How to Select a Wood Dining Table

As an important part of your dining room, dining tables should only be purchased after careful consideration and research. With their natural look and feel, a wood dining table will become an important part of your dining room décor. Knowledge of several important facts will help you purchase a wood dining table that meets your needs and will last you as long as you need it to.

 

Softwood – Pine, Yew, Spruce, Cedar

So called for their looser wood fibers and lighter weight, softwoods have their benefits and disadvantages. They are relatively easy to stain, meaning your dining table can be colored to match the rest of the room. In addition, the low density of the wood fibers means that the table is somewhat lighter, making it easier to carry and move, and the price is on average lower than hardwood tables. The downside to softwoods is that they are more easily scratched or damaged and require a certain kind of finish that will not be unevenly absorbed into the wood.

 

Hardwood – Ash, Elm, Walnut, Mahogany

With a higher wood density, hardwoods are more resilient, and therefore less likely to be damaged by common usage. Also, their increased weight means they are less likely to be jogged by someone bumping into them. The downside of hardwoods is that they are more expensive on average than softwoods, and are very hard to stain a different color.

 

Furniture Style

The oldest styles, which you will see on antiques, include Queen Anne, Chippendale, Victorian, Sheraton, and Hepplewhite, designs dating from the early 1600’s to the late 1800’s. While the American designs varied in several ways, most of the early ones display the signature influence of their contemporary European styles.

 

Condition

If you are buying a used table, you will want to examine it carefully to be sure there is no damage. One thing to check for is rather obvious – are there any scratches or gouges in the surface? Make sure to look under the table edge as well. Other things to look for are scuffed or worn finish, signs of insect damage, scarring from fire or chemical exposure, or other such pre-purchase damage. If any of the previous issues are present, they will decrease the value of the table, so be sure existing damage will be taken into account.,br> The above tips are your best bet when it comes to purchasing a new dining table. Once you have found a table made in the right style from the right wood and have confirmed that there is no significant damage, then you will have finally found the best table for you. Congratulations!

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