Glass Top Dining Tables – the Minimalist Style

One reason glass can look so futuristic is because it lends itself quite easily to a minimalist interpretation of furniture design. Take this futuristic minimalist glass top dining room table, for example. The table top itself is nothing but a shaped plane of sheer glass without frosting or decoration of any kind. The shape approaches an oval, but is rendered in an asymmetrical pattern to add visual interest and a hint of a future in which shapes are not delineated the same way as they are today. The pedestal echoes this feeling, being composed of several disparate shapes balanced against one another; nowhere is there any attempt at order or symmetry. And yet the whole effect is simple enough to be pleasing to the eye and to give an overall impression of stylish restraint executed to the extreme — the very essence of minimalism.

Glass Top Dining Tables – Minimalism Combined with Traditional Elements

Although it is simple for a glass top dining table to appear minimalist from top to bottom, another popular style is to maintain a futuristic look when it comes to the glass table top itself, yet add to that a pedestal which is highly elaborated and hearkens back to a distinct era in the design of home fashions. That approach can be seen in this glass top pedestal table. The glass top is so minimalist that it lacks even a beveled edge to the glass surface, but the pedestal is something straight out of France before the revolution — a sculptural work of art, highly detailed in every particular. The drama of this approach is further heightened by the fact that diners can see through the table top to admire the pedestal as artwork located directly below.

Glass Top Dining Tables – Contemporary Chic

A final approach in the futuristic use of glass tops for dining tables is to combine elements in such a way as to produce a style known as contemporary chic. Very modernist in nature, tables of this sort will feature a pedestal that looks like highly molded plastic, although in actuality much stronger construction materials are usually in evidence. This style is very reminiscent of the Monsanto  “House of the Future”  that was on display for many years at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. The idea is to stress the use of futuristic materials, and set them off with beautiful expanses of glass.

Whether you prefer contemporary chic, traditional elements, or true minimalism, glass top dining tables form an inherent part of all these styles.

What Kinds of Glass Top Tables are Available?

Glass top tables are commonly seen in dining table and coffee table varieties, but other kinds of tables can also be found featuring glass tops. However, this is not what was meant above about variety. Style is what is at issue here. Glass top tables can be found in many different styles, including these major categories:

• Table top and pedestal made completely of glass (or Plexiglas for safety)
• Table top made completely of glass but resting on a pedestal of another material entirely
• Table top made of wood or metal with inlaid glass panes
• Glass used as an accent in the table top rather than a major element

Factors to Consider When Buying a Glass Top Table

Size and shape are obvious considerations. You want a table that will fit comfortably into the space allotted and still leave room for dining chairs or in the case of a coffee table, walking area around it.

Other important considerations include the following factors:

• Glass thickness: thicker glass is heavier and requires a more robust pedestal or legs, yet it is also safer than thin glass which can be easily broken should someone place something on the table (for example, a vase of flowers) without using sufficient care.
• Glass safety features: as broken glass can be an extreme hazard, safety glass is recommended for all glass top tables. This is more than an issue of someone possibly cutting a foot should they walk over an area where glass has broken. It is possible for a person to trip and fall into a glass top table (particularly a low set table such as a coffee table). Major bodily injury can occur, so safety glass, which is designed to be shatterproof, is a must.
• Tempered glass features: the use of tempered glass will make your table more resistant to breakage and less prone to receiving small scratches or nicks in the surface. A glass table looks at its best when there are no surface imperfections of any kind.
• Attachment of glass table top to legs or base: to avoid having a pane of glass slide off the pedestal, there must be a firm attachment (glue, bolts, and possibly both) between table top and legs or pedestal.
• Furniture style: If you already have a lot of wood furniture in the room in which you plan to place a glass top table, you may want to choose a table with a coordinating wood molded into a similar style. This is not a must, however. A simple glass table can usually fit into any décor without looking like it clashes.

Advanced Features of the Top Glass Top Table Models

As glass top tables are not a high tech item, most differences among the various styles have to do with design elements rather than added convenience or functionality. Things that can truly be regarded as “features” include the use of tempered safety glass and adequate means of attachment between table and base. Apart from that, virtually all tables offer the same level of functionality, differentiated only by things like size, which affects the number that can be seated, and height, which affects the comfort level of people making use of the table.

Design elements that make various table styles different from one another fall into several major groupings:

• Minimalist, “glass only” styles
• Contemporary chic styles
• Traditional styles that use glass as part of a larger design scheme designed to match existing furniture styles such as early American or Danish modern
• Quirky styles that use pedestals made of art

Top Recommended Glass Top Tables

Obviously, individual tastes differ and one person’s ideal table will not suit another person at all. You must let your own inherent preferences be your ultimate guide, but in this furniture aficionado’s opinion, here are the most effective glass top tables currently on the market.

