Wooden kitchen tables: pros, cons and subtleties of choice

When arranging a kitchen interior, it is very important to choose a dining table in such a way that it harmoniously fits into the design of the room and at the same time performs all the functions assigned to it. Most housewives prefer wooden furniture - it is of high quality, practicality and durability. Let's dwell on the features of wood dining tables.

The kitchen table is one of the essential pieces of furniture set, which not only gathers the whole family for dinner, but also allows the hostess to do some of the cooking work. Most often it is made from wood, since this natural raw material has many useful characteristics.

• Environmental Safety. Wood does not contain harmful and toxic substances, moreover, it has the ability to fill the air with essential oils and resins, which makes the microclimate in the room favorable and comfortable for all residents.
• Strength. Furniture made of wood retains its original appearance for many years, causing a long period of its operation. With proper care, such wood will serve faithfully for 50 or even more years, while any minor defects can be easily and quickly restored.
• Ease of use. The surface of a wooden dining table is generally warm, pleasant to the touch, and also quite functional and very practical.
• Compliance with any design. The correct choice of the size, shape and color of a wooden table can harmoniously fit into a variety of interiors, decorated in styles from Provence to high-tech.

Among the shortcomings, it should be noted that a wooden table is not suitable for those families who dream of a kitchen in bright contrasting colors, since the shade of wood, even unprocessed, cannot be called saturated. In this regard, plastic models are undoubtedly more colorful. Another significant drawback of wooden furniture is its cost. Tables made of wood are priced much more expensive than plastic or made of MDF, so they are not available to everyone. Kitchen furniture made of wood is usually quite massive and heavy, it is suitable only for spacious rooms, so be careful when choosing the required model of the product.

Each wood species is distinguished by its exclusive shades and structural patterns. The tree with light colors is represented by pine, alder, ash, larch, apple, pear and birch. If you want dark furniture, you should opt for plum or wenge varieties.

Most often, dining tables are made from bleached oak or pine.

Despite the fact that pine has a soft structure, it is still often used to make kitchen tables - the products are cheap, and therefore are in consistently high demand. In order to improve the operational characteristics of the material, wood is additionally treated with special compounds, usually varnishes.

Furniture made of this material looks very noble, and any defects that appear over time can be easily eliminated. For the manufacture of such tables, wood is selected very carefully - any knots, chips and cracks are completely excluded.

The undoubted advantage of such furniture is that mold does not form on surfaces made of pine, they are not subject to decay even when used in a humid room. Pine is hypoallergenic, it does not emit toxic substances, and therefore does not harm the inhabitants of the apartment.

Solid pine furniture can serve for several decades without changing its appearance. Pine has a unique color that varies depending on the type of coniferous tree, but in any case, the shade and texture look sophisticated, fresh and rich.

In the more expensive segment, oak tables are in the lead. The advantages of this material include ease of finishing, durability, high moisture resistance, as well as resistance to decay processes. With proper care, oak furniture does not become moldy and is not affected by fungus, even under operating conditions in a damp room. Oak wood is distinguished by its sophisticated appearance, it looks good in spacious rooms decorated in a classic style. The texture of this breed has a unique ornament and thus emphasizes the status of its owner, his impeccable taste and style of the kitchen.

Oak tables are ideally preserved for several decades, without changing their technical and operational parameters, while in order to maintain the coating in its original form, no effort is needed.

Kitchen tables are also made from some other types of wood.

• Nut. A fairly durable material that does not split or crack over time, has a beautiful texture and a pleasant shade. The tree belongs to rather expensive varieties, respectively, tables made from it have a high price.
• Linden. It has a soft wood, good cut and good workability. It is susceptible to pest infestation, therefore it needs special treatment with protective compounds.
• Wenge. An exceptionally hard and durable material with a unique texture, is distinguished by resistance to moisture and mechanical stress, and is quite expensive.

According to the shape, the tabletops are divided into rectangular, square, oval and round. Rectangular and square options are usually installed along the wall, making it easy to achieve significant space savings. All kinds of transformers harmoniously fit into this form.

The most popular model is a rectangular table with rounded edges. The optimal table width is 80-100 cm - if it is narrower, then there may be difficulties with serving, and if wider - with seating people. The standard version for a typical Russian kitchen is 80x120 cm.If such a table is installed near the wall with its wide side, then 4 people can freely fit behind it, and if it is narrow - 5. If such a table is moved to the center of the room, then it will be possible to seat 6- x people.

In recent years, oval tables have become more and more popular, this shape looks good even in small dining rooms. As a rule, they are combined with upholstered furniture corners. The undoubted advantage of such tables lies in the smoothness of the outlines, therefore, the operation of such furniture is as safe as possible, which is especially important in houses with small children.

Oval tables are considered more comfortable from a psychological point of view.They seem to blur the boundaries between the gathered people, the guests begin to feel more relaxed and comfortable. In addition, the absence of corners allows, if necessary, to fit a larger number of diners at the table.

It is believed that the round table unites people, equates them to each other - it is no coincidence that all important negotiations are held at the round table. Typically, they are installed in the center of the kitchen so that everyone has an unobstructed approach from either side. Round dining tables look harmonious in any interior, you just need to choose the right size and shade of furniture.

From the point of view of design, wood tables can be one-piece non-separable and transformers. The first option assumes strong, stable furniture, which remains unchanged throughout the entire period of use. In the second case, a miniature tabletop can be converted into a plane of a much larger shape, as a rule, these are sliding and folding tables. This option is optimal for a small kitchen.

The sliding mechanism involves the displacement of two parts of the table top in one plane and the installation of another flat element in the resulting space. For example, in this way you can get an oval table for 6-8 people from a round table for 4 people.

The folding table is more popularly known as a book-table. When folded, it looks more like a regular curbstone, but if necessary, the hinged sidewalls very quickly transform into tabletop elements and are fixed with additional legs. Usually when folded, such a structure is less than 50 cm wide, but when unfolded it reaches 2 meters.

A wooden table for the kitchen is chosen, first of all, taking into account the requirements of the ergonomics of the space. Experts recommend maintaining an approximate distance from the wall to the table of 80 cm, and there must be at least a meter aisles near the dining group - only in this case, users will be able to sit comfortably, get up and move chairs.

The shape of the table must necessarily correspond to the general design concept of the room and take into account the number of people who will have dinner here every day. So, round and oval products are more often chosen for a spacious kitchen, and owners of small rooms prefer square or rectangular models.

If you often receive guests, then it is better to purchase a transformer model in order to increase the dining area at any time. In families with small children, it is important that the edges of the furniture are smooth, otherwise the risk of injury increases dramatically. As for the number of legs, it can be any (from 1 to 4) - functionally these models do not differ, the difference comes down to aesthetic perception.

In conclusion, we will give several recommendations, which will extend the life of your wood dining table.

• Maintain a microclimate in the kitchen where the humidity level is 40-60%. To do this, use humidifiers in winter, and ventilate the room in summer, otherwise deformations and cracking are possible. For the same reason, after any wet cleaning, be sure to wipe the table with a soft dry cloth.
• When exposed to direct sunlight, wood can change its color, simply burn out. Therefore, if the table is near the window, then try to darken it with curtains or special films.
• Do not use ethers or alcohol-based products to clean the table. They dry out the wood and damage the varnish; it is advisable to use liquids based on silicone, oils or wax.

Separately, mention should be made of the need to periodically process the countertop with edible oils - this will protect it from deformation and exposure to microbes. To do this, rub the cleaned and well-dried surface with a woolen cloth moistened with oil.

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