There is No Better Table than the Pedestal Table

Escape the confines of the traditional dining table by eating around a pedestal dining table. These tables are built with the large family in mind. Pedestal table legs are designed to be out of the way and only in the center of the table so that there is more than enough leg room for anyone sitting around it when sharing a family meal.

 Original constructed by the Amish, pedestal tables have since taken many shapes and forms. The pedestal table top can be round, square, oval, made of glass, wood, or even metal and it can come in a variety of different sizes from the 36 pedestal table which is 36 inches in diameter to the 92 pedestal table which is 92 inches in diameter. These tables make fantastic dining room tables and can generally seat a family of six or more quite comfortably. 

The main difference between a traditional dining table and table pedestals is in the construction of the legs of the table. Traditional tables are designed to have their four legs at each of the corners. These legs evenly distribute the weight and the table top is supported by cross bars in the center. However, the problem with traditional dining room tables is that if you have an average sized table and more than four people in your family, someone is going to be knocking their knees up against one of the table legs. Anyone who has had that corner seat before can tell you that it is not the most comfortable situation to be in.

 The round pedestal table does away with that four corner design and places one big leg in the center of the table. This leg acts as a stabilizing core for the table. It is thicker than the average traditional table leg and can often have smaller branches jutting out from it to maintain balance. The round pedestal dining table allows for maximum conversation potential amongst those sitting at the table. King Arthur and his knights sat around pedestal dining tables for that very reason.

There are many variations on the pedestal table design. Take for example the double pedestal. In order to evenly distribute weight over a wider table top it often becomes necessary to have two or more of these central core table legs. The double pedestal has two legs and a longer rectangle table top.

Remember, the goal of the pedestal table is to provide more leg room. These tables sometimes don’t even need to have the single core design at all. In fact the oval Carlisle which is an oak pedestal table is designed with four inward curving table legs. It looks similar to a traditional dining room but since the legs are curved inward and meet at the middle there is much more space underneath the table.

You can find a variety of pedestal tables at your local furniture outlet stores. Personally I own a white pedestal table that I keep in my kitchenette. It isn’t as large as my traditional dining room table but it is perfect for having breakfast with the kids or reading the newspaper. A friend of mine has a large pedestal table in his main dining room, it’s called a Princeton and it is a wood pedestal table with four leaves and a steam-bent skirt. It is a huge mammoth of a table and when he throw parties everyone can sit around it comfortably, I’ve seen about twenty people at that thing at one time.

Pedestal tables are fantastic pieces of furniture if you have a big family. If you don’t like knocking your knees at the corner of the table, pick up a pedestal table and never worry about leg space again. The large ones will go great with your oak bookcases and the small ones will look fantastic sitting underneath that Venetian mirror you can't figure out what else to do with.