Madrid Glass Top Table With Side Chairs

Part of the Madrid collection, I like this glass top table because it’s contemporary and elegant all at the same time. The circular glass table top is roomy enough to seat four for dining with enough room for everyone’s placement, cutlery, and dishes — the top measures forty five inches in diameter. The edge of the glass table top is beveled, which means that sharp edges are nicely blunted for safety. The pedestal features a cross brace support and consists of a metal frame reminiscent of finely wrought iron such as was used in traditional outdoor patio furniture. And yet the designers have been clever enough to avoid the stark black often used in that design, settling on a softer powder gray finish instead.

Matching chairs with coordinating metal frames go with this table and feature backs with a church window design. I especially like that the table pedestal has four legs for stability and looks more than sturdy enough to support the glass table top. The chairs are upholstered in a pale sage green cloth made of polyester and cotton.

My only recommended improvement to this table would be thicker glass. Eight millimeters is not really an adequate thickness in my opinion — it means the glass would be too easy to break. All a child would have to do is set down his milk glass too hard and you might have a problem. And since children often don’t use enough care around fine furniture, that’s a realistic scenario.

Round Dining Table with Glass Top Cappuccino Finish

This is an example of a glass top dining table that has a much more contemporary feel. Rendered in a way that demonstrates minimalism The pedestal is made of artfully arched hardwood and features a design that is intended to produce exceptional sturdiness. The bottom of the pedestal has a cross or plus design that should help avoid tip overs, and the top of the pedestal includes a solid top ring of matching hardwood. Not only does this feature help the pedestal stay together better, it provides a pleasing visual echo of the 48 inch diameter glass table top surface.

This table is elegant with a beveled edge to the glass. Matching chairs are available with legs and frame of the same hardwood, but with backs and seats both fully upholstered for a more contemporary look than the set above. The cappuccino colored finish on the hardwood is dark, but when combined with the clear aspect of the glass, it’s a nice balance rather than feeling too heavy.

However, I do wish that this set came fully assembled. People like me don’t particularly want to assemble furniture in our spare time, and there’s always the factor that if enough care isn’t taken, we might produce flaws in the design or worse, damage the table before we ever get to use it. I prefer furniture that is fully assembled in advance by a professional.

Dragon Table with Glass Top

This table definitely shows how much tastes can differ from person to person. Designed to be used as a side or spare table, perhaps to hold knick-knacks or a table lamp, it features a pedestal that is pure art. The dragon is made from 100% alabastrite which has been both cast and carved so that wings, scales, and limbs look lifelike — or as lifelike as they can on a creature which is, after all, wholly mythological.

The Final Word

Although glass top tables styles really are a matter of personal preference, some common factors should always be considered when you are shopping and finalizing a choice for your apartment, condominium, or house. Look for safety features which mean that the table will not present a hazards for any of your home’s inhabitants.

Consider especially the sturdiness and balance of the table if you live in a home where small children or pets are present. A wooden or metal table can be knocked over and righted, often with no damage done, but a glass top table will probably sustain major damage and may even be the cause of injury if it topples, so consider this recommendation with all the seriousness it is due.

Glass is a lovely feature in dining tables and coffee tables alike, but I especially like them in the dining room because the surface can be thoroughly cleaned with little effort or fuss. If you spill grape juice on a wood top table you might end up with a permanent stain, but a glass top table will be largely impermeable and will last for many years looking just as beautiful as it did when you first purchased it.

About the only major drawback glass has is its breakability, but with safety and tempered glass now available, that’s less of a concern than formerly. Safety glass is shatterproof as well as heat resistant, and tempered glass will resist getting dinged or nicked when people set down tumblers or cutlery too hard.

But what type of glass table is the best one for you? Here are some considerations to keep in mind as you go shopping:

• Size of table you need for your expected number of diners
• Size of table that can fit in the intended space
• Shape of table you prefer. The most common kinds are rectangular, oval, and circular, but oddly shaped tables can also be found, such as triangular and hexagonal.
• Style of glass you prefer: clear, frosted, or textured (also called patterned).
• Style of furniture you prefer: pure glass for a modern, sleek look, or glass embedded in metal or wooden frames for variety or to match your existing pieces of furniture.

Frosted Glass Dining Tables

Frosted glass is generally considered a bold choice, often seen in ultra luxury homes. With a frosted glass table, the table itself is so decorative that placemats and table cloths may not be needed — they would only detract from the clean beauty of the table top itself. Since frosted glass tables will often feature a pane of glass that is not surrounded by other elements such as wood or metal, do be sure that you are purchasing a table made of safety or tempered glass.

