Dinner plans

Right now, all over the country, thousands of city slickers and students are settling down on the sofa in front of Modern Family, spag bowl perched precariously on lap. While it's easy to scorn a generation of couch diners, it's worth noting that in today's property market, many urban units lack for a designated dining area. But that's no excuse - with some smart design and styling, even pocket-sized pads can boast their own dining zone. Adios, couch potatoes. 

Take Kathryn's apartment (below), which is certainly more slight than spacious, Here, a table extends from the kitchen bench to ensure sofa suppers are the exception, rather than the norm.

Ideal for entertaining, the table lengthens to cater for a crowd,

and then retracts back to petite proportions for day-to-day living.

If you're looking for a quicker fix, consider a round dining table - these are enjoying something of a renaissance and are great space-savers. Thanks to their shape, they can host more bodies than a square-edged table of the same size, and look particularly chic teamed with mismatched chairs.

Image via trendenser.se

Image via hello-hello.fr

If all else fails, draw inspiration from a Scandinavian studio - stick a table against a wall or window to forge a light and bright breakfast nook. Just be warned, with a space this stylish, you may never want to eat on the couch again (well, until the next season of The Bachelor airs).

Image via iconscorner.com

Image via myscandinavianhome.blogspot.se