Transform a Room with Glass Table Tops: Everything You Need to Know

Glass table tops are highly versatile items that are used in three distinct ways: to replace damaged table glass, to create a custom table, and to cover an existing surface. Within the last category, surfaces are typically covered with glass to protect them, to beautify them, to hide or camouflage them, or some combination of these. Depending on your decorating needs and plans, you may wish to buy multiple glass table tops for various projects in rooms throughout your house. Let’s explore the most important information and tips for success in using glass table tops.

1. What if I already have a glass table, but the top is damaged or ugly?
2. How are glass tops used in the creation of new, custom pieces?
3. What glass styles are available for my custom table?
4. Is one glass style more popular than others?
5. How should I decorate a clear glass coffee table?
6. What is the best centerpiece for a clear glass dining table?
7. Which kind of chairs will match a glass-topped dining table?
8. How can glass improve a table that is already perfect?
9. I like my table, but it’s showing wear – can a glass top help?
10. How do I care for a glass table top?
11. What are the steps to having a custom top fabricated and put in place?

1. What if I already have a glass table, but the top is damaged or ugly?

Whether it’s a patio table or a table used inside the house, a broken or unattractive top can be replaced with a similar piece of glass. If you work with ABC Glass & Mirror for example, we’ll start by sending a glazier to your house to examine the table, measure, and record pertinent details. We don’t work within a set range of sizes, so we can tweak the glass dimensions as needed for a proper fit in your table. You can also choose the style of glass to either correspond with the previous piece or give the table a different look. Check with your glass technician about which of these options is a workable fit for your table:

• Clear
• Ultra-clear
• Patterned
• Acid-etched
• Sand-blasted
• Tinted

Ordering a sheet of custom glass is a fantastic way to salvage an heirloom table or just get one of your favorite pieces back to full functionality. Coffee tables, dining tables, office tables, end tables, and even patio tables can typically be restored in this way.

2. How are glass tops used in the creation of new, custom pieces?

Sheets of glass can be attached to pedestals, legs, or other supports to create custom tables. Home decorators go this route for any number of reasons, such as:

• The desire for a table of a unique shape or size.
• The wish to use a particular item – such as a tree stump or barrel – as the base for a glass table.
• A preference for pairing a specific type of glass with a particular base of your choice.
• The wish to replace an existing solid table top with clear glass for a more open look in that room.

If you’ve never been part of the process of creating a custom table, you probably have questions about how it works. Here are some FAQs to get you started.

3. What glass styles are available for my custom table?

Tempered glass is the standard choice for glass serving as a table top on its own, as opposed to being placed on an existing surface. For situations where you’re particularly concerned about the glass being struck, you can use acrylic or polycarbonate instead. These glass alternatives look similar to clear glass, but are much stronger than even tempered glazing. Tempered glass is offered in a range of looks including:

• Clear – See-through glass offers a bright, modern touch.
• Frosted – Glass is sand blasted or treated with acid for a frosty finish.
• Patterned – A design or pattern is integrated into the glass itself and is perceptible to both sight and touch.
• Tinted – Glass remains translucent but with a colored tint. ABC offers bronze and gray as standard tinted glass colors.

The type of glass chosen will greatly impact the finished look of the table. You’ll want to be intentional in choosing this as well as the base. Whether you choose a uniform style for base and top or wish to mix contrasting elements, the overall effect is what matters. Keep in mind that the kind of glass you choose will also affect how much of the base is readily visible. 

A separate but related issue is the shape of the table top. ABC Glass & Mirror can create table tops in various geometric shapes. Some shapes are equally suitable for all sorts of table styles – rectangular is a perfect example. Others lend themselves especially well to certain décor modes. For instance, a more edgy choice like a clear triangular top is perfect for a modern room, while a round frosted top would be especially helpful for preserving continuity in a period home.

