End Table Buying Guide – Know How to Pick the Right One

Choose Your Style

You know what exactly you love and anyone else can barely match your preferences. And, there’s no magic trick to find exactly what you desire always. However, going through a quick summary of commonly available styles that you can consider.

• Traditional Style Tables: As the name says, these tables carry a conventional style. These tables follow the trends of the 18 th and 19 th centuries while being opulent and luxurious. While most of these come with formal, lavish looks, Louis Philippe like sub-styles goes a bit casual with relaxed lines. Characteristics of a traditional table include elaborative decorative details like cabriole legs, turned spindles, and moldings.
• Modern Style Tables: The modern era of tables is known to reflect the styles and technologies of the 20th century’s second half. While modern styles are often put together with the contemporary ones while both have similarities and variations. Both feature minimalism and geometric shapes with the latter depicting what’s current and now. Modern ones are usually shapely with materials including chrome, glass, and marble and neutral shades on the color palette.
• Farmhouse Style Tables: Looking to add a sense of comfort and home at your place? A farmhouse style does the job perfectly well. This one features practicality, distressing, light colors, and tradition. Elements commonly found in farmhouse end tables include warm, functional elements as well as x-shaped details.
• Mid-Century Modern Style Tables: They are retro-inspired and are recognized the most among others. Mid-century modern tables feature a minimal design with design elements including clean lines, tapered legs, gentle curves, and wood grain. Often made of marble or warm wood material, these tables have metal hairpin or tapered wood legs with bold colors popped occasionally.
• Transitional Style Tables: And, here’s one that mixes contemporary elements with traditional ones, adding an organic, more approachable look. In other words, a transitional table might look more timeless than traditional ones or a more contemporary one. Striking the right balance of space and design is the key to adding an appeal to your place with a transitional table.

Discover a range of end tables for the living room in NJ to find the best matching style for your needs.

Choice of Material Matters

The material of the furniture in a room forms a significant part of its overall style. And, the choice of the right material depends on many factors. For instance, a glass or metal end table is perfect for a modern décor while a wood table goes perfectly well with a traditional interior. The choice of tabletops is another important factor where distinctive tops come in a variety of materials like glass, wood, or stone veneers.

Tip:Adding depth and texture to the room’s décor adds a visual interest, where end tables form an important part.

• Wood: How many of them told you they got real wood tables? Those known as wood tables are made from a variety of timber grades. Timber is extracted from 2 types of trees; hardwood and softwood, which is then prepared to create different materials. For furniture, hardwoods used include maple, walnut, and oak while cedar and spruce are popular softwood varieties.
• Metal: Typical metals used for furniture include steel, iron, aluminum, and other alloys. Mostly, metal end tables have a glass or wood-glass tops because of the modern appearance, ease in cleaning, and durability.
• Glass: This one’s commonly used in tabletops. Though merely selecting a glass table isn’t the only thing required, you need to evaluate other factors. For instance, if you have kids at home, you need a stronger, safer tempered glass.
• Stone: This is another tabletop material with slate and marble as commonly used stones. This forms the right choice for you if you are looking to add something organic to your room’s décor. The stone used in furniture can be either a complete piece or a combination of veneers. Though the surface used with stone veneers is usually plywood, MDF, or another engineered wood.

Comparing Features

How are you going to use the end table? Is it going to be mere an add-on to the room’s décor? Or will you be using it to place things on the top or in a drawer? End tables take on different purposes of use with varying features and look available in the market. Thus, it is essential to compare the applications and features of an end table before buying one for your home. And, if you are looking for more than just an end table, a furniture sale in Bergen County might get you all you need while paying a lot less.

• Storage: That’s quite a bit obvious feature if you have too many things to keep in your room. An end table can help manage all by adding extra storage to your place. You can get one with drawers, magazine holders, racks, baskets, or cubbies. While every storage feature has a different purpose, you can choose the one as per your needs. If you don’t need a storage compartment, you can simply go with a shelf that can be used for placing decorative pieces.
• Nesting: Living in a small area? Need something that would add to the aesthetic appeal while serving the purpose of a long table without taking much space? A nesting end table could be the perfect choice for you. You can easily stack/unstack the table for extra room space or tabletop space respectively, as required. Plus, you can also get one that matches/complements the existing décor.
• Tray Tops: In case you want to style up your room with minimal design add-on, a tray top table is just the right thing for you. A lift-off tray along with the table lets you keep coffee, food, or even books on top. The table can be cleaned super easily and serve the purpose quite well.
• Mirrors: Mirror up your room with a glam look. Though this one might not go well with every room but would perfectly match one with lavish décor and matching/complementary shades.
• Wheels/Casters: Do you feel the need for moving your end table around the room? Yes, that’s possible with a set of wheels or casters attached to its legs. Get one if you need it, even if no one else’s buying it. This could add a distinctive appeal to your room.
• Height (Fixed/Adjustable): And, there are end tables with adjustable heights too. Again not as popular as the fixed height ones, the ones with modifiable height can be used for multiple settings like besides a sofa, with a bed, couch, or any other piece of furniture.
• Shape: Don’t you know end tables come in multiple shapes? If you have only heard of square or rectangle-shaped tables, those aren’t the only choices available. But hey, those also count more than one. And, you can also get oval or circle tops while the only idea is to strike a perfect balance.

