An Intro Guide to Table Leg Styles
A hand-built custom table can a be thing of real beauty – an instant heirloom for generations to love. While the tabletop will certainly earn a lot of attention, the table legs themselves truly showcase the distinct sense of style. We put together this intro guide to table leg styles to help homeowners and designers alike learn more about different furniture styles – and find the one that’s right for them.
At TurnTech, we’re a custom wood carving shop that crafts high-end wood pieces used in everything from outdoor architecture to custom furniture construction. Keep reading to get acclimated with (and inspired by) the most prominent table leg styles!
Choosing Your Furniture Leg Types: Farmhouse, Modern, and Classical
When it comes to furniture design, there are nearly countless styles and subsets. However, for the purposes of making our guide as beginner-friendly as possible, we’re focusing on the major aesthetics and furniture leg types: farmhouse, modern, and classical.
If you have questions about transitional or more niche styles, feel free to reach out to our team today. Otherwise, get inspired to build your heirloom-quality dining table!
If you’re an avid HGTV watcher, then you know the farmhouse style has never been more popular. The custom farmhouse table can be the ideal finishing touch if you’re building a kitchen in this style. These are the traits that make farmhouse table legs standout:
- Farmhouse table legs often have a decorative foot on the end rather than a square.
- The leg design tends to use tapering or beading for its main design feature – rather than extremely intricate details.
- Fluting, or long, even grooves, running down the length of the leg is another common touch seen with this aesthetic.
- The most common stain colors include dark or medium browns.
- If farmhouse table legs are going to be painted, they often use a simple white color.
Looking for more kitchen inspiration? See other ways to bring custom woodworking to your kitchen renovation.
Modern table leg styles make use of the established hallmarks of modern design, including clean, straight lines and clear geometric shapes. However, that doesn’t mean modern tables have to be boring or simple – they are far from that, in fact! These delicate and striking table legs are often one of the most eye-catching elements of a no-frills modern table. If you’re learning to identify this furniture leg type, here’s what you’re looking for:
- It is very unusual for this table leg style to make use of turning or intricate carving.
- Modern table legs often begin and end with square blocks.
- In general, modern legs will have a boxy profile and straight, clear lines.
- While this style tends to be simple, some styles use a ball or other shape in the leg profile.
- The most common color to see for this style is a dark stain or black paint.
If you’re looking for a dining room showstopper, this may be the style for you. Firstly, classically-styled tables are what come to mind when most people think of what a real heirloom looks like. On top of that, these pieces feature the most intricate and eye-catching carvings. That beautiful design can be mostly seen in the carving, turning, and weaving of the table legs themselves. These are the traits of this table leg style:
- Classical table legs are often roped, meaning that the wood is carved in a circular fashion to resemble a twisted roped.
- This style of furniture leg is most often round but can end on either a foot or a square.
- One of the most ornate designs is a basket weave, in which the table leg is cut to look like it is woven together.
- Once again, fluting can fit well with this table leg style.
- A classical table leg will rarely be painted but is instead accented with a wide range of dark to medium stains.
A great companion to a classical style, we offer wooden molding as well!
Shop All of These Table Leg Styles & More
The furniture leg styles we’ve highlighted in today’s blog represent the most popular options on the market right now. Many of the most popular pieces we build for homeowners, woodworkers, and contractors fall into one of these categories. However, if you have a specific design idea and you haven’t seen anything like it here, reach out! As a fully custom woodshop, we’re able to build 100% original designs or replicate something you’ve seen in a picture!
Contact us to discuss your order or to ask questions about your custom table legs!
