Transformable table for a small kitchen. / How to choose? Photo.

Furniture that can be transformed has gained enormous popularity not only among owners of small homes, but also among owners of spacious apartments who, for various reasons, are interested in saving internal living space. And here the options with the use of various types of transformable tables come first, allowing you to easily and quickly solve the problem of optimizing the use of every square meter of any room.

Advantages and features of coffee tables with a lifting top

The main feature of the product is the presence of a mechanism responsible for changing the height of the tabletop. Many models have several fixation points, which allows you to choose the optimal position as you wish.

A lifting coffee table provides the user with a number of advantages.

Compact dimensions make it possible to leave more space in the living room for free movement.
One design takes on the functions of a dining table, a work table and a coffee table.
These models are distinguished by an unusual design.
Transformation occurs easily and quickly.
It is possible to lift a separate part of the surface.
The products can be called affordable, taking into account their high functionality.

However, there are also weaknesses. Increasing the complexity of the design increases the risk of failure. The presence of additional parts increases the weight of the product. Non-standard parameters can cause poor posture.

Types of lifting mechanisms and operating principle

Lifting the tabletop is provided by 2 types of mechanisms.

The gas lift operates smoothly. Shock absorbers slowly push the cover to its highest point. You can pause the movement in any position by releasing the pedal. This device is considered reliable and durable, but if it breaks, it will have to be replaced.
The springs are hidden in the body for the time being. They are activated by pressing a lever. Reassembly requires effort.
The tabletop can be raised by changing the position of the X-shaped supporting elements. A similar operating principle is present in the ironing board. Pressing the lever releases the fastening bar and allows it to slide freely along the guides. As a result, the angle between the legs changes and the work surface rises or falls.

I bought a desk with height adjustment for standing work. Was it worth paying $1000+?

Hello, dear readers of the site Uspei.com. Do you know why I did this? I have the opportunity. In fact, this thing can lift over 120kg, a lot more. The guys lifted 170, I think.

This is my old workplace where I have been working for more than two years. It is based on an Ikea tabletop 150 by 75, which is the perfect size, by the way. Well, at least for me. For $60. It's made of pressed cardboard, and under the weight of the iMac, the middle of it bent and the legs moved apart.

Nobody chewed the sides. The rest of the damage is my fault, but you can probably imagine how thick the fiberboard coated with acrylic paint is. Overall a sad sight. Cheap and cheerful.

The question arose - buy just a table with a better quality tabletop, or think about your health and improve your life, because usually I don’t limit myself to an hour-long working day, sometimes I have to work 10, 12, and sometimes even more hours.

Yes, I simply caught myself thinking that my butt hurts from sitting around, especially when you write on camera or record sound, you have to do it on a stool or chair so that nothing creaks.

Well, sometimes you start to fall asleep, especially during editing or when cleaning the sound. This happens when you haven’t gotten enough sleep or are very tired, but you have to work. Then there are articles about health, forums like Habr and, of course, reviews.

And this is complete cruelty. Sitting is harmful, standing is harmful. Ideally, lie down, but this is expensive and takes up a huge amount of space. Therefore, I focused on tables with height adjustment. And alternate - sometimes standing, sometimes sitting.

Regarding the company and model. It's all individual. I settled on the Terra model from Ergostol. I found the company in the reviews of some IT specialist on Habré.

As far as I understand, the site’s policy prohibits publishing the name of the brand and attaching links, so somewhere in the two hundredth comment the author split and wrote what kind of brand it was.

In this review, I’ll tell you how much it costs, why this particular model and how this whole thing works, because there are few sensible reviews on the Internet, and you, my dear readers, based on this, will at least know what to start from, because there are no analogues I haven't tested it and have nothing to compare it with in practice.

Frame

The main thing in this matter is, of course, the frame. It can be raised using a handle, I say hello to the crooked starter. It's cheap, but really lazy, and uses one or two electric motors. They differ in carrying capacity.

In addition to the sitting tabletop and monitor, you can attach a system unit to it, or maybe a bedside table, or even organize a workspace for two. My frame extends and you can install a tabletop up to 2.4 meters, which is 2 full-fledged workstations.

Plus I wanted reliability. Because the frame is bought once and, I hope, for life, but the tabletops can already be changed. The frame itself cost about $860 excluding delivery . That's another $45.

It comes in three colors - white, black and silver . Black is very stylish, but you will simply get tired of wiping the dust every three days, which is very visible on it. Therefore, if it is not important for you and there is no connection with the interior of the room, it is better to take white.

