Ultimate Guide to Choosing Your Perfect Resin Table

 

The beauty of resin tables blends old-world craftsmanship with modern design. These pieces work both as everyday furniture and stunning artwork. Let's dive into what makes these unique tables so popular.

What is a resin table?

A resin table stands out by mixing natural wood with epoxy resin. The result is a glossy, long-lasting surface that catches everyone's eye. Epoxy resin starts as a liquid polymer that turns glass-like when mixed with hardener. You can keep it clear or add colours to create custom looks.

Making these tables takes real skill and expertise. Craftsmen pick wood pieces based on their unique grain patterns and character marks. They plane and sand the wood before setting up the design. Next comes building a mould to hold the resin while it hardens. They add sealant to keep bubbles away and help it cure evenly. The final steps include thorough sanding and polishing to show off both materials' natural beauty.

Types of resin tables: river, round, outdoor

River tables lead the pack in popularity. They feature an epoxy "river" that flows between two wood slabs. This design looks just like a natural stream winding through the wood. Walnut makes up about 80% of all river tables, according to manufacturers.

Round resin tables fit many spaces and often show off creative designs. Many tables put wood at the centre with resin flowing around it in a perfect circle. Some designs get creative by filling natural wood holes with coloured resin to make "ponds".

Outdoor resin tables need special attention. They use weather-resistant resin formulas to handle the elements. These tables need different care than indoor ones and do better under protective covers or umbrellas.

Why choose a resin dining table?

Resin dining tables beat traditional furniture hands down when it comes to durability. While wooden tables might warp or crack, epoxy resin creates a surface that fights off scratches, stains, and water damage. This makes them perfect for homes with kids or pets.

The design options seem endless. You can mix and match wood types, resin colours, shapes, and leg styles. Whether you want something subtle or bold, your table can match your style perfectly.

These tables are also super easy to maintain. A quick wipe with a damp cloth keeps them looking new - no special cleaners needed. Hot dishes won't damage the surface either, thanks to their heat resistance.

These eye-catching pieces work with any style - modern, rustic, industrial, or eclectic. They always end up being the room's centrepiece and start great conversations.

Choosing the Right Wood Base

The right wood base forms the foundation of every remarkable resin table. Your choice will shape the table's structural integrity and substantially change its aesthetic appeal, durability, and value.

Popular wood types: walnut, chestnut, linden

Black Walnut leads the pack as the top choice for high-quality resin tables, especially when you have river designs in mind. The wood shows off deep, dark tones with interesting grain patterns that create a dramatic effect beneath resin. Its dense structure helps prevent cracking during resin curing and gives it strong resistance to warping—a quality your furniture needs to keep its shape over time. Walnut's rich brown hues create stunning contrast with light or metallic resin. This explains why craftsmen use this luxurious material in about 80% of river tables.

Chestnut stands out as an appealing choice with its own character. It brings warm tones like walnut but features unique grain patterns that catch light differently. Chestnut tables add a welcoming feel to dining spaces, making them a popular choice in homes. While not as talked about as walnut, chestnut strikes an excellent balance between beauty and durability.

Maple offers a lighter look with subtle grain that pairs beautifully with colourful resins. Its light tone creates vivid contrasts with dyed resins, making it perfect for modern designs. Cherry wood brings a rich, reddish hue that grows deeper over time, adding warmth and character to resin tables. Ash suits the farmhouse style with its light brown tones and distinctive grain patterns.

Live edge vs. straight edge

Your choice between live edge and straight edge defines your table's personality. Live edge tables keep the tree's natural contours, becoming unique statement pieces. These organic edges create a sense of peace and connection to nature. They're perfect for bringing the outdoors into your home.

Straight edge tables showcase clean lines with modern appeal. Their sleek design fits well in contemporary spaces aiming for minimalist style. These tables work great in smaller rooms where you need to maximise floor space. They're easier to keep clean since they don't have crevices where dust might hide.

If you're stuck between choices, remember that live edges come in many forms—some stay relatively smooth, while others show twisty, gnarled contours. People who value practicality should look for wood pieces with smoother sides or go with straight edges.

How wood grain affects the final look

Wood grain patterns create your table's visual impact. Bold patterns in walnut or elm boost the epoxy's visual effect by creating striking contrasts between organic textures and smooth resin. Cross-sections reveal fascinating patterns under the glass-like resin surface.

Grain orientation plays a key role. Some woods display swirling patterns that look frozen in motion beneath clear resin. These unique features mean each resin table stands alone—a big plus for anyone wanting one-of-a-kind furniture.

The interaction between colour and grain deserves attention. Dark woods provide dramatic backgrounds for bright or metallic resins, while lighter woods work well with any colour. Wood with natural patterns that match your chosen resin colour will give a unified, stunning result.

Expert Tips for a Perfect Choice

Selecting the right resin table requires more than just looking at its beauty. Here are some significant expert tips to help you make the right choice.

