Years ago I had a glass top custom made for a cherry dining table. The table was used for breakfast, lunch and dinner so I needed the protection. I don't think it looked bad at all. It was easy to windex clean too, or easily do a tablecloth for more formal meals. The only problem was I needed to remove the thick glass if I wanted to add the leaf and I broke the glass when removing it. (Used it for several years before breaking though). Also, you absolutely cannot put a hot item on the glass or the glass will crack.

I would not put a glass top on it unless it is used all the time. When using it, I would suggest place mats or a table cloth that would be removed after dinner. They do make custom pads for tables also that you can put on table and then use mats or table cloth over it during dinner and removed afterwards. I had a custom table pad years ago on a table I had and just put on the pads before I used it.

You only use the pads when you are eating. Then you remove them. Usually, after adding place mats, a table runner and your dinnerware not much of the table shows when actually eating. It protects from spills and spots.

Diane, agree. That's what I was concerned about too. But it doesn't look tacky at all and most people don't even notice its presence. It allows us to still enjoy the beauty of the table. Its better than table cloth for me as the cloth hides everything.

Try a fitted microfiber protector tablecloth - https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/597388609/protector-tablecloth-fitted-microfiber

Are you still glad you went with a glass top? Did you get the 1/4 thickness?

Yes, I am very happy with the 1/4” thick tempered glass. I don’t stress out when guests spill something on the table and there’s no rush to clean it right away - we can enjoy the meal and get to the spills after the guests leave. We still get to see the table top unlike a fabric cover. Best decision.
Only con is that sometimes dusts get in the gap and its hard to reach and clean. It’s not too much and barely noticeable for most people.

Glass is weird. When formal dining use a custom pad and tablecloths. For informal dining use placemats. If there’s a spill, clean it immediately. Quality furniture will survive a brief spill. Veneered furniture goes back hundreds of years. Even George Washington’s home, Mount Vernon, is faux finishes and veneers.

My dining room set is probably from the 30’s, so 80+ years old. I do put protective pads and a tablecloth when having a big dinner, but the rest of the time it is uncovered. Minor marks have not wrecked its beauty.

We have a gorgeous hand made dinning table with a lot of detailed hand work.

The first thing we did is custom order tinted tempered glass for the top. It actually makes the details on top of the table look like a framed picture, and so much more beautiful,

I'm perplexed as to why some are comparing glass tops for tables to plastic on furniture??

I'm not a tablecloth kind of gal - unless the table underneath is in bad shape!

We purchased a high-end secondhand table that came with a glass top. While I think it is more beautiful bare, the previous owners had kept it covered for 20 years. As a result, it is in nearly new condition, and I’d like to keep it that way, and since this is our main kitchen table that receives constant use, we also use the glass cover. It’s not too noticeable and is easy to clean. Ironically, the first owners didn’t use the cover for holidays and big dinners because it only fits when the extension leaf is not in use. We are unlikely to use the leaf because of space constraints, but will have to remove the glass if we do.

The only thing that is a bit of a hassle is making sure the underside of the glass is perfectly clean and free of hand prints before putting it on. Using gloves would probably have helped when we initially put it in place. I also use a suggestion I found on another post about using a smooth, nonstick spatula to lift the edge of the glass if I need to sweep away crumbs from underneath. An unexpected bonus of the glass is that when our naughty house cats hop on the table when I’m not looking, I can now tell exactly where they’ve been by the little footprints. So, the table is protected from claws as well as scratches, spills, and water rings, and my compulsive Windex use means we eat from a cleaner surface than before.

Years ago, we purchased glass tops for our bedroom furniture as well, because that’s what my parents always did to keep their furniture nice. I’ve always thought of it as just an old-fashioned thing people did. I also had a shaped glass cut for the 1930’s vanity I use every day so it is protected from cosmetics, lotions, and hot styling tools. For me, it relieves a lot of worry.

What if the glass is a little thicker than a 1/4 inch? My parents had a heavy glass table in the basement, and when the base was going, we kept the glass tabletop and wouldn’t you know it— that piece of glass fits the formal table perfectly! I just wanted to be sure the weight of a heavier piece of glass (app. 3/4 inch thick) wouldn‘t hurt the wood dining room table. Thoughts?

I just added a glass top to my new table. It makes a glare and you can’t feel or really see the beauty of the table. I have young kids but hopefully when they get older, I will get rid of it. For now they can’t scrape or fork the table.