Affordable dining table – what should you pay attention to?

Why a cheap dining table is not automatically „cheap“

Even a cheap dining table can be a good and high-quality dining table, because cheap does not also mean low quality.
The market regulates the price, that has always been the case. But especially with furniture, there are additional factors that can turn an actually cheap dining table into an expensive money trap, where many others earn first before the table stands in your dining room.
A cheap table primarily means that it has a good price-performance ratio. It is important that you get an appropriate quality for your money. At this point, it is necessary to question and optimize old behaviors.

• Often, you pay for the name. Sure, a good brand suggests good quality. However, our experience shows that even the big brands have their products made in the same factories where we source our tables.
• Outdated sourcing methods complicate finding a cheap price. The times in furniture manufacturing and importing have changed. In the past, one only bought at the big furniture fairs in the world,... and the exhibitors, in turn, bought from small businesses that cannot afford a trade fair appearance. As a furniture importer, there was hardly any opportunity to find the small producers to source the furniture directly. Anyone who still buys at the fair today is already paying the first intermediary at this point. A formerly cheap dining table quickly becomes twice as expensive here.
  Today, in the age of the internet, even these small businesses have a website that can be found on various portals. Often, these small businesses are also looking for us, the smaller furniture importer, who buys their goods directly.
• Outdated distribution channels. The large furniture importers still work with sales representatives. Expensive catalogs are printed, which are manually distributed by the sales representatives to the furniture stores. The sales representative must also earn something,... and at this point, a cheap dining table becomes a bit more expensive once again.

These times could long be over! It's just a shame that these old structures have become so entrenched that the large importers cannot let go of them. For this reason, we have optimized these points for ourselves.

What makes a dining table cheaper?

• Our furniture is produced in small businesses that we visit regularly to optimize the manufacturing process. We do not allow expensive intermediaries through large exporters. Our goods are loaded directly on-site in the factories,... intermediate storage and related transport are not necessary. In other words, a cheap dining table from GERKEN Wohndesign is purchased directly and additionally supports the small producer,... and that's a good thing!
• Modern distribution channels also make the price cheaper. We have our dining tables produced exclusively for us and do not supply any other furniture stores. With this concept, we no longer have to worry about the costs for the sales representatives. All tables from our company are available to everyone 24/7 in our online shop „DER TISCHONKEL“ to be found. Anyone who would like to personally inspect our furniture in advance can visit us in our over 6000 sqm large furniture store in Detern visit.

A dining table from GERKEN Wohndesign comes directly to you, no intermediaries through large exporters, no sales representatives, no resale to other furniture stores, and no expensive brand names. It doesn't get cheaper than this.

Okay,… that was a bit detailed, but now you understand how a formerly inexpensive dining table quickly becomes an expensive piece of furniture. We have eliminated all factors that unnecessarily increase the price of a dining table and can therefore offer the best quality at a reasonable price.

What should you pay attention to when buying an inexpensive dining table?

To avoid disappointment when purchasing, you should consider a few points.
In some furniture stores, unfortunately, the factor of quality is already disregarded upon entering. In the concept of some large chains, the factor of cost reduction seems to be firmly established. Unfortunately, this does not happen through a modernization of procurement and distribution channels, but through the raw material and the reduction of transport costs. Furniture is not designed for your dining room, but the table must first fit into a small package and must not exceed certain weights (per package). The lighter, the cheaper the packaging costs, and the cheaper the transport. Terrible if that is the only way to make a dining table cheaper!

Okay, here are the points you should definitely consider when buying a dining table

• The workmanship, shadow-free surface, weld seams, and the overall impression at second glance.
• A stable frame. The table should not wobble.
• How easy is the tabletop to care for? Do I need to take special care of the surface?
• What material is the table made of? Is the material durable and robust?

Especially if your budget is rather limited, it is important that you look at workmanship and material. Often, a €1000 table contains material worth less than €100.

The material – Is the dining table made of solid wood or veneer?

Many inexpensive dining tables are made only of particle board that has been veneered with a decor. It may look good at first, but it is not particularly durable. A Solid wood table lasts significantly longer, is much more stable, and appears to be of higher quality.
By the way, sustainability of the wood also plays a major role for us. Therefore, we exclusively use recycled wood and plantation wood, which has been grown solely for furniture construction and thus does not burden the forests. A dining table made of solid wood can also be inexpensive. This is demonstrated, for example, by our dining table CANYON. Here you get a dining table for 6 people with a 55 mm thick solid wood top for well under €1000.

Which dining table suits you?

A dining table should fit your space and your needs. A simple rule of thumb: Plan about 60 to 70 cm of seating width per person . We have compiled many more tips for buying a dining table in our blog. We answer the most important questions about the topic „Affordable Dining Table.“.

Just click into our dining table guide,… there you will find many more interesting topics.

What role does the table frame play?

Perhaps you have experienced it yourself: Some cheap tables wobble because the frame is poorly constructed. Sturdy table legs or steel frames ensure stability,… and that pays off in the long run.
Example: For our extraordinary, solid dining tables with a 10 cm solid tabletop, we usually use a semicircular table base. This base is constructed so sturdily that it alone weighs more than a conventional cheap dining table.
Feel free to visit our online shop and compare the table frames. You will quickly realize that even an affordable dining table can stand on a stable frame.

An affordable dining table? What compromises do I have to make and where should I not save?

Of course, with a very cheap table, you can or must make concessions. But one thing you should never compromise on: Stability and a solid surface. A dining table is ultimately a piece of furniture that you use daily and ideally will accompany you for many decades. Better to invest a few more euros and have a table that lasts for years.

Our TIP: The dining table CANYON and its brother, the dining table CLIFF

The price hits from our house are clearly the dining tables and coffee tables of the CANYON and CLIFF series.
With both models, you get a 55 mm solid table in the size of 180 x 90 cm for just €899. It doesn't get cheaper than that. Compare it with other providers,… you will find similar tables, even in a similar price range,… but then the tabletop only has a thickness of 20 to 30 mm. Give it a try,… we’ll see you again later 🙂

All details about the dining table CANYON and CLIFF

• Sizes: 180×90 cm, 200×100 cm, 220×100 cm, 250×100 cm, and 280×100 cm
• Price: from €899 (size 180×90 cm),… and the 280 cm long dining table comes for under €1500!
• Bonus: €100 decoration voucher for self-pickup
• Material: acacia wood, tabletop 55 mm solid
• Surface: silk-matt lacquered, easy to care for and elegant
• Frame: combination of black lacquered raw steel and acacia wood
• Special feature: The CANYON comes with a natural live edge, while the CLIFF has a noble Swiss edge

Why is the CANYON and the CLIFF such an affordable dining table?

Good question! First, we refer again to the introduction of this blog post. We have all tables made exclusively for us in small businesses. No intermediaries, neither on-site nor with us in Germany. Everything is transparent and designed to keep each table as affordable as possible. You can only get the CANYON and the CLIFF from us. Just the distribution to other furniture stores would increase the price there by a factor of 1.5 to 3. Just come by and convince yourself of our ideas and our quality. We look forward to seeing you.

High-end furniture and affordable price? Where can I get that?

Take a look at our Online shop. You will discover hundreds of tables, some very affordable, others in the high-price segment, but still with a healthy price-performance ratio. All dining tables are designed by us and will never be delivered to other furniture stores. If you want a table from our house, you can get it in the online shop or in our 6000 sqm large furniture exhibition in East Frisia.