Live alone - do I need a Dining table?

LHerehere on 23/08/2020 - 15:16

So, I live alone in one bedroom apartment, just move in a few months ago with decent size living room. I didn’t buy dining table and chairs because I normally eat on couch or at coffee table if soup or anything that requires knife cutting.

Recently, friends who visited been commenting that I am missing a dining table. But I am hesitated to buy as I probably won’t use it as often, plus I am one of those minimalist type who doesn’t like to hoard.

How many of you single person here doesn’t have dining table? And if you do have one do you use it much?

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Hybroid on 23/08/2020 - 15:20
    +13

    I don't have a dedicated dining table. Got a couple of coffee tables, both low and high ones as well as IKEA fold out tray for couch. Fits nicely in the Strandmon. Also often eat at PC desk.

    If you're entertaining often then would suggest probably need one but if not, it's your life. Do what you like.

  • wombok2 on 23/08/2020 - 15:29
    +10

    If you're eating alone most the time and dont plan/want to have people over, then no need for dining table.

    • Agarwal on 23/08/2020 - 15:34
      +20

      Agreed, and if you are ever going to have friends over, it is perfectly fine to ask them to bring a table with them.

      • TheAccountant on 23/08/2020 - 15:59
        +9

        Don't forget the chairs.

        • silverrat23 on 23/08/2020 - 16:57
          +7

          Preferably folding ones, just so The Undertaker can throw Mankind off Hell In A Cell, plummeting 16 ft through an announcer's table.

  • jjjaar on 23/08/2020 - 15:37
    +4

    I have a dining table because I found it on the side of the road. I think I have used it about 5 times in 3 years. It’s mostly storage for groceries when I get home from the shops.

    I’ve had people over for dinner in the past and have sat on the couch to eat. It’s fine.

    • Herehere on 23/08/2020 - 15:47
      +1

      Thanks, I don't have people over often and I sat them on the couch at the moment…

      • elgrande on 24/08/2020 - 06:51
        +4

        I sat them on the couch at the moment..

        What.. they are still sitting there now, waiting for a decision on the table?..

  • [Deactivated] on 23/08/2020 - 15:38
    +2

    If my wife read this comment, she would laugh her ass off.

    We just bought out first dining table ever. We never had a proper dining table for over a decade. We just used a foldable table/study table since we weren't in our forever home.

  • BuyoTheCat on 23/08/2020 - 15:41

    some cultures dont eat dinner around a table

    • bobbified on 23/08/2020 - 19:38
      +2

      some don't use cutlery either…

      • BuyoTheCat on 23/08/2020 - 19:53
        +2

        double profit

    • vikvance on 24/08/2020 - 07:17
      -1

      some cultures dont eat dinner around a table

      No, but they sit on the floor in a circle and eat.

      I doubt OP's guests would be willing to sit on the floor, just because OP wants to save money on a dining table.

      • Herehere on 24/08/2020 - 08:12
        +4

        It’s not about saving money, I live alone and just trying to justify the needs to having one. Whether it would add value to my current living. If I have kids or partner I would probably think that yes I probably need one.

        • aragornelessar on 24/08/2020 - 14:38

          Growing up, when we had too many guests over and it was party time, we'd all eat our shared meals on the floor around a communal dishes. Pretty much an indoor picnic.

          If you don't feel like you need a dinner table, don't feel pressured into getting one because people say you do. It's your life!

  • thatonethere on 23/08/2020 - 15:55
    +2

    Ages when I lived alone I had no dining table. Was nice having the extra space in the apartment.

  • skid on 23/08/2020 - 15:55

    Do you have room for a dining table?

    Modern minimalist design have you entertaining around the kitchen bench or island if you have one.

    You could get a foldable plastic picnic table too if you don't mind ghetto style which you can put away later.

  • Herehere on 23/08/2020 - 16:02

    I don't have kitchen bench or island. I probably could fit one dining table in the living room but then I will need chairs to go with it. I already have a coffee table, 2 seaters sofa and a small outdoor table. I don't think I will use it as much if I do get one, but when you go to people houses do you expect to see a dining table?

    • skid on 23/08/2020 - 16:25
      +2

      No, but I expect to be seated unless we're eating finger food. Sofa is fine and coffee table if there are drinks.

      • bobbified on 23/08/2020 - 19:37

        … I expect to be seated unless we're eating finger food

        Seated on the floor is still "seated", isn't it? :p~

  • Moneyinthebank on 23/08/2020 - 16:04

    Eat on couch

  • dylo on 23/08/2020 - 16:05

    I just bought a very small one with two chairs for an apartment I've just moved into. I am kind of regretting it now lol as I never cook so it's always dining out (pre lockdown) but I guess it's good to have it there.