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By the way, there is also a Terra R model, it has round legs, not square ones like mine, and in this part there are roundings, but here there are clear corners. As my wife says, right angles are always in fashion . But that's not all.

Tabletop

I’m not used to choosing tabletops offline, because I always want to feel the material, and ideally take a sample, come home and see how it will fit into the interior, so I ordered it at a local sawmill.

This is an 18 mm chipboard egger with German roots and Russian production, glued with a simple board to obtain a thickness of 36 mm. I liked the fact that the texture here is like wood and is inexpensive. Tactile pleasant material. Cost about $55.

It makes no sense for me to buy natural and quite expensive oak or maple, simply because the tabletop constantly flashes in the frame, and after a year or two you will become tired of it. I'll throw it away and order a new one. And I won’t regret the money spent.

By the way, the tabletop itself weighs almost 30 kg. Just like at Apple, the last of the money is spent on accessories. For successful cable management you will need vertical and horizontal cable channels.

In general, it is very expensive, it is better to buy accessories in China. But I was already running out of time, and in general I would like to quickly get this whole thing together and work normally.

Plus, you usually get a discount for large orders. Plus I received a discount for mentioning the brand in this review. And you will get it if you decide to buy a table from this brand.

Assembly

We'll talk about accessories a little later. About the assembly. For the nth amount you will be deprived of the pleasure of assembling the table yourself. There is nothing complicated about this and with the instructions included in the kit, if not all, then many will cope. And everything will take a maximum of an hour.

The only thing is that you will need a second person in any case, since the weight of the frame is almost 40 kg, plus the tabletop is screwed to it and in total you will need to lift almost 70 kg. By the way, if you didn’t pay for the climb to the floor, then also call for help.

The nice thing is that the kit includes everything , including self-tapping screws for the countertop. And it’s not like you buy furniture from local manufacturers, assemble it yourself, and not only are there not enough parts, you also have to finish it with a file. The engineer's mystery remains 12 extra screws.

It turned out that if you order a tabletop from Ergostol, it will already have all the necessary holes. No self-tapping screws are needed.

The frame is thought out to the smallest detail. The thrust bearings can be unscrewed to adjust the height. The construction level approves. The table top is secured using rubber washers. Nice. The kit even includes ties with fasteners on double-sided tape for fixing cables running under the tabletop.

Since the frame extends to accommodate different widths of tabletops, the question remains: how far to extend it. Do not forget that when raised the frame is visible more, so it would not be a bad idea to recess it from the edge of the tabletop by 15 centimeters.

By the way, the control panel can be embedded into the tabletop rather than screwed in, but take care of this first. For this purpose, the instructions have special dimensions for the hole.

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And if you can quickly master the assembly, then proper cable management will take quite a lot of time. Because here you need to take into account both ergonomic and style issues.

Buying a cable channel is a must ; in fact, you should only have one wire hanging from the table, going into the socket; it is better to keep the rest screwed to the table.

I had an Ikea mesh on my old desk, but it’s not good for anything other than wrapping wires.

This height here is quite small and it’s simply inconvenient to put a normal surge filter and stick something on top, you have to farm something or tilt it, or, like me, bend these things, take it beyond the plane of the table and put the filter there. In general, this is inconvenient.

Among the accessories of the ergostol we found such a box and a similar mesh. Firstly, there is an adequate height from the tabletop, and secondly, you can remove one side and conveniently arrange the wires or insert a plug.

I thought for a long time about taking a net or a box and I was right with the box. When raised, if you have a sofa, you will see all the wires on the grid and this is unaesthetic. And the box neatly hides them.

I doubted the purchase of this python for a long time. I have an iMac, and underneath there is a bedside table that houses an uninterruptible power supply and an external RAID array.

It is very noisy, so I custom made a bedside table with an opening back cover on magnets and a hole for ventilation. And the whole thing makes less noise and looks nice, and an additional drawer has appeared.

And because of this, I have not just one cable going down, but quite a lot: this is a cable from the aimag, a control cable from the uninterruptible power supply to the aimak, a cable from the RAID array, an audio cable with an XLR interface for connecting a microphone or a gun (also essentially a microphone) and also a cable from the surge protector.

So the best solution was to buy this python from Transformers.

But its fixation needs to be thought through. There must be enough length for all the wires with a reserve, and this is very important, and the cable channel itself is not very flexible and it still needs to be fixed to the floor. It turned out like this.