Patterned or Textured Glass Dining Tables

Textured glass is even more elegant and expensive than frosted glass. Generally the patterning or texturing will be done on the underside or interior of the pane of glass so that the top surface is completely smooth. After all, you wouldn’t want your plates or glasses to teeter on the details of a raised surface pattern. That said, textured glass can lend a true ambiance to your dining room. Patterns come in many forms from abstract designs to representational art that clearly resembles starbursts or even more specific designs.

Plain Glass Dining Tables

These are by far the most common kind available. They often have bindings of wood or metal wrapped around the glass edges in order to encase the glass for safety. This is not only to prevent the glass pane from sliding loose from its moorings but also serves as a buffer so that when small children walk near the table, they can’t hit their heads directly on a glass edge, but on something less harsh and hazardous.

In addition, glass is a material that is easy to clean and difficult to stain. That said, few glass top coffee tables are made entirely of glass. Other materials are usually incorporated in small proportions, and this is one reason why glass top coffee tables have such a wide variety of styles available. In this brief guide to some recommended glass top coffee tables, we will look at just a few of the alternatives available on the market today.

The Johnson’s Casual Quest Cocktail Table

This table is a harmonious blending of glass and metal, yielding a sleek, modern design. Circular in nature, both the glass table top and the pedestal itself contain echoes of circles. The pedestal is a clever three legged design, which offers more stability over the traditional central pedestal design of some coffee tables. It would be difficult to knock this table over, which makes it ideal for homes with pets, who as we know tend to be less than careful around furniture.

One of the more pleasing features of this table is the asymmetry of its design. This is in keeping with the most modern styles, which seek to provide visual interest through the use of elements and motifs that do not match the rest of the piece. In this table, asymmetry occurs when two of the three legs are connected by a wide band of metal. To add even more visual interest, the wide band of metal is doubled. The finish of the metal is pewter polished to a brilliant shine.

Stone County Ironworks Leaf Cocktail Table with Glass Top

Glass table tops are well suited to contemporary styles, but as can be seen in these matched tables, glass can also be incorporated into highly traditional designs as well. With four sturdy legs, these tables present a classic silhouette well suited to an outdoor garden party.

The basic model of these tables features a neutral black shade of iron, complete with artfully welded and curved strips of metal forming the base and decorating the underside of the glass table top. Several other metal options are available should you wish to customize the table further to match your existing color scheme. Among the listed options are

• Rust
• Copper
• Gunmetal
• Pewter
• Bronze
• Brass

Some design choices even stray away from metal. These include ivory and even wood.

Hekman Metal Grille Oval Coffee Table

For even more emphasis on wood, try this table. Although the glass top features a metal grille, the vast bulk of the table is made from beautiful dark woods.

There is no doubt that glass tables have many advantages. That said, there are some things to be aware of when it comes to shopping for a glass table. These tips will help you understand what to look for in a glass table, should you decide that one is right for your home.

The Importance of Tempered Glass

Back in the early days of glass tables becoming a popular fashion item, the glass used wasn’t tempered for safety. It was more common than you might think for people to stumble and fall onto, or even into, tables with tops made of glass. This caused life threatening injuries and was in fact responsible for some deaths. The main culprit was coffee tables since they sit low enough to the ground that people could trip headlong and fall right on top of them.

Thankfully, due to the introduction of tempered glass, these types of accidents are less common now, and when they occur, they are less severe. Tempered glass is designed to withstand shocks and jolts without shattering. Another improvement along these lines has been the use of much thicker glass in current styles than previously. It might be possible to fall onto a glass coffee table these days without the glass breaking at all; gone are the days when thin panes of very dangerous glass were used in home furnishings.

Glass Tables with Fixed Table Tops

Another improvement that has implications for design as well as safety is the fixed table tops. Back in the original heyday of glass tables, it was quite common for a pane of glass to simply be balanced on a pedestal. With the wisdom of hindsight, we can see that such designs were little more than an accident waiting to happen. Just leaning too heavily on the table top could cause it to overbalance and slide off its pedestal, crashing to the floor and causing a huge and dangerous mess. Glass table tops when knocked into could also slide off, presenting the danger of decapitation to young children. These are obviously unacceptable outcomes.

Today’s glass tables do not merely balance on a pedestal. They are generally fixed panes inserted into some sort of holding frame, often made of wood or metal. The holding frame is securely attached, often bolted, to the pedestal or legs of the table, thus making the glass impossible to dislodge.

