When shopping for a table many people intend to use it for
practical purposes, but they want the table to fit into the visual aesthetics
of the room as well, sometimes the right table can be a wonderful accent to
the room it is in. But the options for
finding your perfect table are practically endless, so here are some types of
tables and their uses, as well as a few tips to give you a better idea of what to look for when starting
your table hunt!
The word ‘table’ stems from ‘tabula,’ a Latin word which
translates to ‘a board, plank, flat top piece.’
Tables can be used not only for functional reasons but for décor as
well. A well-placed table can be a
lovely accent piece in a room. Tables
come in a wide variety of styles and materials, but many are made of metal or
wood. Some have glass tops, and you can find them in many colors to suit
your taste. But the general
commonalities that most tables have are:
- a surface top area, which can be almost any shape or size
- legs, usually in similarly-placed pairs, but sometimes a table will have an odd number of legs or a single, thicker leg which supports the top
- raised from the ground, this can vary from centimeters to feet in terms of the distance from the tabletop to the floor
Tables that are longer in length usually have more legs in
order to better support the tabletop.
Some tables can stand alone while others need to be rested against walls
or other furniture in order to stand upright.
Some have leaves – a piece or pieces of wood that you can take out or
fit into the table surface to expand or decrease its’ size. This makes it easy for people to adjust their
table for more or less diners, so your family of 4 can accommodate those additional
mouths you are feeding during holiday get-togethers. Some tables also have fold-able or removable
legs which allow them to be stored or moved more easily.
A table can be placed anywhere you like of course, but some types
of tables are meant for different rooms in the home or other uses. Some table types are:
- End Table: These tables can be set next to your living room seating, whether it is your couch, sectional, or favorite recliner. Some people use these to put lamps or lighting on, but you can dress it up with a vase full of flowers or framed photos as well.
- Coffee/Cocktail Table: Coffee tables, sometimes called cocktail tables, are usually placed in the living or family room in front of the room seating. Generally these tables are round, or rectangular in shape. They are good for placing drinks or food on, as well as some decorative elements, like a bowl of baubles or small knick knacks.
- Bedside Table: Also known as a nightstand these tables are usually placed next to – you guessed it, your bed! Lamps, eyeglasses, alarm clocks and reading material like books are often found on these.
- Dining Room Table: Dining room tables are typically used for eating meals on, these tables sometimes have leaves that come with them to enlarge or shrink their tabletop space.
- Kitchen Table: Some people like to put a table in the kitchen, to eat meals at or to have more surface area to prep food or place appliances on.
- Sofa Table: Long and narrow, these tables sit against walls or behind sofas most of the time, and are good for putting lighting on, but people also like to use them for magazines and decorative accents.
If you prefer your tables to match you may want to consider
buying a table set, some sets come with a coffee table and one or two matching
side tables, sometimes you can purchase only two side tables together. Dining sets generally come with a table and
chairs in matching materials and color.
So next time you decide to buy a new table, keep a few
things in mind:
- Where you plan on placing the table in the room, you will also need to know its’ size and shape, you want to know it is going to fit!
- How it will tie into the room visually, think about how the materials and colors will look against the other furniture in the space.
- What you will be using the furniture for, if you will be placing a heavy item or items on it you want to make sure it can support the weight.
Armed with all of this knowledge of tables and our tips, you
are sure to find the right table for your home!
Visit Michael’s Furniture at our store to see our amazing selection of
tables and other furniture, or check out our website to see what we have to
offer as well as specials we currently have.