Beauty? In general, at first it’s better not to screw everything tightly and test it for a while, because the wires will start to stretch due to the fact that the table is constantly rising or falling and it is possible that a better solution would be to twist the cable channel in some other way or pull wires through other links.

In general, I would like to see the python itself, so that it is made not of plastic, but of metal, by the way, many wrote about this in reviews. But it is what it is. On the other hand, who else besides you will climb under this table?

The frame itself contains two motors and a remote control connected to an adapter. At first, the frame vibrated a little when raising and lowering, but this was only a dozen times until the transparent lubricant spread over the support. There is no need to wipe anything here.

And you also need to know the time of raising or lowering. I measured not from the end positions, but from two working positions - sitting and standing, that is, in practice.

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My frame rises from 70 to 111 centimeters in just under 15 seconds. During this time you can warm up a little, for example, do squats. The sound of the engines is audible, it is not loud, below average, and not annoying.

Control

Let's move on to the controls, or rather to the organ, there is only one here. The remote control is stylish. Made of tactilely pleasant matte soft-touch plastic. It's a pity that the remote control has only one color - black. A white remote control would be ideal for a light tabletop and a white frame.

On the other hand, black color is more practical, fewer fingerprints will be visible and it will also be less dirty, because your hands will not always be perfectly clean.

The panel contains up and down buttons, a monochrome display with the current displayed height, two memory buttons M1 and M2, which remember the current value of the table when held for a long time, more than 5 seconds, and a Home button, which always returns the tabletop to a height of 72 cm.

I would like 4 memory buttons. This will be relevant for two people who work in one place.

The locking mechanism against accidental clicks is that when the display is inactive, the M1, M2 and HOME buttons do not work. You must first press the up or down button until the display lights up, and then everything will work.

The locking mechanism is not always effective. My wife often comes up to me when I’m sitting at the computer, rests her hip, of course, on the remote control and after some time the table begins to move up or down, causing bewilderment in my wife and irritation in me.

The table also has a collision protection system when lowering or raising. In general, of course, I decided to check the whole thing, crossed my legs, that is, it is higher than the lower position of the tabletop, pressed the M1 button so that it began to lower and it did not stop on my leg and I was almost left without any workpieces.

But this is so, an everyday moment. For the future. The function is designed to protect the electric motor from strong resistance. For example, one that can be made by a bedside table standing under the table.

The remote also has settings. Among the useful ones is setting the maximum or minimum possible height of the table to which the frame will rise or fall.

Let's say I'm working at 111 cm in the top position, and after 115 cm the cables begin to get too tight, which can damage them. So I set the maximum value to 112 and when I press the up arrow the frame will not move. A very important option.

Experience of use

A little about the experience of use. I'm more than happy with the table. In the upper position, the table, if it wobbles, is just minimal. Of course, I looked at other reviews on the Internet and, you know, not in the most budget desks, in the upper position the monitor wobbles so much when working that it’s probably not very comfortable.

In 3 weeks of use, I have never regretted the appearance of a new workplace. Yes, it’s expensive, but you read posts on forums from experienced IT specialists and you understand that this is an investment in health, especially since I hope the frame is bought from me for many years, I plan to change only the tabletop. The manufacturer provides a three-year warranty. We'll see how it will happen next.

I hope that my experience in setting up and using a height-adjustable desk was useful to you.

Tags: household appliances

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Shapes and sizes of lifting coffee tables

The choice of tabletop shape determines the availability of free space, the configuration of other pieces of furniture, and the style of the interior.

The classic coffee table has a rectangular top cover. This option allows you to place a large number of objects on the surface.

If there is a space issue, it is better to look at the square model. The product looks compact and is usually equipped with a folding tabletop.

Smooth lines are inherent in round and oval tables. They are able to visually expand the boundaries, look more comfortable and safe. The limitation for using items with a circle tabletop is the lack of space.

A coffee table with a lifting mechanism can be of any size.

If we talk about standard parameters, they have the following meanings:

height from 40 to 50 cm, but there are also low structures (from 15 cm);
the maximum rise reaches 75-80 cm;
The average dimensions of a rectangular tabletop are 120x60 cm, and a square model is 80x80 cm, but other ratios can be found.

Manufacturing materials

For the manufacture of the table, reliable materials are selected that ensure a long service life.