Not only are these fixed glass table tops much safer, they also allow glass tables to coordinate more closely with the décor of your house or apartment.

The first thing you need to think about is the actual space you have in your home. Glass table tops really can accentuate small spaces. The reason is that the glass helps to reflect the light, making it seem like the room is larger than it is. If you get glass table tops with mirror accents, this effect is even greater since the glass table top will reflect the room and seem to expand the space.

Click to see some of the more popular Glass Top Table designs on Amazon

Another thing you may want to consider is how vulnerable the glass table top is. Glass is glass and it can easily break or become damaged. Glass table tops are really only vulnerable if you have children around. If you’ve got small children running around with hard objects in their hands – something that many kids are won’t to do – then you should re-consider having glass table tops in your home. If you still want one, you should make think about putting your glass table top in a place where there is less traffic.

You can get different types of glass table tops. If you want a glass table top for your dining room, you can pick up a glass top dining table. Or you can pick up glass top coffee tables. There are different types of glass table tops that you can choose from, so it’s a good idea to know what sort of table you are looking for, what you intent do use it, and where you intend to put it. Once you can answer these questions, you can look at buying a specific glass table top.

It’s important for you to consider the kind of glass being used in a glass table top. It’s very important that you buy a glass table top that’s made from tempered glass. The reason is that if you want to put either hot or cold things on the glass like a cup of hot coffee or a frozen treat, you don’t want the glass reacting to the heat or cold by cracking or shattering – and yes, this is a very real possibility with non-tempered glass.

So keep these in mind when looking at buying a glass top table.

Every home is going to need some sort of table – maybe multiple tables. There are many different table choices out there, however. By choosing the best table for a specific job, you can achieve some key things for your home. For one, you will have a table top surface to set things on – lamps, lighting fixtures, art, or other home design items. Basically, if you want to display something in your home, either for artistic purposes or for functional purposes, you can. Picking out the right type of table can make small spaces look larger than they actually are. One of the best ways to hide the fact that you don’t have a large space is to look at buying glass tables.

Now you see, glass tables have one single benefit that ordinary wood or metal tables don’t. In addition to having a good table top surface from which you can put things on, glass can make your room seem like it has more space than there really is. Why? When light hits the glass, it will reflect off the surface of the glass, making the small table almost seem like a natural extension to the room. When you bring more light into this space, it makes the space look far more open – i.e. your room looks bigger. If you get a small glass table that has mirror accents, this effect is even more magnified as the mirrors will reflect parts of the room, enlarging the look.

The question that usually comes to mind when getting a small glass table top is “what if the glass table breaks.” This is no doubt an issues that concerns most people. However, this will actually depend on who is in your home. If you have a lot of small children in your home, then yes, there is a possibility that your glass table may be damaged or break. But this is certainly preventable. If you do have a lot of small children running around, you may want to look at avoiding getting small glass tables for now and opt for a more durable table like a small wood table or small metal table. Or you might opt to put the table in a less frequented part of the room!

Dining tables have really evolved over the past few decades. It used to be that most dining tables were made from hardwood. And it’s true that a fair number of dining tables still are constructed from wood. But there is now a trend for people to buy glad top dining tables instead of wood. Why? Because glass table tops are more elegant looking and they really modernize the look of your home. If you are in a place with limited space like a small apartment, than glass top dining tables can really accentuate the look of your place.

Now, there are some key things to think about before buying a glass top dining table. With the general trend of people moving to cities, space is becoming far more limited. People are living vertically instead of horizontally – i.e. people are living in apartments and not homes. There is less space to live. When space is an issue, a glass top dining table makes a lot of sense.

The main reason for this is that glass tables help make the room look bigger than it actually is. This is because glass often reflects light so the room is “expended” when you look at the table. This effect can be further expended if you buy glass top dining tables that have mirror accents. This mirror effect not only makes your room look like it has more space, but it also look quite contemporary and elegant too.

Glass is more fragile than wood or metal, so you need to be careful. If you’ve got a lot of small children, you may want to opt for a tougher material like metal or wood, however. Or put the glass table in an area that your small children will not frequent. It’s quite easy to damage the table if it’s struck with some sort of hard object.

When you do buy glass top dining tables, make sure you look for tables constructed from tempered glass. Tempered glass won’t react to hot or cold objects – so putting that mug of steaming coffee on the table or a bowl of ice cream down won’t shatter the table!

If you want to buy a glass top dining table, your best bet is to look online. You should have no problems finding a variety of glass top dining tables to choose from and the prices online are generally cheaper than those you may find at a local hardware store.