Selecting the right glass coffee table

A coffee table is one of the most important parts of your living room, a focal point for daily life. While shopping for the right coffee table can be hard, selecting a good glass coffee table can be even more so. Glass tables should always be chosen with care, as they do possess a certain inherent hazard when broken. Glass coffee tables should be as safe as possible while still blending in with your living room environment.

Why choose a glass coffee table?>

There are numerous advantages to having a glass table. Both easy to clean and maintain and highly scratch resistant, even more so than wood, glass coffee tables are the best match for many more modern-style living rooms, and can be charming and elegant in their own way. Some things to look for in a glass coffee table are:

Rounded Corners

Sharp, right angled corners on a coffee table can result in minor injuries even if the glass remains unbroken. So it is generally a good idea to look for rounded corners on your prospective coffee table. Also look to make sure the edges are well rounded, without any sharp edges, as such edges can cut unwary consumers.

Safety glass

Safety glass, also known as “tempered glass”, is a unique glass made in the same manner as the side and door windows on a car. Safety glass is much more durable, making it less likely to break, and in the rare cases that it does, it will facture into hundreds of small, rounded pieces instead of large sharp fragments that can be severely detrimental to health. These features make tempered glass much safer than regular glass. To determine if the coffee table you are examining utilizes safety glass, ask a store representative, or look for a mark identifying it at tempered glass. Ideally, the glass should be 12mm grade of tempered safety glass with rounded corners and edges.

Metal Frame

Something you should look for in a glass coffee table is a solid, sturdy metal frame. This will reduce the chance of accidental breakage; additionally, stylized frames can help accentuate decorative aspects of glass furniture. Make sure the frame style matches you existing living room décor.

Size

It is vital to choose the right size of coffee table. Generally, when in doubt go for smaller furniture pieces, as small tables are less likely to be bumped into, reducing the chance of damage or breakage. For most living rooms, try to leave several feet of space between the table and surrounding furniture and walls.

End Tables

Many glass coffee tables come as a set with end tables, small pieces usually used for such mundane tasks as holding drinks and remotes. Consider looking at full sets before buying a lone coffee table, as buying furniture in sets is usually more cost effective than purchasing pieces one by one. But as decorative pieces they are not to be taken lightly, as they, too, have an impact on your living room’s overall air. Most of the same rules apply to glass end tables as to their larger counterparts.

Shopping for a coffee table can be time consuming and taxing, glass tables doubly so, but such a critical furniture piece for your living room merits substantial planning and forethought before purchase. With safety glass and rounded edges and corners, a glass coffee table can be every bit as safe as its wood or metal equivalents. Take the above points into consideration, and soon you will locate the coffee table that is best for you.

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