4. Is one glass style more popular than others?

Each type of tempered glass gives you an attractive table top. Clear tops are perhaps the most popular simply because of the wide range of benefits they offer:

• Clear glass matches every color scheme and room style. You don’t have to worry that clear glass won’t coordinate with your table base or the other furniture in the space.
• It’s easy to wipe down and sanitize the smooth surface of clear glass.
• Transparent table tops don’t visibly fill the space, so they make a room seem more open. This effect is especially desirable when you want to make a small room seem bigger or to optimize the impact of a large room.
• Clear tops keep the base fully in view. If your base is a real statement piece, such as a tree trunk or uniquely welded metal sculpture, you don’t want it hidden by vision-obscuring glass.
• Clear glass is also a neutral backdrop for whatever you want to display on your custom table.

In summary, different types of glass will appeal to different homeowners or lend themselves to a room’s particular style, but clear glass is a widely-chosen favorite.

5. How should I decorate a clear glass coffee table?

ELLE Decor offers this succinct hack for styling a coffee table: “A stack of books, some florals, and one weird piece will turn your coffee table into an art installation.” 

Inspired by this principle, let’s look at some specific ways you might decorate a clear coffee table top.

• Do books end up on your coffee table anyway? Get one special item, such as a vintage book, photo album, or book of artwork. When you’re tidying up or getting ready for guests, stack the books that are already on your coffee table and put this one on last. You can even place a small statement piece on top of the whole stack, such as a seashell, river stone, or an unusual mug.
• Including flowers on your clear glass coffee table is a wonderful way to add color to the display and tailor it to the changing seasons. By switching out the vase and what’s in it – spring wildflowers, summer roses, colorful fall leaves, and wintry pine boughs, for instance – you keep the coffee table fresh and relevant.
• What about the “one weird piece”? Placing something unusual on your clear table top gives the room character, makes the display more personal, and can even be a great conversation starter! It could be something from nature, like a weirdly shaped piece of driftwood. It could be a funky retro item from your attic or a flea market. It could even be one of your child’s art projects! What’s important is that you like the piece and the way it impacts the room.

Busy families might view the coffee table as a purely utilitarian surface. You might be thinking, “I have no room on the table to create any display, let alone one with three distinct parts!” Here are some creative ways to boost the visual appeal of a functional coffee table.

• Choose a small “weird” vase and fill it with realistic artificial flowers. Place this on top of a stack of two or three books for an instant focal point that doesn’t take up any extra space.
• Add style to your coffee table by choosing useful items wisely. Funky coasters, an antique tray, or a floral table runner are more options for adding style without sacrificing a place to set your coffee mug!
• If the top of your coffee table tends to get cluttered, organizational items could be the key to a more chic look. Bins on the shelf or floor below the table top can be a lifesaver. With a clear glass top, lidded bins will keep things looking tidy from every angle. Disarray on top of the table can be minimized with a basket for all the remotes, a holder for coasters, a tray for used glasses, and the like.

6. What is the best centerpiece for a clear glass dining table?

What centerpiece is ideal for a clear glass dining table? With a look as versatile as this, the options are practically limitless. Home Decor Bliss offers a handy style guide, and we’ll leave it up to you to decide which of these ideas is the best.

• Arrange crystal decanters in the center of the table. 
• Keep the transparent theme going with a clear glass vase and floral arrangement.
• Create a pleasant contrast with a colorful ceramic vase.
• Decorate the center of the table with one or more pots of succulents.
• Arrange candles in beautiful holders on a tray.
• Put your personal spin on a classic by using an eye-catching bowl filled with edible or non-edible items of choice.
• Pair geometric shapes by filling a rectangular tray with spherical objects.

One nice thing about these ideas is that they don’t have to break the bank. Take crystal decanters, for instance. You may be able to find them at a flea market or garage sale. Also, normal glass decanters are frequently available at flea markets, and a cluster of these would also be very charming. In fact, you probably already have vases, candlesticks, candles, and other items that could be grouped to form a stylish centerpiece. Your arrangement of items can be placed atop a runner, tray, mirror, or even a fancy place mat to tie everything together.

