Tables with Glass Tops -- A Home Stager's Best Friend.

The bistro table we put in this staged condo is high enough to allow a view of 

the water outside. The acid-etch, pale teal glass table top actually tied 

the waterview to the feel of the room. I staged the condo to have a beachy look, 

and used sea glass colors elsewhere in the unit as well.  

Today I'm going to sing the praises of tables topped with glass, the kind of table you can see through!

What home stager wouldn't love a piece of furniture that seems to float in the room, that adds shine and sophistication, but takes up almost no visual real estate?

Glass table tops also look clean and contemporary. House hunters usually respond well to that look, even in older homes. They are easy to decorate around because they are versatile and, because they are transparent, color is not a problem.

You can bridge two matched small tables with glass on top to make one large table. Or find other interesting bases. I have seen birdbaths, barrels, saw horses, MDF pedestals, driftwood, ceramic planters or sculptures, fabric-covered cinder blocks, and found objects dragged home from curbside.

There's a glass table suitable for home staging almost every home, from very formal to funky global style  to the Scandinavian look to mid century modern decor to shabby chic style.

Here are some facts to help you  take advantage of the shine and glamour that a glass table adds to a room.

What's it cost? If you don't own a glass top table or desk for staging your home, consider assembling one from a base you may already have, and newly purchased glass. Prices vary widely for custom ordered glass, depending on where you live. A local glass dealer will quote you prices. The cost will depend on the dimensions, the thickness, the edging, and any special requirements.

For a  glass top that will rest on a pedestal or a frame, such as the ones illustrated here, the thickness needs to 3/8 inch to 1/2 inch.

How about the edges? The edge of a tempered glass table top is always finished to make it both safe and attractive. 

• The simplest edge is called a seamed edge. The edges are sanded enough to make them dull enough to handle.   
• A flat polish edge takes the edging a step further, and is very common. The glass cutter will polish it so it is smooth and shiny.
• When the glass top is round rather than rectangular or squared, it's more common to see a pencil edge, where the edge is rounded for a tapered, softer look. 

Today's look for glass table tops is clear glass, or else acid-etched, which yields a frosted look. The bronze and grey tinted glass of decades past are dated now, and not as effective for home staging. 

Whenever you have a view that can help sell your home, you don't want to
compromise it with furniture that just gets in the way. See-through furniture 
to the rescue. These saw horse legs are metal, but wood ones are
popular as well, and easier to DIY. House Beautiful.