And that’s not the end. You can get other features for your needs such as inbuilt lamps, table leaves for an extension, and more.

Picking up the Right Size

Ever faced difficulty in reaching your book, drink, or snacks on the table just because it’s placed too high/low? Never underestimate the need for choosing the right size. An end table with the right height and size doesn’t overpower other furniture while giving the room a well-balanced appearance. Here’s what you need to know to pick the right size.

• The height of the table should be 2-inches higher or lower than that of your sofa’s arm. For instance, if the arm of the sofa is 18-inch high, the table must be 16 to 20 inches only.
• Keep a lamp on the table and ensure that the lampshade’s bottom doesn’t go higher than your eye level while sitting on the sofa. This is essential as a higher lampshade will blind anyone sitting and obscure the vision.
• And, now comes the depth. This should be equal for both the table and the chair/sofa, next to which the end table is placed.

With this, you are going to get just the right size and height of the end table for your room.

Build Aesthetics with the Right Leg Design

This one’s a significant aspect of an end table design. From the stability to the look and feel, end tables come with a variety of leg designs to choose from:

• Four Legs: Got a conventional room setup? This traditional leg design makes a perfect fit in there. Add a perfect vintage appeal with a dark tan shade or go modern on color tones with this multipurpose old book style.
• The Tripod (3 Legs): Though this one’s not the sturdiest one on the list but surely adds to a minimalist décor.
• The Classic Pedestal: The most ornate on the list, the pedestal-legged is a classic style. Choose your color and it goes perfectly well with a formal room setting.
• Flat Base: Got quite a small space for an end table? But still, want a decent tabletop space? Here’s the right contender for your needs and you can get a pocket for keeping small items as well.
• The X Base (Cross-legged): What a great piece for a casual setup. This cottage design adds an aesthetic appeal though a bit less sturdy than the 4-legged end table.

End Table Buying Tips

By now, you are familiar with the types, designs, materials, and other factors of an end table. Though everyone has a different priority, completing a room’s appearance is the table’s primary role. Though the functionality holds equal importance. And, if taking proper care of the furniture extends its lifespan significantly, for which, all you need to do is keep it clean, avoid breakages, and use a polish among others.

In 2019, 197.8 million Americans made use of furniture polish as per a survey report by Statista.

Go through these tips to ensure you buy the right end table for your home or office space.

• Measure the Area: Big or small, there’s an end table for every room out there. Start with measuring the area of your living room and then the area you plan to use for the table. And, here goes the obvious thing. Bigger the room, bigger is the table you can place and vice versa. But even that’s not as obvious as any asymmetry with other furniture can turn designs to disaster.
• Define the Purpose: Is it going to be just a part of the décor? Or you are gonna use it for placing things like books, snacks on top or as a storage compartment? Whatever the purpose you are looking to solve, buy a table that meets your needs.
• Evaluate Your Room’s Theme: Traditional, modern, minimalistic, single/multi-shade, and many more to consider. Yours might be something common or unique on its own. Thus, you need to pick up the one that matches the theme. Here, you will be considering multiple factors such as shape, design, and material to harmonize with the theme. Deviation from the theme is also an option as long as the table doesn’t create any confusion.
• Pick the Best Quality Available: From material to construction, finish and more, quality isn’t just defined by one aspect but a combination of all. Get yourself a combination of the best of all plus brand name and after-sales service. This will keep you worry-free for long.

Final Words

Did that upgrade your knowledge about end tables? This guide is sure to help you do the much-needed evaluation before even stepping out to explore your options. Though you can also buy one online from a reputed furniture manufacturer and supplier like Bergen Furniture & Design. Though checking out on product range, available offers and after-sales service will help you gain more on your investment. Bergen Furniture & Design offers free delivery and installation as well as zero sales tax on all the products, where each one is handcrafted and custom-made in the USA only. Get in touch to explore the range of furniture items for various purposes.