Kitchen and Dining Spaces for Big Family Gatherings

A dining table is rarely just a table. It is where mornings start with coffee, where the day's stories come out over dinner, and where celebrations happen. Here are practical ideas for making that space work harder, whatever the size of your home.

Where everyone gathers round the table

In many Maltese homes, the dining table pulls double duty as breakfast spot, homework desk and the place where three generations catch up over a meal. A good pendant lamp overhead, such as IKEA's SKURUP pendant lamp, sets the right mood whether it is an early coffee or a long Sunday lunch.

Extra seating matters when the table fills up quickly. IKEA's MARIUS stool is compact enough to tuck away afterwards, while simple additions like IKEA's OFTAST plate and a trolley such as IKEA's FÖRHÖJA kitchen trolley help keep everything needed for the table within easy reach.

SKURUP pendant lamp, black, 38 cmMARIUS stool, white, 45 cmFÖRHÖJA kitchen trolley, birch, 100x43 cmOFTAST plate, white, 25 cmBEKVÄM step stool, beech, 50 cmBEKVÄM step stool, white, 50 cm

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Clever ways to find more space

When worktop space runs low and the chairs are not enough for a full house, stackable and mobile pieces earn their keep. IKEA's MARIUS stool stores neatly in a corner and comes out whenever extra seats are needed, which suits compact apartments and townhouses where storage is always at a premium.

A trolley with several shelves, such as IKEA's HULTARP container paired with IKEA's HULTARP rail, keeps cutlery, condiments and odds and ends organised and on wheels so it can move where it is needed. IKEA's JÄMFÖRA knife block with 3 knives and IKEA's KORKEN bottle with stopper round out a kitchen that stays tidy without extra cupboards.

MARIUS stool, white, 45 cmIKEA 365+ carafe with stopper, clear glass/cork, 1 lRINNIG tea towel, white/dark grey/patterned, 45x60 cm, 4 packHULTARP container, black/mesh, 31x16 cmHULTARP rail, black, 80 cmJÄMFÖRA knife block with 3 knives, black

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Getting the kitchen ready to cook

Pots, blenders, trays and other bulkier kit belong in drawers, leaving rails and worktops free for the things used daily. IKEA's HULTARP rail and IKEA's HULTARP container make it easy to hang utensils and store smaller items exactly where they are reached for most often.

A pot stand such as IKEA's HEAT pot stand protects worktops from hot pans, while IKEA's JÄMFÖRA knife block with 3 knives keeps blades close at hand but safely out of the way. A good tea towel, like IKEA's RINNIG tea towel, is one of those small things that makes a real difference in a busy kitchen.

HEAT pot stand, cork, 19 cm, 3 packHULTARP rail, black, 60 cmHULTARP container, white/brass-colour polished, 14x16 cmRINNIG tea towel, white/dark grey/patterned, 45x60 cm, 4 packJÄMFÖRA knife block with 3 knives, blackÄNDLIG 3-piece knife set, light grey/white

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Everyday kitchen essentials that work hard

Good food does not need expensive equipment behind it. A solid set of cookware covers most of what a busy kitchen actually needs, day in and day out, without taking up unnecessary cupboard space in a smaller Maltese kitchen.

IKEA's ANNONS 5-piece cookware set is stainless steel and built to handle everything from a quick pasta dinner to a full family meal. Store it alongside IKEA's HULTARP container and keep IKEA's HEAT pot stand nearby so pans come straight off the hob onto a protected surface.

FÖRHÖJA kitchen trolley, birch, 100x43 cmANNONS 5-piece cookware set, glass/stainless steelHULTARP container, black/mesh, 31x16 cmHEAT pot stand, cork, 19 cm, 3 packIKEA 365+ cookware set of 6, stainless steelKONCIS roasting tin with grill rack, stainless steel, 40x32 cm

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From the kitchen counter to the table

A handful of good accessories can make preparing a meal noticeably easier, especially when cooking for a full table. IKEA's FÖRDUBBLA 2-piece knife set covers most cutting jobs, while IKEA's ANNONS pot with lid goes from hob to table without fuss.

IKEA's LYCKAD oven/serving dish set of 2 is useful for anything that needs to go straight from the oven to the table, and a simple apron such as IKEA's HILDEGUN apron keeps clothes clean during the messier stages of cooking. Small details like IKEA's RÖRT spoon and a good pot holder finish the job.

FÖRDUBBLA 2-piece knife set, greyLYCKAD oven/serving dish set of 2, dark greyRINNIG pot holder, grey, 21x21 cm, 2 packHILDEGUN apron, 63x84 cmRÖRT spoon, round/beechANNONS pot with lid, glass/stainless steel, 2.8 l

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Keeping the kitchen busy between meals

The table does not have to sit empty between meals. Two tables that can be pushed together or pulled apart give a kitchen the flexibility to handle homework one afternoon and a train track the next.

IKEA's MARIUS stool provides extra seating whenever the table expands, and a pendant light such as IKEA's SKURUP pendant lamp keeps the area well lit for whatever is happening underneath it. For younger family members, IKEA's LILLABO 45-piece train set with rail turns spare table space into an afternoon of play.

SKURUP pendant lamp, black, 38 cmMARIUS stool, white, 45 cmLILLABO 45-piece train set with railMÅLA drawing paper roll, 30 mMÅLA easel, softwood, 66x48 cmMÅLA paper roll holder with storage, 50x13 cm

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Whichever pieces suit your home, Maltashopper brings them to your door in Malta and Gozo, so your kitchen and dining space can keep up with real family life.

More dining room ideas