Architects
eclectic Ally's Seattle Home
5. Head outside. Granted, in most of the country, Thanksgiving dining al fresco is not an option. But if it is, you'll have even more space to extend your table.
Ally's Seattle Home
eclectic landscape by AHBL
6. Play up the linens. Sometimes, you just have to push together a bunch of mismatched tables. Soften the transition with bright tablecloths. Festive and functional.
by AHBL
eclectic dining room living space
7. Willfully mismatch. Don't have enough matching chairs for your guests? Don't worry about it. Eclectic is fun.
living space
dining room Dining Room
8. Use every corner. Even if it's only a tiny spot, every corner is a good spot for a table - especially if that corner has a built-in window seat!
Dining Room
dining room Dining
9. Work the sofa. This might be a window seat - also a great seating option - but imagine it as a sofa. Your guests won't even have to leave the table for their post-meal naps.
Dining
traditional dining room by Sullivan Conard Architects
10. Island up. Make great use of that island - even if you make it the kids' table. They'll love it.
by Sullivan Conard Architects
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dana29 says:
I like the bench idea. I have two big ones at the patio and I'm now thinking to use them instead of my dining chairs. Great idea!
That's a fantastic switch. You can always put throw pillows or blankets on them, too, if you want to dress them up a little.
oldcharm says:
I use three tables and cover them all with one beautiful tablecloth. Thanks for sharing all these beautiful photos and great ideas.
Love that white kitchen and table! All of these are great ideas.
Benches are great space savers.
kadarke says:
What great ideas and beautiful pics! Thanks for sharing!
pwalter says:
Here in Phoenix, outside is definitely an option. I love all the eating areas you have featured! www.satisfiedsole.com
We go with the kids' table. Great ideabook!
jr_nuerge says:
If you are handy or someone in the family is, ask them to make a wood extension to one end of your dining room table and cover with a large tablecloth(s). The extension can have folding legs for easy storage. Use salvaged wood for an eco-friendly option!
JR Nuerge
Eco-friendly+Eco-nomical=Eco-fabulous!
http://www.jrnuerge.com
kim says:
Great ideas. My favorite photo is the one by Taylor Lombardo Architects- rustic and elegant at the same time.
Web casting, or http://www.vsworld.com/?loadSwf=swf/streaming.swf broadcasting over the internet, is a media file (audio-video mostly) distributed over the internet using streaming media technology. Streaming implies media played as a continuous stream and received real time by the browser (end user). Streaming technology enables a single content source to be distributed to many simultaneous viewers. http://www.vsworld.com/?loadSwf=swf/streaming.swf Streaming video bandwidth is typically calculated in gigabytes of data transferred. It is important to estimate how many viewers you can reach, for example in a http://www.vsworld.com/?loadSwf=swf/webcast.swf live webcast, given your bandwidth constraints or conversely, if you are expecting a certain audience size, what bandwidth resources you need to deploy.
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