Make Your Next Kitchen Furniture Purchase A Glass Top Table

A glass top table is an option that you should consider the next time you need a new dining table. They look more modern and stylish than their wood and metal counterparts. There used to be safety concerns associated with glass top tables, especially if you have children, but those no longer apply since they have started making all glass top tables out of safety glass. The new standards for glass tables call for the use of the same type of glass that is used in vehicle windows and sliding glass doors.

A wooden table can appear bulky in a small dining room. It takes up a large amount of space and makes the room feel even smaller. It seems like a big cube of wood that you can't see through or around. Visually, it takes up all of the space in the room. By putting a glass top table in a small room, you can reduce the feeling of overcrowding, even if you select the same size table. With the glass top, you can still see the floor and the lower parts of the wall, making it feel like there is more room than there really is. The clear glass contributes to a light, airy feeling in the room.

Table designers get really creative when they are working on the base of a table that will have a glass top. It is their chance to show off their artistry. The base of a wooden dining table is rarely, if ever, seen. It just needs to be sturdy enough to hold up the tabletop, with maybe some decoration on the outside of the legs. Wood dining table legs are more functional than decorative. But with a glass dining table, the top is more like the glass on a picture frame, allowing you to see the art underneath. It can be elegantly carved wood, or an intricate pattern in metal. Whatever material is used, the bases of glass top tables often qualify as pieces of art in their own right.

If you are lucky enough to have a dining room with large windows overlooking a gorgeous view, you should place a glass dining table in front of those windows. It will act like a large mirror, reflecting the view and making it appear twice as large as it really is. This will also have the effect of bringing the outdoor feeling inside seamlessly. You and your guests won't be able to tell where one stops and the other starts.

When you choose a traditional wood dining table, the chairs are usually an afterthought. As long as they are sturdy and somewhat in the same style as the table, they'll work just fine to create a set. With a glass top table, the chairs are more visible and can be more artistic, rather than just functional. They can be upholstered in a fabric to match the curtains or drapes in your dining room. Or have seat cushions that serve as colorful accent pieces. Whatever look you go for with your chairs, remember that the entire chair will be seen, not just the back side. You can use this to your advantage to let your own personal style show through.

New guidelines were issued for glass tables in early 2010. They are now made with tempered glass, the same type that is used for glass doors and car windshields. It is 4 times stronger than non-tempered glass and it shatters into thousands of tiny fragments when broken. These tiny fragments have dull edges that are less likely to cause life threatening cuts the way regular glass does. The new guidelines are an important step towards reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries caused every year by broken glass top tables.  When you shop for a glass top table, be sure that it is manufactured to the new standards and is made with tempered safety glass. As beautiful as these tables are, you don't ever want to sacrifice the safety of your family and your guests for a nice looking table.