The table is the most important element in equipping almost any room. Whether it's a private office, office, cafe, bar or children's room. Furniture production offers a huge selection, from the simplest models to truly luxurious products. It all depends solely on the personal desire or idea of the designer.
What is an underframe?
At its core, the base for the table is the basis on which the countertop and all the objects on it rest. Other names - underframe, base, base, support, frame.
Do not underestimate the role of the underframe, as the reliability and durability of the table depends on it. Therefore, you should choose the base for the table wisely. Because if you miscalculate the load, the table can become unstable. And as a result, from a random push, it will simply roll over.
In addition, the right table base can be a unique interior highlight that will emphasize the individuality of the room.
What are the reasons?
ForTable bases are made using many different materials. According to this, they are divided into:
- wooden;
- metal;
- plastic;
- glass;
- stone;
- combined;
- from MDF and chipboard.
In addition, the underframes are divided by height:
- standard - their height is 72-73 cm;
- bar with a height of 1 m and above;
- coffee tables with a height of 45-50 cm.
By scope:
- for public places (cafes, restaurants, offices, bars);
- for houses and apartments.
Most common are metal and wooden table supports.
Wooden bases
Wooden table bases look prestigious, solid and rich. They are considered classics and fit almost any interior. Compared to other options, wooden table bases are much more elegant and look more natural.
The most affordable models are made of walnut, beech, birch, pine, ash, oak. Expensive models are made of mahogany or wenge. For manufacturing, a beam with a width of at least 5 cm is used.
The bases made of carved oak and other precious species are almost identical to steel underframes in terms of strength and reliability. Among the shortcomings, it is worth noting the high cost and lack of stability.
Wood perfectly emphasizes the sophistication of the interior. In addition, this material is environmentally friendly. A special highlight can be an underframe,decorated with painting or carving.
The main disadvantage is the high price. In addition, wooden bases require additional processing to avoid deformation when exposed to high temperatures or moisture.
Metal table supports
Perhaps the most popular are metal table bases. Such products are strong, durable and not afraid of mechanical stress. But at the same time, they are quite heavy, which should be considered when choosing underframes from this material. And to protect the floor from scratches, use silicone or plastic plugs.
For the manufacture of metal bases for the table, cast iron, copper, aluminum, stainless steel, and brass are used. As for coatings, most often it is painting. The most optimal option is stable powder paint with its subsequent drying in an oven. Color solutions can be different: black, brown, white, gray. The last color is quite interesting, as it creates the effect of the surface of machined aluminum.
The surface of metal bases can be:
- matte;
- painted enamel;
- shiny (chrome or nickel plating);
- tinted (under gold, brass, bronze, copper).
Most often you can find a base for a table from a profile pipe. They are light in weight and yet quite stable. Tables with such an underframe are not difficult to move if necessary.
The cast-iron underframe is considered the most durable. Get it using the casting method. This option is ideal for outdoor use. In addition, another advantage is the wide variety of forms. Of the minuses, perhaps the most important is the large weight of such a product. Usually such supports are covered with stable enamel.
Stainless steel and chrome plated bases are preferred when tables are placed in a bar or outdoor café terrace. Such supports are quite stable and have an aesthetic appearance. In addition, they tolerate moisture and temperature changes well.
Brushed aluminum table bases have similar qualities to stainless steel. The difference is the lighter weight and the requirement for smaller countertops.
One of the most attractive are forged table bases. Despite their high cost, they are still very popular. Such supports easily become the highlight of the interior.
Design features
According to the design features, the bases are divided:
- adjustable table legs;
- unregulated bases;
- flip-out supports;
- folding designs;
- retractable models;
- supports on wheels.
Adjustable underframes are great for floors with height differences. Usually they are produced up to 150 cm high, but the best option for adjustable table supports is 100 cm. This design allows you to change the height of the table without any effort. Ideal for cafes, bars, canteens and private homes. Before buying, be sure to check the operation of the mechanism, make sure it is reliable and find out everythingspecifications from related documents. It is important to always know within what limits you can change the height of the table.
Non-adjustable table bases are produced with a height of up to 1 m, but underframes with a height of 50-60 cm are most in demand. Such models are the simplest and are considered the most reliable. Most often have four legs.
Regarding the legs on wheels, they are most often used for mobile furniture such as a coffee table, curbstones, chairs.
Folding tables are very attractive in terms of practicality. Can be folded up and hidden if needed. When choosing, you should pay attention to the reliability of the folding mechanism. Otherwise, it may turn out to be a very unpleasant situation when the system crashes at the most inopportune moment.
Flip-down bases are the best option when you have to frequently change the number of available seats. They are perfect when needed:
- quickly start a meeting, conference, meeting;
- organize a large audience;
- hold large-scale meetings with a large number of people.
Furthermore, fold-down stands are perfect for outdoor events. And the presence of the function of autonomous adjustment of each leg in height will help to avoid a lot of inconvenience when the table needs to be placed on an uneven surface.
Retractable structures are a great option for small spaces. Such an underframe, if necessary, can be pulled out and the tabletop unfolded. This manipulation will add several seats.
A little about legs
Table base manufacturers offer the following number of legs:
- Four legs. This is a classic option that fits all types of countertops. In addition, this number of legs allows you to withstand heavy loads due to the distribution of weight around the entire perimeter.
- Three legs. It also occurs quite often due to its unusualness. It looks interesting when the legs are assembled in the upper part and diverge only towards the bottom. In addition, if there are some bizarre deformations, then this gives even more creativity.