  • [Deactivated] on 23/08/2020 - 16:19
    +2

    Nope didnt have one, find some $50 table off gumtree if desperate 👍

  • Mechz on 23/08/2020 - 16:22

    Tell them to get you one as a present if they think you should have one. Don't waste your own money on something you will rarely use.

    Wife and I just got rid of our dining table because it's a waste of space.

  • try2bhelpful on 23/08/2020 - 18:34
    +1

    We have an adjustable table we use in our snug area. Because it can be height adjusted we use it as a coffee table, a dining table, a work bench for my sewing machine, a buffet table when we have guests over, etc. it also fold up so we can slide it next to e.g. a bookcase when we don’t use it.

  • bobbified on 23/08/2020 - 18:54

    I have a 4-person square dining table that is against the wall, but is expandable to a 6-person table. I, myself, don't use it to eat very often, but I'm in the CBD so people do tend to drop in on short notice when they're around. It's a good place to sit around when there's a few people and great when I invite single females over for dinner!

    Before that, I had a 2-person couch and any time i had more than 2 people around, they'd have to sit on the floor. I saw that it wasn't very comfortable for other people in suits to sit around on the carpet when they dropped by after work.

    Edit: For the single guys: I must say that the "post-dinner activities" success rate seems to be higher. I really don't know how that works or why, but it does.

  • life is suffering on 23/08/2020 - 19:02
    +1

    just have discipline. so dont eat where you work and vice versa.
    you don't need a dining table tbh.

  • ihbh on 23/08/2020 - 19:13
    +2

    If you want to be sustainable, wait until council clean up and pickup a free dinning table and see how it feels for a while. Either keep it, discard it or discard it and buy a table of your choice.

    • bobbified on 23/08/2020 - 19:43
      +1

      If you want to be sustainable

      Is that what they call it now? I thought it was just called dumpster-diving? I used to love it as a kid!

    • Allwentmarching on 24/08/2020 - 08:23

      You could also check gumtree for freebies a lot of people give away furniture that has nothing wrong with it they are just updating. We just gave away outdoor setting as we needed a bigger one.

  • yellowfever on 23/08/2020 - 22:17
    +2

    IMO, apart from eating, a dining table is a place to socialise. At gatherings I typically find the dining table to the most common place for socialising.

    Yes a sofa and coffee table works fine too, but I find it so much better on a table with better function.

    I cannot enjoy eating a meal eating on a couch or floor, it's an awkward eating position and also not very good for your posture.

    If you have date over, are you going to cook and serve them at the sofa? Some may not care but most would.

    And sitting on a couch means you're highly likely you're infront of a TV all the time, which only negates interaction with others.

    Do what you're most comfortable with, but worth to consider a table for other beneficial reasons.

  • Jared17 on 24/08/2020 - 07:22
    +2

    If you have room to spare why not? On the other hand I won’t cuz I like big empty space for doing Exercise

  • kiitos on 24/08/2020 - 09:14

    Do you have a take elsewhere you could use as a dining table in a pinch when entertaining? Eg study desk?

    We're a family so different lifestyle, have a small table near the kitchen that is always in use, and a large dining table in the dining room that is rarely used for dining but it's great to spread schoolwork over, craft, hobbies, etc. A large dining table can be useful apart from dining.

  • andrek on 24/08/2020 - 09:24

    My thinking: it's less about a dining table and more about how you eat. Having a dedicated place to eat where you can lay out your plate, cup and utensils and to sit properly will not only make you healthier (better posture, slower eating) but also better organised (setting up before and cleaning up after each meal, separation of dining area from your work/play). We have a dining table (family with two teenagers) but we rarely use it; instead we use our kitchen benchtop as it's wider than the drawers underneath and works as a breakfast (or in out case also lunch and dinner) bar.

  • Grunntt on 24/08/2020 - 10:09
    +2

    If you find you actually have the occasional need for a dining table maybe a drop side table would be suitable - I had one when I lived in an apartment and it was used mainly as a small side table against a wall but folded out to seat 4 if/when needed. eg
    https://www.ikea.com/au/en/p/norden-gateleg-table-white-7042…

    ps 4 foldup chairs worked well with mine - Op shop was a great place to find them

  • LFO on 24/08/2020 - 11:32
    +3

    Don't buy anything you don't want to have.
    Your home, your choice, your way.

    When I was in your situation did not have a dinning table (which like you will NEVER use) but had a desk the size of two dinning tables (desk that I used all the time).

    It is for you. Your choice.

  • OzHunterNSW on 24/08/2020 - 15:40
    +1

    No… those days are gone.

    I have a nice round glass "bar" table with two swivel stylish stools.

    I eat watching TV.

    The "old" dining table is a relic of the past and takes up far too much space for a single person… possibly living in a small unit.

    Think creative….. I'm thinking of getting rid of my nice leather lounge and possibly going for one (or two) nice (small) swivel recliner chairs.

    Think creatively

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