A guide to buying a drop leaf table

In the world of table buying, there are many different kinds of unique tables with different names. Everything from gate leg tables to habitat tables to butterfly dining tables exist. If you don't know the vocabulary, it can quickly become very confusing to figure out, what to buy. One option that you have, which is especially great for saving space, is an option called drop leaf table.

Buying a drop leaf table

A drop leaf table is similar to what it sounds like - the 'leaf' of the table drops. In layman's terms, this means that you have a long table, that has hinged edges on one or both sides. When the edges are up, the table is longer or wider or both. This makes it functional for many purposes, such as dining or for doing crafts on the table. When the leaves are dropped, a mechanism like a hinge or spring is often used, to allow those ends of the table to flop and hang down, creating a smaller table that has sides that flop loose. The benefit of this is that when you do not have space for a full table, a drop leaf option can allow you to have a small and stylish piece of furniture that can grow to accommodate your needs. This type of table is often considered to be a kind of traditional furniture, at home in a traditional style house, although you could potentially find a modern, sleek or contemporary drop leaf table if you look.

What to look for

When buying a drop leaf table, think first about the material. An oak drop leaf table is a good option because oak is a classic wood and a less expensive than many other wood species. Something like oak is, however, very much on the traditional side depending on how you paint or stain it. Quartersawn oak can be more modern, but you will still see oak most often in traditional style homes. For a modern or contemporary twist, you should consider a teak table and chairs or something out of walnut or tigerwood. Think about shape and size next. You can buy a round drop leaf table or a square one, but make sure it is large enough to accommodate all of your needs.