Tables

A dining table: start from the space

A dining table has to be judged together with the chairs and the walkways around it. In the current range the dining tables come with a table top of 1200 × 800 mm. It is worth trying that format against the room before buying: mark the outline of the future table on the floor and check how much room is left for the chairs and for moving about.

Do not go by the area of the table top alone. The position of the legs or supports matters, and so does the distance to kitchen units, doors, walls and other furniture.

If you need a different format, or a table with an extending top, check the current VENETO catalogue or ask about the available options before ordering.

Coffee tables and compact side tables

In a living room the size of the table is worth relating to the sofa, the armchairs and the free walkway. Among the current coffee, tea and side tables the width runs to about 400–1000 mm, the depth 350–600 mm and the height 290–630 mm.

A large coffee table can become the centre of a seating area, while a compact, taller side table is easier to place beside a sofa or an armchair. So the figures themselves have to be judged together with the construction and the purpose of the particular piece.

Before buying, it helps to mark the dimensions of the table on the floor with masking tape. That makes it easier to see whether enough room is left to walk past, and whether the top will be comfortable to use from the sofa or the armchair.

Materials: more than solid oak

Oak has an important place in the VENETO table collection, but the category is not limited to pieces made entirely of solid wood.

The current constructions use:

• solid oak;
• board materials;
• oak veneer;
• laminate;
• metal;
• epoxy resin;
• textile in some constructions.

Materials can be combined in a single piece. Natural wood, for example, can be paired with a metal base, with veneered parts or with laminated surfaces. Some constructions also use epoxy resin or soft textile elements.

So before ordering it is worth looking at the full make-up of the particular table, rather than judging the material by the look of the top alone.

Solid oak, veneer and laminate: what is the difference

Understanding that difference makes it easier to compare tables by their construction rather than by the colour or the pattern of the surface alone.

Wood and metal

In some VENETO tables natural wood is combined with metal elements. A metal base makes it possible to create slimmer, more geometric supports and to separate the top visually from the frame.

Such combinations work well in contemporary interiors, where the natural texture of wood needs balancing with more graphic details.

How to check the size before buying

First work out the largest area the table can occupy, and only then start comparing particular products.

For a dining area, check:

• the room for the table itself;
• the space for the chairs;
• whether a chair can be pushed back freely;
• the walkways around the furniture;
• the distance to doors, kitchen units and other things.

For a coffee table or a compact side table, take into account the height of the sofa or the armchair as well, and the distance from which you will be using the top.

On product pages the dimensions can be given in different units and formats. So before ordering it is important to go by the labelled specifications of the particular piece, and where the notation is ambiguous — to check the sizes.

Finishes for wooden surfaces

For wooden furniture what matters is not only the material but the finish applied to it. VENETO tables use different finishes for the wooden parts, depending on the particular construction.

The finish affects the shade, the way the natural texture reads and the care the piece will need. If the table has to go with chairs, a bed, cabinets or other wooden furniture, compare not only the species of wood but the shade and the type of coating.

How to look after a table

The rules of care depend on the materials and the finish of the particular piece, but a few basic recommendations hold for everyday use.

• Wipe up spilt liquid straight away.
• Use a soft cloth for regular cleaning.
• Do not use abrasive sponges or aggressive products without checking that they suit the surface.
• Stand hot dishes on a heat-resistant mat.
• For tables made of several materials, follow the recommendations for each surface separately.
• Do not leave wooden furniture in constant high humidity or right next to a strong source of heat.

Questions and answers

How do I choose the size of a dining table?

Start from the room: mark the size of the tabletop on the floor and check that there is room left to pull out the chairs and walk past. If guests come only now and then, consider an extending table: in everyday use it stays compact.

What does the number in brackets in a table’s size mean?

On some extending tables the brackets give the size of the tabletop once extended. But the notation can differ from model to model, so check the diagram and the dimensions on the product page: the table has to fit the room in both positions.