Glass tables for the kitchen: types, designs and examples in the interior

Today, light, "airy" furniture occupies the leading position. Heavy wooden tables and chairs are gradually becoming a thing of the past, taking up a lot of space and loading the interior, visually reducing the space. If the kitchen is small, or if you want an elegant and bright room, you should think about such a design solution as glass tables.

Glass tables for the kitchen are furniture that is light and weightless. It has many advantages and disadvantages, which are best known in advance. Of the positive qualities of kitchen glass tables, the following points can be distinguished:

• the glass table is very beautiful and unusual, it fits into all modern styles, brightens the space, makes it wider; it is the best solution for small kitchens;
• since the material of manufacture is durable, it is safe to say that the glass model will last for many years; in addition, such tables are not afraid of high temperatures and water;
• glass does not attract dirt to itself, therefore stains and all kinds of dirt simply cannot be eaten into the surface; everything that got on the table and violated its aesthetic appearance can be removed in a few seconds with a regular sponge or glass cleaner;
• such tables are fireproof, they do not burn or melt, unlike wooden furniture, which can burst into flames in the blink of an eye;
• an interesting feature of glass is that it reflects and refracts the sun's rays, so it will be especially pleasant to be in the kitchen in the daytime; and those owners who equipped the kitchen with lighting and placed several lamps will be able to enjoy beautiful glare even in the evening;
• glass is a natural, environmentally friendly material, here you will not find harmful impurities and compounds that will threaten the health of family members.

Glass furniture has quite a few advantages, but it also has many disadvantages.

• Although dirt on glass surfaces can be removed in a matter of minutes, this will have to be done constantly. Unlike wood, glass instantly "shows" all crumbs and stains. In addition, water stains and fingerprints are very visible on such a surface.
• Laying spoons, forks and plates should be done with care, since such a surface responds with a characteristic sonorous sound. However, this problem is easily solved - you just need to decorate the table with beautiful napkins and coasters, the sound will disappear.
• These tables are always cold to the touch. This can create problems in winter when you want warmth and comfort. Plates of food also cool much faster than on wooden surfaces.
• Glass is usually not subject to deformation from impacts or temperatures. But this does not apply to scratches that can appear with careless handling of the tabletop.

There are several varieties of glass kitchen tables, it is worth taking a closer look at them, since they are suitable for different styles and different sizes of kitchens.

Most often, such countertops are intended more for decoration than for accommodating a large number of guests. They can have one tier or several.On the second tier, which serves as a shelf, you can put additional dishes or any other small items. Monolithic tables are usually decorated with beautiful lighting. Some of them are also equipped with casters so that you can move them comfortably around the room.

Monolithic tables are often on one leg. As a rule, it is made of wood, so the model becomes much more sophisticated. But there are also tables with chrome legs. This is the so-called bar option that looks good in studio apartments or in modern loft or high-tech styles.

Extendable tables are a real find for those who often receive guests, but do not want to “give away” the entire kitchen at the disposal of a massive wooden model that cannot be moved anywhere. Transforming tables have mechanisms that allow you to turn a small nondescript attribute into a large table. They are located under the countertop. In addition, when unfolded, such models can change shape - for example, it was originally round, and after transformation it became oval.

Such models can also be considered transformers, only the sliding system is slightly different here. A hinge mechanism is used here, which allows you to easily and quickly transform the table. The models of countertops are "books" and "butterflies". In addition, under the countertop, you can equip small cells where you can neatly fold beautiful designer dishes, place glasses, colorful fruits. It is very pleasant to observe such a "panorama" during a meal.

Despite the fact that the main production material is glass, such tables always have several additional components. Still, let's talk about glass first. It is of such types as:

• matte;
• transparent;
• colored;
• with photo printing or sandblasting.

Tables are made of tempered glass or triplex. The first option has a thickness starting from 6 mm, the second - from 8 mm. In addition, for those who do not dare to take a table made of real glass, designers recommend starting with plexiglass (plexiglass) - this is a budget option that quickly deteriorates and gets scratched, but it is perfect for families with small children. As a rule, most glass tables have only the upper part, that is, the table top. The rest of the elements - boxes, legs, frames and supports - can be made from the following materials:

• wood and wooden beams;
• plastic;
• marble and natural stone;
• MDF, chipboard;
• eco-leather;
• metal.

As you can see, there are really a lot of materials, and this is far from all that interior designers can offer to their clients. It is not always important to choose the more expensive option, here the main task is to correctly combine the materials. For example, in a classic style, the chairs' seats and table support can be decorated in leather. The Provence direction will be favorably highlighted if the table is supplemented with rattan elements, but hi-tech or minimalism will require chrome or metal legs under the table top made of transparent glass.

Glass tables differ not only in the material of manufacture and type of construction, but also in shape.

• Round. These tables are a great choice for families with small children. Since there are no dangerous corners here, the child will not be able to hurt or hit, and it will be more convenient for an adult. However, round models will not always be able to fit into very small kitchens - due to their shape, they cannot be placed against the wall, you will have to leave indents.