7. Which kind of chairs will match a glass-topped dining table?

Jessa Kristia of Home Design Lover highlights 15 awesome dining rooms with glass topped tables. Chairs paired with these tables include:

• Fully transparent chairs made from a glass alternative.
• Ornate and old-fashioned high-backed dining chairs.
• Mid-century modern chairs with metal legs and upholstered seats and backs.
• An upholstered mid-century modern bench.
• Chairs with fabric skirts.
• Tall chairs with flowered upholstery.
• Glossy leather chairs with wood legs.
• Chairs with low rounded backs, pale leather upholstery, and dark legs.
• Casual metal-legged chairs with polycarbonate backs and seats.
• Well-padded upholstered chairs with thick seat cushions and buttoned backs.

You’ve probably noticed that there isn’t a common theme among all these chairs, and you’re right! Pretty much any type of chair can be paired with a glass dining table. As you choose your chairs, keep in mind the style of the table base, the room’s overall mood and theme, and your desired final effect. Chairs can soften a table with an industrial metal base; they can modernize a classic table; they can enhance or provide contrast to a table’s crisp edges and clean lines. Bottom line: choosing a glass table top doesn’t limit your chair options – if anything, it broadens them.

8. How can glass improve a table that is already perfect?

Maybe you love your current dining table or just bought a new one with a gorgeous wooden top. If you want the table top to stay beautiful even as you use it day after day, glass is what makes this possible. A clear sheet of glass can be fabricated to fit perfectly on the existing surface. It keeps the wood grain fully visible but protects the table from spills, scratches, dents, stains, etc. With a protective glass top, you don’t need to worry if your kids are coloring with markers, pressing hard with a pencil as they do homework, or drinking bright red fruit punch!!

Adding a sheet of clear glass is one of the best ways to ensure the longevity of a favorite dining table. This same technique can be used to protect coffee tables, end tables, desk tops, and so on. It’s easier to feel comfortable using an antique or heirloom table when the top is guarded by a layer of clear glass. For this application, 1/4” glass is typically used, but thickness options range from 3/16” to 3/4”. Since these tops are placed on existing surfaces, annealed glass is appropriate.

9. I like my table, but it’s showing wear – can a glass top help?

• Acid-Etched or Sand-Blasted: Glass with a frosted appearance is another good option for totally hiding damaged or stained table surfaces. Its classic look matches just about any decorating style.
• Back-Painted: This is ultra-clear glass that has been painted on one side and backed with a protective coating. It would be placed on your table with the painted side down, so that the paint color is visible through the exposed clear glass. This opaque glass will totally hide the original top and is perfect for giving a table or desk a fresh look.

10. How do I care for a glass table top?

To keep it looking its best, you’ll want to regularly clean your glass table top – just like any other table surface. For living room tables, it’s a good practice to dust as needed and wipe them down on a weekly basis. Dining tables should be wiped down after every meal. Here are a few tips for cleaning a glass table top without damage:

• Avoid harsh cleaning agents or abrasive scrubbing pads.
• Use approved glass cleaners or a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water.
• Wipe the table with a soft cloth, sponge, or paper towel.
• If the glass is atop another surface, spray the cleaner onto the towel or sponge, rather than directly onto the table. (This will prevent excess cleaner from running over the edge and possibly damaging the original top.)

Washing the glass regularly with the appropriate products makes your life easier on cleaning day and keeps the top looking amazing.

11. What are the steps to having a custom top fabricated and put in place?

Working with ABC Glass & Mirror, we typically begin with a free in-home consultation with one of our glass experts. To set this up, give us a call at (703) 257-7150!. A glazier will arrive at your house and  take the necessary measurements and notes for us to work up a quote. This is also your opportunity to view product samples and ask questions of someone used to working with glass table tops. You’ll receive a price quote via email. Once you place your order, the process will unfold along these lines.

• Your glass will be fabricated to the correct size, shape, and edgework for your project.
• We’ll call to schedule an install visit.
• Glass technicians will put the glass table top in place.
• You’ll enjoy the beauty and convenience of a glass topped table!

Have questions? Please give us a call to speak with one of our in-house glaziers. ABC is a family company with a commitment to customer satisfaction. We’d be very happy to help you beautify your home with glass table tops or another type of custom glass or mirror!