How to Choose the Right Marble Table
What Will You Use the Piece For?
Of everything in this range, a marble dining table works the hardest. It takes daily meals, homework, the odd laptop session and the occasional dinner party. If yours will get that kind of use, put durability and ease of care at the top of your list. A marble coffee table has a lighter but messier job, because it's where cups, remotes and snacks end up. Think honestly about how often drinks will be put down without a coaster. A marble side table or marble console table usually holds a lamp, keys or a few decor pieces. That makes either one an easy, low-risk way to try marble if you're not sure how you'll get on with it. Storage pieces such as a marble buffet or marble TV unit put a stone top on a cabinet. Check the drawers, doors and shelf spacing as carefully as the top. For a TV unit, also check that it's wide enough for your screen and has a way to route cables.
Measure Before You Fall for a Look
For dining, a practical guide is to allow about 60 cm of table length per person and at least 80 cm between the table edge and the wall or furniture behind it. Allow more if people will walk behind seated diners. Multiply your usual headcount, not your Christmas headcount, and decide whether occasional extra guests can squeeze in.
Measure the space between your sofa and the TV or opposite chairs before choosing a coffee table.
Measure the delivery path as well as the room: doorways, hallway corners, stair turns and lifts. This matters most if you're in an apartment or townhouse.
Understand What the Top Is Made Of
This decision affects how you'll live with the piece more than any other, and it's where most regrets start.
- Resin-coated marble is what our marble tops use, with a colour film under the resin. The resin has trade-offs. It isn't heatproof, so hot mugs and dishes need coasters or trivets. Strong, direct sun can yellow it over time. It can also scratch if heavy or sharp objects are dragged across it. It suits you if you want the marble look and are happy to make coasters and placemats a habit.
- Ceramic and sintered stone tops are resistant to scratches, stains and heat. If you have young children, entertain often or tend to put hot dishes straight on the table, they're worth comparing.
Choose a Shape and Base That Suit Your Household
Round tables in this range come in 150 cm and 160 cm sizes. Square tables come in 150 cm. Rectangular and oval tables run from 200 cm to 240 cm.
The base matters as much as the top. Check that a table doesn't rock when you lean on its edge.
For a round table, a marble lazy Susan brings shared dishes within everyone's reach without people passing plates across the table.
Which Colour and Finish Will Suit Your Room?
White marble looks light and fresh and keeps a room feeling open. Darker marble looks richer and more solid, but it shows dust and fingerprints more easily. The finish changes the mood too. Brushed gunmetal black feels modern and bold, brushed champagne gold feels warmer and more decorative, and walnut ash brings a softer, timber-toned look.
One or two marble pieces in a room usually look more thought-out than a fully matched set. Balance hard stone with timber, fabric and a rug so the space doesn't feel cold or echoey.
How Do I Care for a Marble Top and Keep It Safe?
A marble top does best with small daily habits. Use coasters, placemats and trivets, wipe up wine, coffee, sauces and citrus straight away, and put felt pads under vases and lamps. Our care guide calls a clear protective film "highly recommended".
Sunlight is worth thinking about before you choose a spot. In Perth, for example, the average midday summer UV Index is around 12. A resin-coated top that sits in direct sun is more likely to yellow. A position away from the window, or blinds, can help it keep its colour.
Under the national toppling furniture rules, entertainment units, and buffets, sideboards and hall tables 686 mm or taller must carry tip-over warnings. If young children live in or visit your home, plan to anchor a buffet or TV unit to the wall.
What Else Should I Know About Marble Tables?
How Do I Clean a Marble Table Top?
Wipe it with a soft, damp cloth, add a little mild dish soap if it needs more, and dry it straight away. Avoid abrasive sponges, scouring powders and harsh or acidic cleaners such as vinegar, citrus sprays, bleach and ammonia, which can dull or damage the surface. Wipe up wine, coffee and sauces as soon as they land rather than leaving them to sit. A quick wipe after every meal is easier than removing a mark that has had time to set.
How Do I Polish a Marble Table?
For our resin-coated marble tops, occasionally use a resin-safe polish or furniture wax. Check the label first and avoid anything containing alcohol, acetone, bleach, ammonia or acid.
How Do I Remove Scratches From a Marble Table?
Prevention is much easier than repair. Put felt pads under decor and lift heavy objects rather than dragging them. Use a clear protective film, which our care guide calls "highly recommended".
How Do I Seal a Marble Table?
Our marble tops don't need sealing, because they already have a resin coating. Looking after them means gentle cleaning and the occasional resin-safe polish.
Which Is Better, a Marble or Ceramic Dining Table?
Neither is better for everyone. It depends on how you'll use the table. Ceramic and sintered stone resist heat, scratches and stains. They suit you if you have young children, entertain often or put hot dishes straight onto the table. Marble needs more care: coasters, placemats, trivets and quick clean-ups. If you're torn, compare a marble piece with our ceramic dining tables and be honest about your household's habits.
Find the Marble Piece That Suits Your Home
Take your time comparing the range, and keep your measurements and daily routine in mind as you browse. If you'd like a second opinion on size, shape or which top suits your household, get in touch with the team at Adore Home Living. We'll help you choose a piece you'll be glad you picked.