If you’re in the market for a new dining table, chances are you’re looking at one that’s made of wood. Wood is the most traditional material for tables, and so ubiquitous that you might not even think to look for any other type of table. But glass tables are a unique, beautiful modern alternative that can really bring your dining space to life, and they come with a whole host of benefits.
Great For Small Spaces
One of my favorite things about glass tables is that they’re surprisingly good for small spaces. While a wood table is a wood table, with a solid top and a leg at each of four corners, glass tables have a little more freedom to get creative in terms of design. So, not only do the translucent tops help create a wider, more open-looking space, alternative types of legs can help keep your dining area from looking crowded, too. I especially tables that have a compact, decorative base instead of legs. It’s a simple swap that significantly shrinks the visual footprint of the table. Bonus points for extendable tabletops that stow away when you don’t need to seat a crowd.
Make It Modern
Wood tables are the most traditional choice of material for a dining table and thus the most common. But that means that wood dining tables look a little average – not surprising, and certainly not unique. Glass tables are visually interesting purely by virtue of being uncommon, and that uncommonness make them a perfect way to update your dining space. While wood is traditional, glass tables are an elegant, functional choice for a modern dining room. Even better are glass table tops paired with highly modern bases, rather than a more traditional four legs. Even replacing the traditional four legs with a unique, modern, X-shaped base can create a unique and eye-catching look.
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Easier To Maintain
Now, I love the look of wood tables. I’m a big fan of dark wood with a natural grain (and, if I’m being honest, that’s the kind of dining table I have!). But the problem with wood tables is that wood is a little bit fragile – heat, moisture, and rough wear can all take their toll on a wood surface. Protecting your wood table means covering it up, with place mats, runners, tablecloths, or protective pads, which sort of defeats the purpose. Glass tables on the other hand are impervious to the very things that damage wood. You might still want to have a place mat to keep from accidentally scratching the glass or mucking it up with fingerprints (which can be a problem). But overall glass tables are a lot more resilient – spills wipe away easily, and the world won’t end if you forget to use a coaster.
Best Of Both Worlds
If you, too, love the look of natural wood, but concede the point that it can be a little difficult to maintain a wood dining table that sees heavy traffic, never fear: you can get the best of both worlds. Maybe my favorite glass tables are ones that have the obligatory clear glass top, but pair it with an elegant, stylized, slightly asymmetrical wood base. Together, you get a table that’s incredibly modern looking, but not without a hint of the tradition, warmth, and beauty of a natural wood table (no table cloth needed!).
A Note About Glass
Despite how easy to clean and superficially more durable glass is than wood, it’s important to remember that glass is glass, and glass can break. Now, opting for a glass table with a thicker, heavier duty, or tempered glass table top is a good way to significantly reduce the likelihood of any breakage. My family has had a tempered glass game table for almost 20 years without so much as a chip! But be aware that rough use can cause the glass to chip or even shatter, and even with gentle care, the glass table top will probably develop light surface scratches. So, if you have small children (or know yourself to be a big-time butterfingers), a glass table might not be the best option for a heavy-traffic table.
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Combine Function And Style
Maybe the most significant advantage of glass tables is one that’s sort of between the lines in everything I’ve said: while your average dining table is just a table, glass tables, especially ones with unique bases, are more like art or accent pieces all on their own. Even petite round dining tables can be elegant and eye catching. And because you can see through the functional top of the table to the decorative part, you get more mileage out of it, even when the table itself is surrounded by chairs.
Whether you have a small space or a big open room, a glass table top and unique modern base not only opens up your space, but makes it a whole lot more interesting to look at, too. What do you like about glass tables? Are you more interested in a traditional four-leg table with a glass table top, or a unique, modern showpiece?
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