A table forms the heart of any room, especially the dining room. If you want a table to be a statement piece and a place where your family can gather, why not design your own?
Sure, there are hundreds of mass-produced options, but a custom-designed table allows you to express your taste and style. You can turn the designing process into a fun project for you and your family.
One of the best investments you can make for your home is designing a custom oak table for one or more of your rooms. Besides being a rewarding and fulfilling experience, crafting your own table also means:
- Expressing your creativity
- Investing in a quality piece of furniture
- Creating a family heirloom that the next generation will cherish
- Learning new skills
You do not have to be skilled in woodworking to design your own oak table. All you need is to understand the process and the available options. When you know what you want your table to look like, you can get an artisan or furniture manufacturer to assemble it.
The process of designing your oak table starts with understanding oak wood.
What Is Oak?
Oak is a popular wood used for furniture and flooring because it is easy to work with and stain. Oak comes in different hues or shades and is easily recognizable because of its outstanding grain pattern.
Oak Wood Colors
In its natural state, oak wood can take on nearly any color. One oak tree can have several colors, so it is possible to get light and dark wood from the same tree. Sometimes, oak furniture changes color over the years, with white oak turning a shade of amber.
There are also more than sixty different oak varieties growing throughout the U.S. However, red and white are the most common oak species used for furniture.
Will My Oak Table Change Color Over Time?
Oak's color change is mostly unavoidable, but it happens so subtly that you probably will not notice it. Oakwood darkens before taking on amber hues because it is exposed to oxygen and UV light.
For this reason, it is best to design and build all the tables you need (and other furniture) in one go. Otherwise, you may purchase another oak table or piece of furniture later on, only for it not to fully match your older pieces.
How to Recognize Oak Wood
As mentioned above, oak wood is fairly easy to recognize. The wood typically has an uneven texture and straight grain patterns. White oak has sealed-off pores, which means it is more water-resistant. In contrast, red oak has open pores. Both red and white oak have ray marks that run along the grain patterns.
Red oak has a reddish hue, and its grain pattern is often easier to see. If you go with red oak, you will have more of a traditional or rustic table. White oak is harder than red oak and is typically light in color. You can stain white oak to match your other furniture.
Moreover, oak is a hardwood because it originates from dicot trees. Oak is also one of the toughest wood types, making it an excellent choice for families or active households.
Selecting the Right Oak
Selecting the right oak type is crucial when designing a custom oak table for your home. There are several factors to consider when choosing oak wood:
- Grain pattern: Oak grain is mostly straight but can be curly or burl. Many people prefer straight grain because it is easier to work with, but curly and burl grains make for more beautiful patterns.
- Color: Depending on the oak species and age, you have many colors and shades. Consider your existing décor and your taste when choosing a wood color.
- Durability: Oak is usually harder and stronger, while red oak may be softer but more affordable.
- Availability: You must also consider whether your preferred oak wood is available in your area. It is often best to choose a local manufacturer, as having your table made and delivered will cost less.
- Sustainability: If you want sustainably sourced oak wood, choose wood from sustainably managed forests. Most craftsmen use local, sustainably grown oak wood when possible. This helps reduce deforestation and the carbon footprint of transporting the wood and the finished product.
Designing Your Table
When you are ready to start designing your table, you must consider the following elements:
- Functionality and space: You must decide what the primary function of the table will be. Do you want to use it solely for family dinners? Do you want the table to double as a workspace? Or do you need an oak table for a multi-purpose area?
- Seating: Decide how many people you want to sit around the table. Measure the space for the table, and consider legroom and ease of movement around it.
Tabletop Design
Choosing a tabletop with a specific shape will also impact its size and how many people can sit around it. The most popular oak tabletop shapes include rectangle, square, round, and oval. You can go with a kidney or ellipse-shaped table for a unique look.
Either way, your tabletop should be designed so that your guests have enough space in front of and to either side of them. You want each person to have at least 24 inches of space when seated at the table.
