Buying a table: the complete guide

Table Buying Guide – The Essentials

Welcome to the table buying guide.

At Vale Furnishers, we stock an impressive selection of expertly crafted tables which can define how you use any room or area in your home. These range from homely pine tables which echo the traditional design values which are familiar to all of us, to sleek contemporary styles which will give your home a sophisticated, modern twist. Broadly, our tables fall into two main categories; dining tables and occasional tables. However, when you visit our showrooms, you will discover that the variety on offer includes not just the beautiful dining tables and coffee tables you would expect, but also intriguing smaller pieces such our console tables and useful table nests. So to give you a flavour of just how much there is to find in store, we’ve put together this useful table buying guide.

Things to consider

As with almost any major furniture purchase, the two main principles to bear in mind when deciding which table is right for your home are form and function. Your new table should both look fantastic and provide the right functionality for how you intend to use it, while of course blending in harmoniously with your existing furniture.

The two main principles to bear in mind when deciding which table is right for your home are form and function.

Whether or not a table will look right alongside your other pieces of furniture really depends on your own judgement and sense of style. However, it is essential that your table fits comfortably in the room or area in which you intend to keep it, so it’s always sensible to measure up at home before beginning your search.

Dining Tables

While traditional dining rooms have fallen out of favour in recent times due to the rise in popularity of larger ‘open plan’ living spaces, a dining table is still an essential for any family home. As well as providing that all-important venue for all those happy family meals, it also helps to define the various ‘zones’ of your home, acting as a distinct divide between your kitchen and your lounge area.

For smaller homes, our more compact extending dining tables can allow homeowners to create a dedicated dining facility using surprisingly little space. Larger extending dining tables are also available for those who occasionally require additional seating capacity or free table space, for example when entertaining guests or hosting more formal family meals. We also stock a range of fixed dining tables, which are popular with those who do not wish to compromise on style in favour of function.

While traditional dining rooms have fallen out of favour in recent times due to the rise in popularity of larger ‘open plan’ living spaces, a dining table is still an essential for any family home.

Click here to see our full range of dining tables.

Occasional Tables

Contrary to what the term might suggest, occasional tables are always useful. We stock a vast array of pieces which fall into this broad category, including coffee tables, lamp tables, table nests, side tables, console tables, and bedside tables. Some of these are self-explanatory, but one or two require a little further clarification.

Console tables, for example, are very similar to side tables, with the distinction that they are shallower and therefore will fit more comfortably in hallways or smaller rooms. Like side tables, they often have useful drawers, and due to their compact nature can sometimes be placed to the side or rear of a sofa or other large piece of furniture.

As the name implies, lamp tables are used to create an elevated surface on which to keep lighting appliances. They can also be used alongside lounge seating as a convenient surface on which to place drinks, books, or other small items.

Console tables, for example, are very similar to side tables, with the distinction that they are shallower and therefore will fit more comfortably in hallways or smaller rooms.

Click here to see our full range of occasional tables.

Why buy from us?

Based near Guildford, Vale Furnishers are one of Surrey and Hampshire’s leading furniture shop specialists. A family business, Vale Furnishers began back in 1960, and we soon established an impressive reputation for our exemplary customer service, competitive pricing, and uncompromising insistence on excellence in everything we sell. From the very beginning, tables were one of our most popular items, so sourcing truly exceptional examples has always been a top priority for us. We’ve maintained these high standards to this day, so there really is no better place to find the perfect table for your home. We hope this table buying guide has helped you to make more informed decisions when you’re next looking to buy a table for your home.