6 clever ways to make the most of your table space

Tables occupy almost every room of the house, and they take up a lot of space. Although a fundamental piece of furniture, they're often not meeting their full potential. If your tables only hold items on the top, they could be working harder!
Especially if you're living in a small space, every piece of furniture you own should serve at least two purposes. Your tables aren't exempt! Here are six genius ways to get the most out of your tables without stopping them from doing what they're made for.
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1. Accessible book storage
Typical coffee tables take up a good amount of space and are prone to becoming cluttered with reading material that you either want to keep handy or have nowhere to put. This stylish, innovative table solves both those problems; it makes it easy to stay clutter-free and ensures that every inch of space is being put to good use. Learn how to make it here.  
2. Extra kitchen storage
If there's nothing under your kitchen table but empty space, you're missing out on some serious storage potential. Take a hint from this gorgeous piece of furniture, and add a couple layers of shelves to triple your table's usefulness. You can use the space to store your favorite bowls or cookbooks, and wicker baskets can hold a ton of stuff without looking cluttered. To save even more space, choose a round table; they take up less room and can seat more people.
3. Somewhere your furry friend can hang out
Your living room is probably the most comfortable place in your house to hang out, and it should be just as inviting for your pet. However, there's no need to dedicate an entire corner of the room to this; a side table can easily double as a cozy pet bed. It can be as simple as flipping an attractive wooden crate on its side and lining it with a pillow. If you're feeling ambitious, you can even build one from scratch like this guy did.
4. A place for your wine to call home
Your wine doesn't need to be hidden away, and long. skinny console tables like this one are practically begging to double as wine storage. Adding this to your home will free up some cupboard space and make sure your wine is always handy; what's not to love? You can buy this one from Urban Wood Goods.
5. Hidden storage
If you've ever found yourself wishing your living room had more storage space, this coffee table is a dream come true. The top pops open to reveal a ton of interior storage, and it can even function as a desk if you need to get some work done. It's perfect for storing your favorite board games or for hiding magazines and TV remotes when guests stop by.
6. Sneaky extra seating
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No matter how small your space is, you want to make sure your guests always have somewhere to sit when they come to visit. But where are you supposed to store the extra seating when no one's over? You don't need to resort to tacky folding chairs that take up half your closet space; this ingenious design allows you to have four extra seats that blend in seamlessly with your coffee table when not in use. Spontaneous entertaining just got way less stressful!
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