You must also decide on the thickness of the tabletop. If you want a sturdier, more substantial table, go for a thicker tabletop. A thinner one will work for a modern space if you will not use it much.
Table Base Design
You also have many options when it comes to your table's base design. There are several leg styles to choose from, including four-post, trestle, pedestal, etc. You want the base design to fully support the weight of the tabletop so that the table remains stable during use.
You can also decide how you want the legs to connect to the tabletop. You can attach the table base with simple screws, or you can go with connectors or dowels. Your table base will also influence how it is connected to the tabletop.
Additional Considerations
You can add a simple straight edge to your custom oak table or a beveled or bullnose edge. Consider incorporating unusual grain patterns or staining the wood for a unique finish.
Consider whether drawers will fit your custom oak table design if you want to add hardware.
Choosing Your Desired Finish
The finish you choose for your oak table will affect its appearance and durability. A natural oil finish will enhance the natural beauty of the oak wood. Natural oil finishes require regular maintenance, but they will give your table a natural matte look.
You can also stain your table to get the look you want. You can even opt for lacquer, which provides a hard, protective surface over the wood top. If you really want to, you can have your oak table painted, but this is not generally a good idea. Oak is typically hard to paint over because the grain will continue to shine through.
Working With an Expert in Table Design
The best thing you can do for your table is to have an expert design and create it for you. You can still have a say in colors, shapes, and sizes, but it is always a good idea to have a professional put it all together.
CopperSmith is one of the best professional partners to have when you want to design custom oak tables. With CopperSmith, you can customize your oak table in the following way:
- Choosing base materials: CopperSmith offers brushed and stainless steel bases. You can also choose a neutral black and brown color scheme or an RAL color match. With RAL, you can get a jewel tone to make your wood table stand out.
- Choosing styles: You also have lots of table styles to choose from. These include standard, modern, industrial, trestle, and sawhorse. You can pair any of these with a rectangular, round, or square tabletop.
- Choosing sizes: CopperSmith's wood tables come in several sizes. You can choose depths between 24" and 42" and widths between 24" and 120". The table heights range between 16" and 42", which means you can have your table customized for dining or other functions.
What Do CopperSmith's Customers Have to Say?
CopperSmith is rated Excellent on Yotpo, based on 627 reviews from satisfied customers. Here are some of their best reviews:
John S:
Exceeded our expectations!
CopperSmith's online design experience made it easy. Being able to choose your desired style and features and receiving samples of the materials they would be using made it a great experience. Their sales and customer service were wonderful to work with and always had an immediate response to questions and concerns.
Meredith P:
Work of Art!
It is absolutely beautiful! Definitely worth the wait!
Thomas M:
The Coppersmith team has been very responsive from all of our quirky requests during the quoting phase- thank you Austin, swift during the shop drawing submittal phase. Thank you, Evan, to the expediting team ensuring tracking, delivery, and receiving were set in place. Looking forward to the next project. Thank you.
Batel S:
Amazing quality:
It was a true pleasure to work with CopperSmith! My clients are happy! The products are high quality with endless design possibilities!
Steve T:
Beyond Exceptional
The hammered copper top is exceptionally hand-crafted and a perfect complement to our copper farmhouse sink. Not our first purchase from CopperSmith probably won't be our last!
John F:
East Elm St.
Austin and the design team was terrific to work with. Thank you.
Start Designing Your Custom Oak Table Today
A custom oak table can transform any room in your house instantly. You can use oak tables to add a piece of your own personal style to your home. You can also use them as focal points where conversations and good food are enjoyed.
Whatever you do with your custom oak table, you can design and have it constructed in such a way that the generations that come after you can enjoy it for many years as well.
Custom oak tables combine functionality, beauty, and expression. By considering the factors discussed above and working with a partner like CopperSmith, you can create an exceptional piece of furniture for your home.
Even better, you will have a piece of furniture your entire family can enjoy throughout each year for a very long time.
