I Fold

If you entertain as much as I do, one of the best weapons in your arsenal is a six foot folding banquet table. This versatile piece seems to literally "pop up" at almost every event I host. When purchasing your own table, choose one that is heavy for the size so it feels like a substantial piece of furniture that is not wobbly or flimsy.

When I have more than four people over for dinner, I move the dinette set out, set up the folding table with a linen to the floor and pull out extra chairs to host up to eight people for a seated meal. The table also makes and appearance occasionally at cocktail parties to hold a buffet selection of appetizers. I use the table as a bar out on the patio when I host a very large group and the drink selection is too big for the kitchen counter.

Storage is very compact, since the legs fold into the tabletop and the tabletop folds in half. When you're done, slip the table under a bed or set upright against the wall behind your hanging clothes in a closet until its once again time to celebrate.