I HATE Placemats...What Are My Dining Table Options?

11 years ago

I am a lazy person. I do not want to use coasters under my sweaty, icy drinks. I have kids, and I don't want the extra hassle of place mats.

So, what are my dining table surface options? Is there such a thing as a wood table that just gets better with abuse and use? For example, I love this rustic table from Crate & Barrel: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/big-sur-natural-65-dining-table/s450898

However, in the reviews, people complain that watermarks and stains show up very easily, even after waxed. Can anyone point me to wood tables that are very kid friendly and water/stain resistant?

PS I also looked at glass and marble, but the surfaces are cold and unpleasant to rest your arm on.

Here is a link that might be useful: Big Sur Table

Featured Answer

valants

5 years ago

I had a Dinaire oak table for 20 years without a mark on it, then decided I wanted a different wood tone to complement my new cabinets (because my contractor didn't make them the color I wanted to match the old table). BIG mistake. Dinaire made the best table top finish ever. I purchased a used Canadel maple table and it shows a mark every time you put anything wet or warm on it. Dinaire went out of business because their tables lasted a lifetime. Oh how I wish I could get it back. I haven't tried waxing the Canadel table yet, I don't know if that would help. But I panic if anyone puts a glass or coffee cup on the table now. I miss my old table. Does this Canadel table need another coat of lacquer?

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Comments (13)

graywings123
11 years ago
The Big Sur table with naturally occurring splits, cracks and knots is not a good choice for someone who wants a water/stain resistant top.

Keep looking. Many tables have a urethane finish of some type. Or find a table you like - minus the splits and cracks - and give it a few coats of polyurethane. Or buy a used table and embrace the wabi-sabi aesthetic.
crl_
11 years ago
We have a table made from reclaimed wood purchased from the woodworker at a flea market many years ago. It was not "perfect" to begin with and seems to absorb my kids scratches, etc without them being noticeable, ie, they are just more patina. I have never noticed water marks. We do not use table clothes, placemats or coasters and we have used this table daily for year's. I have no idea how he finished it though, sorry.
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maddielee
11 years ago
I agree with graywings...buy something with a hardwood protected with Polyurethane. A well applied matt poly should not show every nick or water mark. I have a very old oak breakfast table that we use for everything...never had a water mark.

We are not a coaster using family, none of my tables have been hurt by everyday use.

ML
ratherbesewing
11 years ago
You can always have a piece of glass cut to fit your table.A little Windex and you are clean!
Sueb20
11 years ago
At our "regular" house we have a kitchen table with a cherry top with poly on it, and with regular, somewhat careful use (no placemats or coasters, and kids do their homework there...and eat there...but I'm always telling them to put a book or something under their paper if they're writing), it looks pretty good but after a year, there are some scratches and a ding or two. In our beach cottage, we have a pine farmhouse type table from LL Bean that we bought about 10 years ago. It's our only spot for eating, art projects, etc., so it gets a lot of abuse. Any patina from the abuse just looks natural on this table, and in fact hardly noticeable. I don't think LL Bean sells our table any more, but something similar might work for you.
musicteacher
11 years ago
I have a nude furniture table that I finished with Zar Tung oil. It has had everything spilled on it (beer, Clorox. etc),never saw a placemat or a coaster, and just now, 30 years later looks like it needs a new coat. I even did my tole painting on this table and just scraped the spills up with my fingernail. It will put my table out of commission for a few days because you have to wait overnight for a new coat, but I just wiped it on with an old sock. Soooo easy!
lizzie_grow
11 years ago
I recently bought a pretty piece of soft oilcloth fabric, cut it to the size of the dining table we bought last year & use it for family dinners when our granddaughters are here. All I have to do is wipe it off & it's good to go. It's a pretty light green lattice pattern, so kind of classy looking but very functional. Would that work for your family in lieu of a bare table or placemats?
gmp3
11 years ago
Someone I know has a really cool world map on her table, under clear vinyl fabric. It looks nice, well nicer than a table with rings on it, and her kids are great at geography.
ellendi
11 years ago
We have a kitchen table with a formica top that looks like maple. I too don't like placemats or tablecloths. But, this is in a kitchen.
I am wondering if there are high quality dining room tables that offer this. We lucked out with ours at a small upstate independently owned furniture store.
cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
11 years ago
Tung oil is amazing! Go with that.
kristheot
11 years ago
I had my kitchen table refinished this summer. The company that did it claims that their finish is so strong that some customers bring them brand-new tables to be protected before they use them. You might want to ask a local refinishing company for advice.
My tip is that mid-tones and grainy wood show less damage than very light or dark woods with little grain.
cindyloo123
11 years ago
The white rings are usually caused by moisture on wax. There is no reason to have such a problem today. There are so many protective surfaces you can get, including poly.

I HATE Placemats...What Are My Dining Table Options?

valants

Comments (13)

graywings123

crl_

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