- Two legs. This option is not common and is considered rather something of a sophistication. For stability, the legs are usually slightly curved in the form of semicircles or pyramids.
- One leg. Also a rare option. Usually, a small countertop is selected for such a support, most often round in shape and made of glass or MDF. To ensure balance, the support must be massive.
In addition to standard forms, there may be various variations:
- rectangular (classic);
- square;
- U-shaped;
- X-shaped;
- W-shaped;
- V-shaped.
In fact, the list goes on and on. And of course, forged bases with their bizarre all kinds of shapes. This is where designers often show their maximum creativity.
Color of underframes
Usually the base is made in the same color as the top. But there are alsovarious combinations. Choose the color according to the same principle as the rest of the furniture.
The classic underframe has a concise black color. It is with him that countertops of any color, made of different materials, are combined. In addition, simple unpainted natural wood tops are wonderfully combined with a black underframe.
One of the most elegant is the black wrought iron table base. Very often, the legs of such models are decorated with various decorative elements, which, in tandem with an unpainted wooden tabletop, will make the perfect pair. Looks impressive both in the house and in the yard.
White color looks attractive with glass and is used most often in modern and high-tech style.
Classic brown looks not as flashy as black and white, but still looks quite attractive and harmonious.
If the metal is not painted, then the most successful combinations will be with white, black and beige. But it is better not to combine it with a gray tabletop to avoid blandness.
Chrome-plated table bases pair perfectly with glass or other high-gloss material, as long as the color matches the decor.
Warm hues make the space feel a bit wider. If the windows face the north side, then the best solution would be to choose peach and beige tones.
How to match the interior?
Before you purchase a baseboard, you should consider the overall design of the interior, in addition,you need to look at the purpose of the room.
Choosing bases for a bar, you should pay attention to chrome underframes. The combination of a telescopic base with a round glass top or other unusual material looks good. The cafe, equipped with tables with different tabletops, but the same supports, looks harmonious and interesting.
Designers often use cast iron and wooden bases to decorate restaurants. This is due to the fact that such underframes look great in subdued lighting.
If the tables are placed outside, cast-iron bases or a lighter option - aluminum underframes will look aesthetically pleasing. In addition, this solution is more practical.
Products for exhibitions are mainly made of aluminum. They are easy to mount and dismantle, which saves a lot of effort and time.
In an apartment or house, you should pay attention to the color schemes of the room where the table will stand. For example, elegant and miniature bases are perfect for a bedroom. But in the dining room, a solid and massive underframe will look great.
If the room is decorated in a classic style, then a wooden base would be appropriate. And for high-tech rooms, a chrome base or plastic is ideal.
For a glass table, the base is best chosen from aluminum or brass. In addition, painted cast iron will also look harmonious.
For a minimalist design, the choice can be made on a glass baseor thin metal. At the same time, it is better to equip such a table with wheels so that, if necessary, it can be easily moved to another place.
If the main idea in the interior is rustic, then it is better to use rough wooden elements (for example, raw bars, logs) paired with a round or oval tabletop.
For a loft (industrial) style, the best option would be to create the appearance of a rough and unfinished surface. This style requires furniture to be durable on the outside, one might say, to create a look of invincibility.
A luxurious retro model will look elegant and harmonious in a classic interior. The same option is valid for Provence. But in high-tech style it would be inappropriate. For a marine style, products using ball paint are well suited.
Baroque is characterized by gilding and a certain splendor in decorating elements. But at the same time, it should be easy and elegant. Therefore, underframes with a touch of gold will look appropriate.
How to choose an underframe?
When choosing the bases for the table, you should focus on the following points:
- The overall interior of the room, which should be combined with the design of the underframe.
- Height of the support: it will be an exclusive coffee table with exquisite legs, a bar counter or a table at which people sit while eating.
- The quality of the underframe. One of the important selection criteria. When choosing a metal base for a table, you should pay attention to the welding seams, the quality of painting, the level of fixation of the upper platform (thatthe part where the countertop is placed). When choosing a wooden base, it is important to pay attention to the quality of wood processing, the presence of varnishing, the method of fastening the support elements to each other. The best option is bolt fastening.
- Well, and, of course, an important factor is the price of the product.
In fact, the supports should have the following characteristics:
- sustainability (this is the very first thing you need to pay attention to);
- durability;
- possibility to use both indoors and outdoors;
- support the weight of the countertop and the items on it, plus the weight of several people leaning on it;
- attractive appearance;
- easy care;
- anti-corrosion coating.
If the choice of countertops fell on heavy materials such as stone or large size countertops, then the bases also need to be selected with a large size and weight.
Tables over 1m are less stable due to their height. And all because the center of gravity of such underframes is shifted closer to the top, and that is why the tabletop should be chosen smaller than for standard tables.
Another nuance is the location of the supports. They can be placed both in the center and at the corners of the tabletop (along the perimeter). The latter option gives more stability. But still, this is an additional hindrance for the legs, especially if the room is small.
It is worth thinking about moving the table in advance. If it will be moved frequently, then you should pay attention to light and compact products, perhaps even folding. Ifon the contrary, the table will not move, it is better to give preference to wood or cast iron.
Conclusion
Modern furniture production offers a wide range of underframes that can resonate with even the pickiest of people. Considering all the tips and recommendations given in the article, you can choose a quality support. If suddenly none of the already available options suits, it is always possible to order the manufacture of the base, and the entire table as a whole, on an individual order.
