How To Choose Metal Table Legs for Your Project
Choosing Metal Table Legs
A table in any room will almost always draw a large amount of attention when people first walk in. This makes it a good idea to put some serious thought into how you want to create your table so that every part of it can shine and look its best. There are a lot of factors to consider when designing a table, be it a centerpiece dining table or even just a nightstand to put next to your bed. Both the top of the table and the legs that support it will require careful consideration as to how you want them to look and the feel you want to give them.
Choosing metal table legs for your table project can seem overwhelming when you have an abundance of different designs and aesthetics to choose from. Here at Econ Welding, we want to make sure you’re happy with your choice for many years to come. That’s why we’ve created this guide on how to choose metal table legs for your projects. Using these tips, you can feel confident in knowing what your table needs the most and how you can match those practical needs with a design that you’ll enjoy for a long time.
Determine Your Aesthetic
While practicality is certainly important, especially for larger tables that will take up more room, it’s usually a good idea to begin with the style of table you want or the aesthetic you want the room to have as a whole. Figuring out the style of your table’s top and legs is the better place to start because you can then work backward to a practical solution that incorporates the design elements you want the most.
If you want something that really grabs people’s attention, don’t be afraid to go flashy or ornate with your table legs, as you can always offset them. You can even add more design elements to them by choosing a tabletop that complements their look. If the top of the table will be the most eye-catching part, a simpler and more subtle set of table legs can help ensure that the focus stays where you want it the most. Does your home have an aesthetic already, such as industrial or farmhouse? Metal table legs that match the house’s aesthetic leave you more room to play around with the design of the tabletop instead.
Decide on the Table’s Purpose
After you decide on a style you enjoy, you can start to look at the more practical aspects of the table. As we’ve mentioned, a long dining table and a small table near your home’s front door will need wildly different table legs because of their individual purpose. Heavy-duty legs made from high-gauge steel are your best option for tables that will see a lot of use and that need to hold up a lot of weight. You’ll want heavy-duty table legs for pieces such as dining tables, coffee tables, and work desks.
Lighter duty legs aren’t without their benefits, though. A table that might need to move around a lot more would benefit greatly from thinner and lighter table legs. Side tables and nightstands are the best candidates for metal table legs that aren’t overly thick and bulky.
Consider Your Top’s Material
It’s often the case that the top of the table will influence the final choice of table legs. You have a wide variety of choices for tabletops: woods of all kinds, different types of stone or concrete, or even glass. The material that makes up the top of your table might change your needs when it comes to the table’s legs. Certain kinds of legs may not be compatible with the tabletop you were leaning toward. You’ll also need to consider the type of hardware you’ll need to fasten the tabletop to the legs. Here are some things to consider for the major types of tabletops you’ll usually choose from.
Wood
Wooden tabletops are a classic choice, and the wide variety of wood species and finishes gives you a lot of room to work with if you’re trying to match the table to the design of the rest of your home. Wooden tabletops require lag bolts, wood screws, or threaded inserts to make sure they stay secured to your metal table legs. Wood runs the entire spectrum when it comes to weight, with some species being far heavier than others, so don’t commit to a particular kind of wood until you know all of its properties.
Glass
The fragility of glass, even extremely thick sheets of it, will require additional support to make sure nothing can harm it. For the majority of projects that use a glass tabletop, you’ll need to have a cross-support in place with the table legs to support the entire sheet of glass. Glass tables can be extremely beautiful, but be aware that they are heavy and need careful consideration.
Stone
While stone doesn’t have quite as many options compared to wooden tabletops, a stone top table does have a special kind of appeal, especially if you go for a more luxurious option such as marble or quartz. These kinds of tabletops share the same issue as glass ones: they can be exceedingly heavy and require a good amount of support to stay strongly situated. Depending on the material, it’s possible to get away with only using special concrete bolts for stability. For heavier projects, a stone top table will also need a cross-support in place.
Weigh Out Your Table’s Top
As you can see, the weight of your table’s top plays a major role in deciding the kind of table legs you require. The custom metal table legs we offer here at Econ Welding & Fabrication can withstand the weight of most materials when they are a typical table size. If you have plans to create an exceedingly large or long table, you may require a more customized version of our typical table legs to support the extra weight.
Now that you have a better idea of how to choose metal table legs for your project, you can get it done and feel proud of the final product. If you have any questions about finishing your project as successfully as possible, don’t hesitate to contact us with your questions or concerns. We’ll be glad to help you find exactly what you need.