• Oval. These models are also more suitable for large kitchens, it is desirable to place them in the center. In many ways, they are similar in characteristics to round options, they are completely safe.

• Square. Square tables are available in both large and small sizes. If the model is large, choose a table with four legs; for small specimens that have a more decorative function, one will do. Disassembled folding and sliding square tables take the shape of a rectangle.

• Triangular. But such models can be found quite rarely. Triangular tables are unusual, beautiful and unique and place them in the center of the kitchen.

As for the size, here you need to build on the purpose for which the table was purchased. The starting size for the kitchen table is 50x30 cm.The distance between the bottom of the tabletop and the chair should be at least 20 cm.However, here it should be borne in mind that tables can be folded out and disassembled, so all distances can be increased by one and a half, or even two times. If we talk about the width or length of the glass surface, then it can be very different, it all depends on the specific model. For example, square shapes are often 0.8 m long and the same in width, while rectangular ones can reach one and a half meters in length. Round tables have a diameter of just over 1 meter.

Modern glass tables are capable of embodying the most daring design solutions.

Today, you can pick up not just a monochromatic model, but also allow yourself such unusual ideas as stained glass painting, different types of spraying, abstraction. And also an interesting solution would be to decorate the table with a sandblast pattern.

White tables fit equally well into all interior styles, from classics to high-tech or fusion. They are supplemented with eco-leather, rattan, dark wood. Black tables are perfect for modern trends, including glamor. They can be made both monochromatic and patterned. Intricate drawings, splashes, drops, abstractions look beautiful.

For Provence, the best solution would be to choose matte surfaces of warm milky, cream, beige, lilac or lilac shades. The table will look more interesting if it has carvings on the legs or the legs themselves are forged. Finding table-like chairs is a must. Styles such as loft, hi-tech, fusion "require" shine and gloss, as well as color saturation. In the first two directions, you can pick up transparent glass with silver, gold patterns, purple colors will also be appropriate. Fusion will "approve" a riot of colors, so the table can be red, green, yellow and any other.

A lot of people who bought glass tables subsequently leave reviews about their purchase.

Summarizing these responses, there are several important selection rules that buyers and interior designers recommend adhering to.

• Do not buy tables from unverified manufacturers. The desire to save money in this case will lead to the fact that soon you will simply have to buy the next table. In addition, each product must contain an instruction manual, passport and certificate.
• The table should not "shake" on the floor, the structure must be stable. If you see the model moving back and forth, you shouldn't take it. The presence of special seals is also very important.
• Take a close look at each side of the table. There can be no chips, scuffs or irregularities. If you notice frozen air bubbles inside, this is also a bad sign.
• When buying, be sure to consider the number of family members and your own interior design. This also applies to the choice of chairs - in terms of the general color and stylistic range, they should match the table.

As mentioned above, the glass surface requires careful and daily maintenance. Consider a few tips that will help keep the product in its original form for years to come.

• It is recommended to wipe the dust on the surface with ordinary dry cleaning rags. Then the glass can be polished with special napkins for such surfaces, or you can use glass cleaning agents. In no case should you use scrapers, try to remove adhering pieces of food with a knife or fork - any dirt with proper persistence can be removed with mild cleaning solutions.
• If you put dishes with ready-made food on the table and are afraid that the surface may deform from too high a temperature, it should be covered with beautiful openwork napkins or decorative coasters for hot dishes. Thus, you will be able not only to preserve the surface, but also to radically transform the very look of the countertop for the better, giving it a more aesthetic, homely look.
• It is forbidden to cut bread, sausage, vegetables or any other food on the glass tabletop. You cannot sit down or lean on it, even on the corners.
• Sadly, but even careful care will not be able to protect from minor scratches and roughness. In this case, the surface of the table can be polished by purchasing a special paste in the store. If you need to do this urgently, it is not forbidden to use home cleaning methods. For example, chalk or a mixture of a small amount of baking soda and water, toothpaste. Such techniques will help to slightly improve the appearance, but they are not able to wipe the scratches.

For a modern kitchen, a glass table with eco-leather will be an excellent solution. Chairs should be decorated with the same material. Large windows, live plants and a warm cozy carpet on the floor will bring harmony and completeness to the interior.

In a glossy kitchen full of shine and light in lilac-plum shades, a white table and chairs with metallic shiny legs would be appropriate.

Oval and round tables work well in large kitchens. For example, a round table with three crossed legs of an unusual shape, as well as chairs in contrasting colors, will perfectly complement the restrained gray and white interior design.

In a minimalistic design, it is a good idea to place a table with glass edged with a black frame. In the set, you can pick up chairs in black and white tones.

Huge French windows in this kitchen will add light to the room, made in white and brown tones. The extendable table here has a light bluish tone, cozy armchairs will allow even the most prejudiced connoisseur of beautiful designs to enjoy tea or food.

Rectangular turquoise table with two legs and a stand will accommodate a large family. Fruits, flowers in vases, carpet on the floor, volumetric windows will complement this design.

For an overview of a sliding glass table, see the following video.