High Top Table - The Perfect Perch for Kitchen Gatherings

The chatter and laughter of guests mingling around a high top kitchen table sets a lively, casual vibe. With its sleek, modern design, the table creates an effortlessly stylish gathering place in the heart of the kitchen. If you're looking to maximize your kitchen space for entertaining, a high top table is the perfect perch for bringing people together.

High top tables offer a range of benefits that make them ideal for compact kitchens. Beyond just looking great, they save space, provide additional counters and work areas, and encourage social interaction when you have friends over. In this post, we'll explore why high top tables are a perfect fit for small kitchen spaces and stylish kitchens alike.

Maximize Your Kitchen Space with a High Top Table

For small kitchens, it's all about making the most of every inch. This is where high top tables shine. Their bar height design means a smaller footprint than traditional dining tables. High tops come in compact dimensions like 36-42 inches wide—ideal for kitchens with limited square footage.

Round or square high top tables are space-saving options, as they avoid bulky corners. And unlike some smaller bistro tables, most high tops are still big enough to serve 3-4 people comfortably. The perfect perch for quick breakfasts or casual dinners.

Standing Fosters Socializing

The standing height of a high top table encourages interaction when people gather in the kitchen. There's something about looking at each other eye to eye rather than across a table that facilitates lively conversation. The stool seating also adds to the casual, relaxed vibe.

When hosting friends for appetizers or drinks, a high top table helps create a casual gathering place where people can mix and mingle effortlessly. Guests can pull up for a quick bite to eat between mingling without interrupting the social flow.

Contemporary and Stylish

With their sleek, minimalist lines and modern materials, high top tables infuse contemporary style into kitchen spaces. You'll find high tops sporting simple shapes and clean designs made from metal, glass, and wood.

They have an airy, modern aesthetic that pairs nicely with crisp white cabinets and stainless steel appliances. The right bar stools provide another opportunity to complement the look with texture and color.

Multi-Purpose Workhorse

A high top table not only saves space with its small footprint; it also adds functional square footage. When not used for dining, a high top becomes extra counter space for meal prep, mixing, and serving.

Some high top tables feature adjustable height functionality, easily converting from counter height to a standing desk. Roll up a stool for an impromptu work station to check emails or chop veggies for dinner.

Choosing the Perfect Table for Your Space

To make the most of a high top table, choose one sized and styled for your kitchen. Measure your space and consider how many bar stools need to comfortably fit around the circumference.

Compact Dimensions Fit Small Kitchens

For the tightest kitchens, a 36-42 inch wide table leaves plenty of room for dining and circulation without dominating. Round is ideal, but small square high tops also squeeze into small footprints.

Be sure to leave a comfortable 24-26 inches per stool. This leaves enough elbow room and space to get in and out of the seats. High top tables should have an overhang allowing feet to rest on a rung rather than dangling awkwardly.

Complementary Styles and Finishes

A metal or rich wood high top on turned legs adds an industrial edge, while glass tops feel lightweight and modern. Marble or butcher block tops provide visual interest. A round table can soften boxy spaces.

For seating, look for supportive bar stools with backs, armrests, and footrests. Swivel capability makes getting in and out a breeze. Choose stool frames, shapes, and upholstery that tie into your kitchen's look.

Clever High Top Table Placement

Placing your high top table purposefully maximizes function and enhances the surrounding space. Here are creative ways to help your new table pull its weight in your kitchen or dining area.

Breakfast Nook Perfection

Create a casual dining nook by flanking your high top table with banquette seating on one side. Position it near a window or kitchen island to define a cozy breakfast zone without taking up a full room.

For smaller drop leaf or bar height tables, across from the banquette, add two chairs for additional seating. This versatile arrangement works for quick meals or when entertaining a crowd.

Kitchen Island Companion

Situate a high top table near your kitchen island to delineate a dining zone adjacent to food prep. Accommodate traffic flow between the two. Or place the table at the end of the island to create a eat-in breakfast bar.

Coordinating your island and table finishes ties the whole space together. For example, pair reclaimed wood on both for an organic vibe that warms up sleek stainless, glass, and metal finishes.

Entertaining Assistant

Near your kitchen's entryway, a high top table serves as a convenient landing spot for bags, keys, or ingredients when your hands are full. It provides a place to stage appetizers and drink garnishes for easy refills.

Position extra bar stools around the table to create an impromptu guest seating area for mingling and noshing during gatherings. Everyone gravitates to the kitchen anyway!

Style Your High Top Table

A few styling tricks help your high top table look its best. Keep counters clutter-free to highlight the tabletop. Roll up a linen table runner or placemats to dress it up.

Add a vase of fresh flowers or potted plant. Coordinate napkins, glassware, and serving pieces to tie into your kitchen's overall aesthetic. Elevate the area with a statement pendant light overhead.

For small-space style and multifunctional use, a high top table is a perfect kitchen addition. With its space-saving footprint and casual communal vibe, a high top table makes an ideal gathering place for entertaining family and friends.

Have more questions about choosing and styling a high top table? Reach out today and we're happy to help you find your perfect kitchen perch!