What to Look for in a Glass Table
Glass tables were in fashion in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and these days, they are really coming into their own again. The reasons for this aren’t difficult to determine — because glass allows the transmission of light, glass tables make a huge difference in the overall look and feel of a living room or dining room. Spaces suddenly look larger and surfaces that received no light at all before, suddenly will. Moreover, because glass is such a neutral substance in terms of color, it quite literally goes with any decorating style or color scheme.
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.