My Review of the Transformer Table in a Small Apartment After 6 Months
There are many things to love about my current Manhattan apartment, but—like many city dwellers—square footage is not one of them. What could have, nay, should have been a large (by NYC standards), open-concept first floor of a duplex was rudely divided in half by a flex wall. The result is the second smallest living room I’ve ever had in the city, which means arranging furniture is like a real-life game of Tetris.
Of course, at House Beautiful, we believe that every space, no matter the size or budget, can be beautiful. And though you don’t have to sacrifice style when you live in a small space, some things, unfortunately, just can’t be done. For instance, I never thought it would be possible to host a dinner party in my tiny apartment. That is until I was given the opportunity to test the Transformer Table—a.k.a. TikTok’s favorite dining table, which has raked up millions of views and repeatedly sold out at Costco. It’s also currently a whopping 35 percent off for Black Friday!
As the name suggests, the table transforms to fit your needs, operating as six different tables, from a small console to a massive dining table that can seat 12 people. Transparently, I’ve yet to extend it to its full, five-panel capacity, as doing so would require moving my other favorite piece of modular furniture, 7th Avenue’s cloudlike sectional. Still, it’s a breeze to alternate from its everyday state as a two-person table to a six-person table when guests come over to my tiny apartment.
Ahead, I’ll break down my experience living with the table for the past six months. Spoiler alert: it’s transformed my apartment and my life. (Pun very much intended.)
What Is the Transformer Table?
A tiny apartment was actually the impetus for the Transformer Table. When a sister of one of the company’s founders moved into a new apartment with limited seating space, the idea for an expandable dining table was born. Now, like its furniture, the Transformer Table company has grown to include modular desks, sectionals, outdoor furniture, and more. But the company’s namesake remains its most popular product. While the market for modular furniture has become extremely competitive, the Transformer Table sets the industry standard for dining solutions. (It’s even earned Marie Kondo’s endorsement!)
The original Transformer Table includes an extendable dining table and bench designed to seat two to 12 people and requires no assembly. The dining table arrives in the 18-inch console formation and comes with five panels to transform it up to nearly 10 feet in length. The bench also has five panels that can be easily stored inside it and allow it to extend to seat six people. To extend the table and bench, all you have to do is pull the sides apart to make space for your desired number of panels, lay them down on the telescopic steel rails, and then push the sides back together and secure the panels in place with the safety locks underneath. Just reverse these steps to shrink it back down to a smaller size. Unlike the bench panels, the dining table panels do need to be stored separately. However, the company does sell a coffee table that will conveniently store them when they aren’t in use, and it’s also currently on sale!
For this article, I tested an iteration of its original dining table called “The Host.” The only difference is that my set came with four dining chairs in addition to the expandable bench. (Note: the chairs require assembly, but they were super easy to put together, and I love them.)
Transformer Table Delivery and Assembly
A delivery team brought five boxes into my apartment: one held the table, one had the additional panels, one held the bench, and the remaining two boxes held the four dining chairs. My only qualm with the delivery process is that the company does not offer a white glove delivery option. Although the table doesn’t require assembly, it was difficult to unbox due to its heavy weight and the way it was packaged. It would have been a game changer if someone could have delivered and unboxed the table and removed the packaging from my apartment so I didn’t have to schelp the cardboard and styrofoam into my building’s basement. I would have paid more for this service and would love to see the company offer it in the future. That being said, this is honestly the only thing I can fault the Transformer Table for.
My Honest Review of the Transformer Table
For everyday use, I have just one panel in the Transformer Table and two chairs.
I can’t stress enough just how small my living room really is. I wish I could share my square footage to prove my point (sorry, I don’t know it), but I think the photos above capture the spatial limitations. Before having the Transformer Table, we had a basic, round dining table with painted wood that looked cheap and plastic chairs that tried to ruin my life day after day by wobbling despite many attempts to tighten their screws for stability. To say the Transformer Dining Set was an upgrade is an understatement. The table is made of high-quality wood and finished with matte lacquer that is heat-resistant, water-repellant, and easy to clean. I opted for the Scandinavian Oak option and love the look, but there are six different wood options and five different fabrics to fit your style.
As I mentioned, the unboxing process was less than ideal, but once I removed all the packaging and cleared it from my apartment, the setup was nearly seamless. My only hiccup was that the table initially wouldn’t close in the console configuration. Thankfully, a quick Google search led me to the Transformer Table’s Warranty page, where they share simple steps to fix alignment issues. The advice is essentially to loosen the bolts at the end of the bench so you can align the wooden tops and then retighten them in the new position. I actually didn’t have to use this trick because after I extended the table to insert the panels and then later removed them, it closed properly as a console, so I’d recommend trying to add panels first before making any adjustments to the alignment.
Each panel is easily secured with safety locks located underneath the Transformer Table.
The Transformer Table chairs are sturdy and comfortable. Plus, the fabric is waterproof and stain-resistant.
The Transformer Table bench has room to hold all five panels and extends to seat up to six people.
In terms of the table’s “transformability,” I was able to easily extend and shrink the table without the help of my roommate. To do so, I just unlatched the safety locks under the table and pulled one end of the table to my desired length before placing the panels on top, pushing the ends back in, and relatching the safety locks. So far, I have only extended the table three panels wide, which allows for the bench on one side, two chairs on the other, and one chair on each head of the table. But for everyday use, I have one panel at the table and a chair on each side. As I teased above, I really do love these chairs. They couldn’t have been easier to assemble and are incredibly comfortable. Plus, they look great, and the fabric is easy to clean and maintain. I truly can’t fault these chairs and am so glad I opted for The Host dining set.
Transformer Table Pros and Cons
Transformer Table Dining Set – The Host
Cons
- White glove delivery not offered
- Because the bench holds all of the panels, it is heavy and hard to move without help
Is the Transformer Table Worth It?
The short answer is yes. I must confess as much as I wanted this table for my current apartment, I really wanted it for the future. I don’t plan to live in my teeny-tiny apartment forever, so I wanted a dining table that could adapt to any space I live in. Whether it’s another apartment with unique space constraints or a larger home with a proper dining room where the table can be extended year-round, the Transformer Table is up for the challenge. Not to mention, the price point is honestly unbelievable—especially now that it’s on sale for Black Friday. It’s definitely an investment, but the high-quality craftsmanship and lifetime warranty make it worth it. Plus, if you think about it, you’re actually getting six tables for the price of one! For all these reasons and more that I’m sure I’ll discover in time, I plan to have the Transformer Table in my home for many years.
Shop More From Transformer Table
Transformer Round Dining Set
Now 35% Off
Transformer Coffee Table – Panel Storage
Transformer x Stella Artois Table + Desk Double
Now 35% Off
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