37 Antique Table Types – Coffee Dining Drop Leaf and More!..

Antique Card Tables

How did you guess card tables were built for playing cards on?! These are some of the most wonderfully stylish and unique tables of the Victorian era. While their shapes and sizes varied, they were generally big enough to house at least four card players (usually a favorite for poker players) and were square or circle in design. These can be an ideal addition to any parlor or games room and they work really well as a side table too for bedrooms and living rooms. They’re sturdy and add more style and decoration to any room. You don’t have to be a card player to enjoy the subtlety of these tables.

Antique Dressing Tables

Dressing tables are quite similar to vanity tables. They were widely used by young ladies and women while they dressed for dinner and got ready for bed. Dressing tables were often adorned by oval mirrors (sometimes three) and had lots of drawers to store lotions, creams, and makeup. They were, at times, passed down from mother to daughter and were very beautifully sculpted, especially during the Victorian and Georgian eras. These tables are ideal for any bedroom. You’ll be able to sit in front of it and apply makeup, do your hair, and look fabulous for the day ahead. They will finish a room beautifully.

Antique Entry Tables

Entry tables are stylish, sleek, and very trendy. These are an ideal option for hallways to throw your keys or loose change on the end of the day. Want to divide your open-plan living area? Why not opt for an entry table? You can divide the room up so that you know where one room ends and another begins. The tables are strong, sturdy, and very versatile too. They’re often used as a storage solution for family homes and they can be great at it. You can store lots away, even shoes, in the cabinets while you display your family photos and trinkets on top of the counter.

Antique Sofa Tables

As the name suggests, these are for the ends of the sofa! They’re designed to snugly fit in at the end of the sofa or behind it, depending on the shape of your living room. Usually, they’re long and rectangular so they can sit nicely behind the sofa too. If you want more space, it can be folded so that’s a nice feature to have. Most have a smaller shelf underneath and that can be an ideal place for magazines or newspapers (or a book!). They make excellent room dividers, which is especially useful for open-plan areas. Sofa tables are often used to display ornament and photos.

Antique Bedside Table

Who doesn’t need a trusty bedside table?! These were some of the most popular and important pieces of furniture a bedroom could have. Antique bedside tables often sport a beautiful Victorian-era style to them, with high curved legs and back-to-basics square cabinet and drawer design. They were used to store all the little things you’d need close by for bed and were often used as a lamp table too. They’re practical and quite often, a necessity. You can store all your lotions, creams, books, eyeglasses, and much more. Bedside tables fit neatly to the side of your bed and offer an extra source of storage.

Antique Gateleg Table

Similar to a folding table, gateleg tables are elegant and ideal for any household. They’re long and rectangular in shape when folded up. However, when these tables are folded out, they can create a larger circular-shaped table. Their legs also extend out to make them more stable as the dynamics of the table changes. These make an ideal addition to any dining or kitchen area and you can use them to have dinner or play games on. During dinner parties, they will come in use and when you remove the hinges, the parts fold down and hang vertically. This will make them easier to store too.

Antique Parlor Tables

Often used in parlor rooms, parlor tables are an ideal solution for your home. They can become a focal point in your parlor or games room and are practical because they’re versatile. Parlor tables make great decorative pieces and you can use them even as a bedroom side cabinet. You can place a lamp on them and read all night. Or, you could put them in your living room, next to your favorite chair, and use it as a rest-holder for your cup of coffee. Earlier pieces often come with the large foot claw legs and those are the pieces that give the tables more appeal.

Antique Accent Tables

Accents vary in size and shape but make wonderful additions to the home. These were mostly seen in reception and living room areas because they were used as candle holders. However, they make great key holders too! Okay, so that’s not their sole function, but they do make great storage for your keys (and at least you won’t lose them!). Antique accents are often made with a French overtone and that makes them even more appealing. These can be used in hallways and are tall and thin so they should fit next to any doorway. They’re handy to have and you could also use them as a decorative piece throughout the home.

Antique Butcher Block Tables

Butcher block tables were originally designed and used by – you guessed it – butchers! They were strong, reliable, and durable, not to mention, heavy-duty! These tables have seen the action and were made from solid wood as they were designed to last. Butcher blocks were, essentially, the first chopping blocks butchers (or cooks) had and were widely used in butchers and kitchens. That makes them an ideal choice for your kitchen! They’re strong and ideal to use as extra space to prepare food or to store kitchenware. However, you might find these tables work well as sideboards in your reception room or even your hallway.

Antique Chess Tables

The ever-popular chess tables have been widely sought after for decades and remain some of the most exquisite tables available too. Chess tables are unique because they have an actual chessboard integrated with the design of the table. A chessboard design sits on top of the actual table and they were (and remain) very popular. They’re widely used to play chess and the most popular designs are the square-top tables. Most tables come with two drawers so that the chess pieces can be stored safely alongside the board. It’s a decorative piece, even for those who don’t play chess. It’s a great addition to any games or parlor room.

Antique Drum Tables

As the name suggests, it’s a small round, drum-like table with a tripod or a four-legged stand design. Usually, you’ll find several drawers running around the table, but, there’s a trick to them. Some are real drawers while others aren’t! Dummy drawers make the design of the table very appealing and finish the overall look perfectly. While these aren’t the biggest tables, they do sport a great style. They’re trendy for the right reasons and are an ideal option for living rooms or even a bedroom to use as a side table. These were also known as renters drawers because landlords used to keep their tenant’s accounts in the drawers.

