One of the perks of making your own furniture is having the ability to fully customize and personalize every aspect of a project. This results in totally unique items that are truly one of a kind. But sometimes, too many options can leave you with choice paralysis. 

In the case of building a DIY table, one thing that you really need to choose is the right tabletop. This can be tough depending on what type of table you’re trying to build. Here are some things to consider when looking at options for your next project.

Glass

Glass can make for a beautiful and elegant tabletop. It’s transparent and can also reflect light, giving the illusion of a larger space. 

Glass is also very easy to clean. Spills can be easily wiped away to ensure that no stains or marks are left behind. That said, glass also requires more cleaning than other tabletops, as every fingerprint can leave an unsightly smudge.

Glass tabletops are usually pretty durable. However, accidents can happen that would cause the glass to break. A glass top is a good choice, but consider a different material if you have unpredictable pets and kids running around. 

One thing that makes glass tabletops slightly complex is attaching them to the table base. Unlike wooden tops, you can’t screw glass tops to your table bases. The easiest and cheapest way to attach glass to a table base is with the use of double-sided mounting tape.

Another option is to use a table bumper or another kind of anti-slip pad. These enable the glass to “stick” to your base without adhesive. The bumpers use resistance to prevent the glass from sliding around, although it can still be moved and repositioned if needed.

Marble

Marble is a very strong and sturdy material that looks stunning as a tabletop. Unlike other manufactured materials, marble is a natural material that is mined in different parts of the world. It’s available in a wide variety of colors and styles, making it very versatile. It can also be on the expensive side. 

Marble tabletops look really elegant, but in order to maintain their appearance, they need to be regularly cleaned. Marble stains easily, so any spills or water rings need to be wiped up right away. 

Quartz 

If you’re looking for a tabletop with a contemporary, upscale look but with little maintenance required, then you should opt for a quartz tabletop. Quartz has similar durability to concrete or granite, but it’s much more forgiving. It does not crack or chip easily. 

The quartz manufacturing process allows for a wide range of colors and styles, and the appearance of the finished engineered stone is rich and luxurious. The only real downside to quartz is its price. Expect prices ranging from $115–$200 per square foot. 

Quartz is a heavy material and it needs a solid base if you want it to work as a tabletop. The best choice is to use metal legs, as they are sturdy enough to carry the weight of the quartz. To attach legs to your quartz top to your table base, you’ll need to use something like silicone, construction adhesive, or methacrylate adhesive.

Solid Wood Tabletops

One of the most popular choices for tabletops is solid wood. Whether building an office desk or a dining table, you can never go wrong with a real wood tabletop. Solid wood can hold up well to wear and tear, but this greatly depends on the type and quality of wood you choose. 

PIPE DECOR® offers our own line of solid wood tabletops. Our RESTORE collection consists of real wood tabletops that are ethically harvested right here in North America. Our tabletops are kiln-dried, which helps prevent warping, splitting, cracking, and mildew. The wood is then hand-finished using our multi-step process to create exceptional depth of color.

Veneered Tabletops

Veneers are thin layers of wood applied to both sides of particleboard or similarly inexpensive materials. The finished product is designed to have the appearance of solid wood. This is a great alternative to solid wood tabletops if you’re on a budget, as you can achieve a similar look for less. However, a major downside is that veneers do not last as long as a solid wood tabletop.

Final Thoughts

DIY projects are so fun to build, but you need to make a plan before you start putting the pieces together. We hope this article has given you some insight on how to choose the right tabletop for your DIY project!