Wood is the best option. Its advantages: external beauty, environmental safety, ability to withstand significant loads. Weaknesses: high cost, massive design, the need to maintain optimal temperature and humidity conditions.
Chipboard and MDF, thanks to the decorative veneer and laminate coating, look quite attractive. Unfortunately, models made from wood panels cannot boast of a wide variety of shapes.
The glass tabletop gives the product airiness and makes the room brighter. The disadvantage of glass models is the price and the need for constant maintenance.
The plastic surface will delight you with a variety of shades and shapes, but does not withstand mechanical stress. Contact with hot objects can cause deformation of the material, and sunlight can cause a change in color saturation.
Metal is mainly used to make the frame.

Photos of do-it-yourself folding tables

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Additional equipment

Additional equipment increases the functionality of the product.

Open shelves will help compactly store items that are used regularly.
It is recommended to fill closed compartments with things that are needed periodically.
The drawers are convenient for storing useful little things.
If you plan to frequently move the product from place to place, then you should choose a table with swivel wheels. This design will provide good maneuverability.

In addition to these elements, a lifting coffee table often has an insert to increase the working surface or a double tabletop.

Instructions for use and care

The transformer model will serve for a long time if you ensure proper operation and reliable care.

If the product mechanism is inactive for a long time, its performance may deteriorate. It is recommended to develop it periodically.
To facilitate the movement of metal elements, applying a small amount of special lubricant (for example: silicone) to the hinges and spring hooks will help.
Loose threaded connections are inspected and tightened every six months.
During folding, avoid getting foreign objects into the transformation device.
A model without wheels must be carried by several people, and you should refrain from moving on the floor.
The load is distributed evenly over the entire surface of the tabletop to avoid deformation of the base.

Care products are selected depending on the material of the product.

Types of models based on the principle of transformation

As mentioned above, there are a variety of types of such furniture on sale. Let's look at the varieties in more detail. Usually divided according to the method of unfolding.

Wall model. Looks like a table on a train. A small tabletop is mounted on the wall. There must be a folding diagonal support.
Hinged lid. In this case, the table is not attached to the wall, but folding also occurs by lifting it vertically, only downwards.
Combined with a window sill. In fact, the tabletop is a continuation of the window sill after unfolding. Depending on the size, it can be raised or pulled out. The main advantage is the ability to use natural light. Sometimes they are combined with pencil cases along the edges of the tabletop.
Some transforming tables resemble a bar counter. They are located along the wall; if necessary, the tabletop can be moved apart. Combined with various storage systems or niches for built-in appliances.
Pull-out shelf. Usually such a tabletop is part of a cabinet.
Roll-out table. Consists of two parts. The second component rolls out from under the first tabletop. Depending on the specific model, it can rise to the same level as the main surface or remain low.
Table-book. It has folding side parts of the table top. They are attached to the middle part, which is usually not very wide. If necessary, the sides can be raised separately; a retractable leg is placed under each.
Folding table. The tabletop has two parts; when folded, one lies on top of the other. If necessary, the upper half folds out to the side, doubling the size of the table. The disadvantages of this solution include the massiveness of such furniture.
Extendable table with inserts. Depending on the modification, they can be placed in the center or at the edges, as a result of which the small table becomes much larger. Unfolding can occur by turning or pulling out the additional section.

In general, a transforming table is a fairly broad concept, which includes furniture with a variety of folding methods and characteristics. Consider the folding mechanism when deciding which table option to choose.

Photos of lifting coffee tables in the interior

A coffee table with a lifting mechanism is a universal piece of furniture that will organically fit into different style trends. The practical design will give the interior logical completeness.

Making your own table

You can make a transforming coffee table, dining table, or kitchen table with your own hands. It is quite easy to make. All work can be divided into three steps .

Step one. We create a drawing of this piece of furniture. To do this, we decide on its purpose and where it will stand in the kitchen, living room or bedroom. After this, you need to draw a general and detailed view.
Step two. We prepare materials. The material for the tabletop should be chosen with a thickness of at least 1.5 cm. When choosing a transforming mechanism, it is worth considering the purpose of the future model. A coffee table used in the living room other than as dining furniture can have any mechanism. After all, they are not designed for heavy loads. It is dining transformers that need a strong and reliable mechanism. Sliding elements must be securely fixed, so their choice should be approached responsibly.
Step three. Assembly of all necessary elements according to the drawing. According to the designed sketch, first the transforming mechanism is attached to the tabletops, and only then the legs are fixed.