Match with your interior style

Resin tables work beautifully with many décor styles. To name just one example, see how walnut or oak with clear resin creates a grounded, crafted feel in rustic spaces. Lighter woods with transparent resin create an almost weightless appearance that fits perfectly in contemporary rooms with clean lines and neutral walls. Dark woods paired with graphite or bronze resin make solid, architectural statements that enhance industrial interiors.

Think long-term: timeless vs. trendy

Quality should trump passing fads when you choose your table. Quality epoxy resin tables are pieces of functional art that stay beautiful for decades. Superior tables last exceptionally long, so focus on craftsmanship rather than price. Quality resin furniture can get pricey—materials alone are expensive and craftsmen need time to perfect each piece.

Ask for samples or mockups

Free samples are a great way to get hands-on experience before you buy. You can touch and feel the material's quality, see colour options up close, and get a real sense of what you're buying. Many workshops include physical samples at no extra cost with their custom services.

Check customer reviews and testimonials

Real customer feedback gives you valuable insights about how well these tables hold up over time. Look for specific comments about quality, craftsmanship and how the company handles after-sales support.

Work with reputable artisans

Expert craftsmen will give clear answers about wood sourcing, resin types, UV protection, and care instructions. Vague responses often signal corner-cutting. The best artisans keep you updated throughout your table's creation process.

 

A resin table is both a major investment and a chance to add a unique piece of functional art to your home. We've explored these stunning furniture pieces in this piece, from their construction to picking the perfect wood base that meets your needs. It also lets you customise in so many ways that each table becomes truly one-of-a-kind.

The perfect resin table strikes a balance between beauty and practicality. You'll need to think about indoor versus outdoor placement, maintenance needs, and budget limits to make a choice you'll love for years. Beyond serving as a practical surface, the right table becomes a striking conversation piece that shows off your personal style.

Quality craftsmanship stands above all else. A well-made resin table may cost more, but its durability and visual appeal make it worth the investment. Before you buy, ask for samples to check materials firsthand and read customer reviews to verify reliability.

Your choice between a dramatic river table with live edges or a sleek contemporary piece with straight lines will without doubt become a cherished centrepiece in your space. Natural wood grain combined with gleaming resin creates something special—a piece of furniture that tells a story while serving a purpose. Good care will keep your table looking breathtaking for years, making it more than just a purchase but a lasting investment in your home's beauty and function.

Visit Our Showrooms

Ordering our outdoor furniture is simple with our secure online purchasing system. However, if you prefer to experience the quality firsthand, why not visit any of our 7 outdoor furniture showrooms across NSW, VIC, and QLD. Our showrooms are located in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, and the Gold Coast. At each location, our friendly and knowledgeable team members are ready to assist with your outdoor furniture needs.

At Remarkable Outdoor Living, we offer more than just resin outdoor tables – we showcase a comprehensive range of outdoor furniture to elevate your outdoor living spaces. Our extensive selection includes Outdoor Lounges, Outdoor Chairs & Benches, Outdoor Tables, Outdoor Dining Sets, Outdoor Bar & Balcony Furniture, Outdoor Daybeds & Sunlounges, Outdoor Umbrellas, Outdoor Cushions & Accessories, and more. We are also the #1 Australian retailer for popular brands like Nardi Furniture, Couture Jardin Furniture, EcoSmart, and Heatsope.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is resin furniture good for outdoors?

Yes, resin furniture is excellent for outdoor use due to its high strength, durability, and water resistance. Resins are versatile materials that withstand exposure to moisture, chemicals, and heat, making resin furniture both durable and low maintenance for year-round outdoor enjoyment.

Does resin hold up in the sun?

Yes, resin—especially polypropylene resin—is highly UV-resistant and holds up exceptionally well in the sun. It’s designed to endure intense sunlight without fading, cracking, or becoming brittle, making it a reliable choice for year-round outdoor use.

Can resin furniture be left outside?

Absolutely. Resin furniture is designed to resist water, UV rays, and temperature changes, allowing it to be left outside without damage. Its durability and chemical resistance make it well suited to withstand the harsh conditions of outdoor environments with minimal upkeep.

Which resin is best for outdoor use?

Polypropylene (PP) is one of the best types of resin for outdoor furniture. It’s a lightweight, durable thermoplastic polymer known for its high strength, flexibility, and excellent resistance to moisture, chemicals, and weather conditions. Treated with anti-UV agents and non-toxic pigments, polypropylene resin is weatherproof and maintains its colour and integrity even after prolonged sun exposure, making it ideal for outdoor use.

Is resin weather proof?

Absolutely. Resin is fully weatherproof and built to withstand rain, moisture, and fluctuating temperatures. Because it’s synthetic, it won’t rust, rot, or absorb water. Its flexibility also allows it to expand and contract with changing weather, helping it maintain its shape and strength over time.