Antique Folding Table

You can’t get a simpler or more useful table than the folding table! This is one of the most versatile and widely sought after tables. Earlier designs were thin and rectangular in shape so they could be stored easily when not in use. When the table is folded out, it transforms into a large oval table that made it perfect for hosting extended dining parties. It was widely used to seat unexpected house guests and can still be used for that purpose. They’re ideal for kitchens and smaller dining rooms but they’re sturdy and can be used to play games on, have dinner, and do a spot of painting or writing.

Antique Smoking Table

Smoking tables were extremely popular for stately homes and those in the upper echelon of society. These are tall tables with sometimes two shelves and a little cupboard for storage. You could store your humidor, along with cigars, cigarettes, ashtray, and much more. They were truly an ideal choice for smokers and were scratch and heat resistant. You could use them as a storage cubby and store your smoking items there (or whatever little trinkets you have). Or, why not use it as a magazine rack? It’ll fit nicely into any parlor and can be a great conversational piece as well.

Antique Bakers Table

Antique baker tables are long, strong, and very versatile. Baker tables have a standard bench-like design, which is actually a great way to maximize the full-length space of the table. Some sport a lower bench underneath the top part (which makes excellent storage space) and others have two or three drawers. Often finished with a classic French design, these tables are well suited for kitchens. They’re ideal for heavy-duty work such as kneading, mixing, and other food prep. These often come with a backsplash to prevent ingredients from falling off. However, these can make an ideal kitchen or dining room furniture.

Antique Claw Foot Tables

Claw Foot tables were first seen in the 1900s and were extremely popular and versatile. The claw foot design represents a bird’s claw holding onto a ball and was very commonly used as occasional tables. These were often the centerpiece of a room with many keeping them near their beds and fireplaces. You could use them as a corner table or beside a chair. These do make great phone and trinket tables and you should consider them. You can put a few photos on the claw-foot tables and use them to keep your coaster to set aside your drinks. Some of the earliest pieces are beautifully designed.

Antique Nesting Tables

Nesting tables are often found in sets of threes or fours, each slightly smaller than the next. They neatly fold away underneath one another, creating a simple table design. Nesting tables are quite versatile and are practical for all sorts of reasons and uses. You can dot them throughout one room or split over two or use them as one coffee table. The choice is yours. They can work well as individual side tables or as one. These often work well in the living room and family dens. Nesting tables are considered as accent pieces and each can be positioned to enhance the finish of the room.

Antique Pedestal Tables

Pedestal tables (as the name suggests) resemble a pedestal and are quite unique in design. These were often referred to as a ‘wine table’. In the early 18th century, they were often used as a place setting for candles. When someone entered a room, they’d go to the pedestal table and set the candle down so it lit the room. These were firm favorites for bedrooms, studies, and hallways and can make a wonderful addition to your home. They’re tall and can be an ideal place to leave your keys at night or to sit a lamp. If you wanted an alternative to a bedside table, a pedestal table could be it.

Antique Tea Tables

Antique tea tables were often half or crescent moon-shaped with curved legs and a locked drawer. They are similar to some folding tables as they can be folded out to create a full circular table. The tilt-top system is excellent and was extremely popular too. This table can make an ideal addition to any reception room. It looks gorgeous and can add more style. Tea tables aren’t just for tea lovers. These are great to use as accent tables in hallways, porch areas, and even in bedrooms. The unique design does make the style even more appealing and it can be used for a variety of reasons.

Antique Corner Tables

As the name suggests, the corner table was a perfect addition to any room and fit into any corner imaginable! This remains a popular choice because it’s compact, versatile, and works for any room, no matter what. Corner tables are ideal for holding decorative vases and ornaments, as well as knick-knacks you want to display. Antique corner tables are traditionally wooden with a smaller shelf towards the bottom to display more trinkets. French art-deco styles were hugely popular and these are similar to accent tables. They can be used anywhere and for many different purposes. You’ll love what they offer a room.

Antique Pub Tables

Antique pub tables are a favorite among many homeowners. These are rectangular or circular in shape and low in height but make ideal side tables. You can store vases or ornaments on them and they do offer a touch more elegance with their unique finishing. Some vintage pieces are handcrafted and a lot of work goes into some of those designs. You can add one to your sitting room or porch area; or if you wanted to, you could use them as a sofa table. Surprisingly, if you wanted to add a new dimension to your living room, you could use a pub table as your coffee table.

Antique Vanity Tables

Vanity tables were also referred to as dressing tables because they were similar in stature and design. Traditional vanity tables were rectangular in shape and often had multiple rows of drawers (usually small ones) to store everything a lady would need to get ready, including perfume and jewelry. It was widely popular. These tables had multiple mirrors attached too so the lady could see what she looked like from all angles. It’s still a popular choice and they work fantastically well in any bedroom. You’ll bring a touch of class and elegance with an antique vanity table – and they’re versatile too!

Choosing the Right Antique Table for Your Home

Antique tables look gorgeous and the right one will make a real difference in your home. The above are some of the most popular types of antiques available. Deciding on a specific table comes down to your home, its style, your likes, and of course, wants. The right table should fit nicely into your home and should complement each room perfectly.