The right table can help make any space in your home stand out, and the Knights of the Round Table would likely be proud of how far this particular piece of furniture has come.
Over the years, the variety of tables available to us, as well as our specific needs for said tables, has broadened. Today, with all manner of these vintage and antique furnishings differing in shape, material and style, any dining-room table can shine just as brightly as the guests who gather around it.
Remember, when shopping for a dining table, it must fit your dining area, and you need to account for space around the table too — think outside the box, as an oval dining table may work for tighter spaces. Alternatively, if you’ve got the room, a Regency-style dining table can elevate any formal occasion at mealtime.
Innovative furniture makers and designers have also redefined what a table can be. Whether it’s an unconventional Ping-Pong table, a brass side table to display your treasured collectibles or a Louis Vuitton steamer trunk to add an air of nostalgia to your loft, your table can say a lot about you. The visionary work of French designer Xavier Lavergne, for example, includes tables that draw on the forms of celestial bodies as often as they do aquatic creatures or fossils. Elsewhere, Italian architect Gae Aulenti, who looked to Roman architecture in crafting her stately Jumbo coffee table, created clever glass-topped mobile coffee tables that move on bicycle tires or sculpted wood wheels for Fontana Arte.
Coffee and cocktail tables can serve as a room’s centerpiece with attention-grabbing details and colors. Glass varieties will keep your hardwood flooring and dazzling area rugs on display, while a marble or stone coffee table in a modern interior can showcase your prized art books and decorative objects. Vintage desks and writing tables can bring sophistication and even a bit of spice to your work life.
No matter your desired form or function, a quality table for your living space is a sound investment. With vintage, new and antique choices from 1stDibs, you’re not just setting the table — you’re setting the stage. Browse the collection of bedside tables, mid-century end tables and more today to find the perfect additions to your home.
Eating meals alfresco is one of the great pleasures of warm weather, and a beautifully appointed space only heightens the experience. Get inspired by these delectable dining areas as you think about creating your own outdoor oasis.
The ancient decorative plaster still captivates as it did in the 17th century.