Pub Table Buyer's Guide
Table for two, please!

Pub-lic Domain
You've seen them everywhere, perhaps without even realizing it: dark but cozy Irish public houses on a popular BBC America show, the elegant tables at clubs where people engage in lively chatter over food and music, or even just pushed into a corner at a friend's house and taken out for extra seating areas where needed. The pub table is far from just a place where one keeps their drinks as the name suggests! They are becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to remodeling the kitchen for a breakfast nook, the perfect gathering places at house parties, or even just the right spot for a gardener to rest her tools while reaching for a cool glass of lemonade in a moment of respite on a warm spring afternoon.

Pub tables can seat up to four people depending on their size and are a good deal more attractive than card tables when it comes to keeping “spare” seating on hand. When not in use for family gatherings or parties, they make excellent gaming tables, a great place for studying, and can be used as accent tables. With so many combinations of materials and finishes, styles and possibilities, it's hard to say no to these compact, versatile pieces of furniture.

Just Right Height
What sets a pub table apart from other surface areas is its height. It has been proven that they are the perfect “conversation” table because one can actively engage others on an equal eye-level while still seated. They average anywhere from 35 to 42 inches, with plenty of room for bar or counter stools beneath them. When choosing your pub table, it is important to keep any seating you might already own in mind; there should be a 10 to 12 inch clearance between the top of the seat and the bottom of the table.

The most prominent feature of a pub table is its legs or base. These can simple or ornate, contributing to the beauty of your home without making an overpowering statement. While many of them come as the standard pedestal with a widened base, some are crafted with four pegs. Several include a food rest in their design, adding that extra touch of authenticity to the “alehouse” spirit.

You Are Here
As mentioned before, pub tables can go into virtually any room in your home, on patios or out in the garden. With so many manufacturers offering a wide variety of designs in stores and on the web, you can find a pub table to meet your every surface need. It's important to keep the location in mind when shopping – chiefly, will the table of your dreams fit into the existing scheme of your room?

It's got Panache
Having trouble figuring out if the gorgeous rattan and glass pub table you've found will fit in with your current decor? This quick style list should help, and might even give you a few more ideas:

• Contemporary/Modern: Innovative forms, industrial materials and minimal decoration are the hallmarks. Metal and glass tables alike are immediate candidates for this category.
• Craftsman/Mission: Simple rectilinear forms and limited adornment. May appear rustic, sporting copper accents and/or large nail heads. Primarily darkly stained oak is the chosen material..
• Rustic: Emphasis on natural, unrefined elements. The most popular design styles often classified as rustic include southwestern, western, country, farmhouse and lodge.
• Traditional: Calm and orderly are the two words that best epitomize traditional style, with classic lines and understated details. Furniture edges tend to be smooth, soft, and blend into the overall feel of a room. Wood with a dark stain is especially popular.

Getting to the Surface
Pub tables come in a variety of finishes, but there are three core types: wood, wrought iron/metal, or glass.

Wooden Pub Tables:
Pros:
• · Ages beautifully and scratches fade away naturally with use
• · Timeless, a classic choice
• · Hard-wearing and long-lasting
• · Unpolished wood has natural anti-bacterial properties
• · Wide variety of finishes available
  
Cons:
• · Wood furniture is heavy and difficult to move and store
• · Often expensive if top grade woods are used
• · Prone to warping


Metal Pub Tables:
Pros:
• · Sturdy, long-lasting design
• · A large variety of styles, from modern to eclectic
• · Impervious to water and spills
  
Cons:
• · Just as heavy as wood, if not more so
• · Some potential for rusting
• · Lighter metals (such as aluminum) might not hold up to the test of time


Glass Pub Tables:
Pros:
• · Its transparency promotes a sense of space
• · Modern and sophisticated
• · Easy to clean
  
Cons:
• · Sharp, transparent ages can be dangerous
• · See-through, so be mindful of how you sit in skirts, ladies
• · Attracts dust easily
• · The most frail of all the choices