It was the poet John Keats who said, ‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever’ and this does in fact apply to your choice of a dining table. It is your dining room table that you will be using day in and day out for many years to come, so it does make a lot of sense to pick one that is not only functional but also beautiful to look at.

To begin with think about the dimensions and shape of table that will suit your purposes and the shape and size of your dining area. Then you can decide what the kind of table you want to buy is.

The Leg Table:

The Amish specialize in many different kinds of dining tables and among them one of the most popular varieties is the Leg Table. As the name suggests, these tables are leg tables and are crafted on the clean simple and uncluttered lines. These may include drop leaf tables as well, which could be folded down from one or both sides to lessen the length of the table if there are issues of space, but the need for a larger table occasionally.

The Burlington table is a throwback to a more genteel time with its rectangular shape and federal design which incorporates a Queen Anne style foot with a straight leg and clipped corner top. The Brady table or the Georgetown tables give you the option of beautiful circular four legged tables. The Madison or the Mansfield tables give you the option of a boat shaped top which is both elegant and unusual.

Trestle Dining Table:

As the name suggests the trestle dining tables are made by the Amish furniture makers using frames or a braces as a support for the tables. These are tables that come with a variety of different supports as against the simple four legged variety.

The Arts and Crafts table is a classic, and personifies the Arts and Crafts movement with its legs that curve outward and the slatted based along with a circular one inch top. Then there is the Arlington table with its contemporary styled trestle. It is designed with a boat shaped top and sturdy base. The Craftsman Mission Table is another classic design with its slatted Mission style base that has built with superior mortise and tenon joints.

Pedestal Table:

Pedestal tables are again in a variety of different styles to suit individual tastes and needs. For instance the Caledonia style of pedestal table is a contemporary flare on a pedestal style table. It is available in round, square or oval table top shapes to suit individual requirements. The Camden Table is a unique dining room table with built in storage drawers under the base top and can be a real plus when space is tight. The Chancellor Pedestal table is for a more formal setting dining area and is a classic in its own right.

So remember when you make up your mind about a dining table, it is something that you will use for many years to come and should be one that is a thing of beauty and a joy forever!