Making Swivel-Top Extendable Dining Tables Work in Long Narrow Rooms

Long narrow rooms are common in UK homes, from Victorian terrace dining rooms and galley kitchen diners to side return extensions and new build open plan spaces. A swivel top extendable dining table suits these shapes well, because it stays slim when closed and opens into a square or wider rectangle only when guests arrive. We explain how the rotating and folding mechanism works and why the width of a table matters more than its length in a narrow space. We show how to measure the closed footprint, the open footprint and the overlooked rotation space, then walk through layouts against a long wall, at the widest end of the room and in a side return. You will also find seating strategies using benches, slim chairs and banquettes, ideas for using the closed table as a console or desk, techniques that make a narrow room feel wider, materials that keep the space light and care for the swivel mechanism....