Achieving the Rustic Farmhouse Plank Table Look: An Inviting Centerpiece for Your Dining Room

If you’ve been longing to bring some cozy, rustic charm into your dining space, you’re not alone. The farmhouse design style has exploded in popularity over recent years, with its welcoming mix of vintage and modern elements. At the heart of any farmhouse dining room is the handsome centerpiece – the plank table. These distinctive tables blend beautiful reclaimed wood, elegant turned legs, and artisan details to create a piece that feels like its been passed down for generations.

But achieving this timeless farmhouse plank table look doesn’t require trips to antiquing barns or breaking the bank. With the right design plan and materials, you can build your own DIY farmhouse table that looks like it came straight from a 200 year old homestead. Or, you can shop small batch furniture makers creating new plank tables with old world charm.

In this blog post, we’ll cover everything you need to know to create the perfect farmhouse plank table for your home. I’ll share tips on key design elements to look for, standard measurements, material options, expected costs, and trusted brands to consider. For the DIYers out there, I’ll provide essential information on choosing wood, helpful tools, and achieving popular distressed finishes. We’ll also explore styling ideas to complement your farmhouse table and pull the dining room together.

Whether you decide to build it yourself or buy from an artisan woodworker, adding a plank table to your home is an easy way to create that welcoming farmhouse feel. A touch of reclaimed wood and a few decorative details go a long way. Read on to learn insider tips and discover inspiring photos of plank tables. Let’s start planning your next woodworking project or online order!

Key Design Elements of Farmhouse Plank Tables

The farmhouse style has experienced a major resurgence in popularity over the last few years. Known for its warm, rustic aesthetic, the look evokes cozy comfort and old-world charm. While several elements work together to create the farmhouse vibe, the dining room table often serves as the focal point.

When it comes to nailing the farmhouse table style, certain common design features shine through. Understanding these key details provides helpful guidance whether you’re looking to buy or build your own plank-style farmhouse table.

Rustic Wood Finishes

One of the most quintessential farmhouse table characteristics is the use of rustic, natural wood finishes. While some farmhouse designs incorporate painted bases, a good portion feature wood stain or treatment to allow the natural grain and texture to show through. Using reclaimed wood adds even more rustic appeal through the imperfect knots, nicks, and nail holes that give the material its weathered character.

Popular wood choices like pine or oak not only check the rustic box but also provide durability to withstand years of family meals and gatherings. More adventurous souls might opt for woods like hickory, elm or cypress to make a bolder statement.

Plank-Style Tabletops

Keeping with the traditional farmhouse aesthetic, plank-style tabletops rank among the most prevalent features. Plank tabletops involve piecing together several wide, linear wood boards to form the table surface. The plank joins are part of the rustic charm, often highlighted by subtle gaps between each piece. The plank look also pairs well with common farmhouse bases like straight-lined timber or turned wood legs.

Typical farmhouse plank tables range anywhere from 36 to 96 inches long and 30 to 48 inches wide. However, for very large families or to accommodate large gatherings, some designs extend 6, 8 or even 12 feet in length.

Classic Meets Modern Base Styles

While wood plank tops encapsulate farmhouse heart and soul, the base options offer more stylistic flexibility. As mentioned, classic straight beam legs provide an authentic farmhouse vibe. Decorative turned legs offer elegance while still retaining traditional character.

However, modern, sleek metal bases also make an appearance in contemporary farmhouse style. This allows the table to straddle both worlds for those desiring a touch of urban edge. Using hairpin legs or flat bar legs in black, white or metallic finishes injects industrial flair.

No matter the base style, most maintain a similar height range of 28 to 34 inches tall. This not only promotes comfort but allows for easy pairing with standard dining chairs or benches.

As we continue our farmhouse table deep dive, upcoming sections will cover critical steps for constructing your own plank-style table. We’ll also explore popular ready-made options, cost considerations, and styling tips to complete the farmhouse dining room.

Measurements, Materials and Building Your Own

Understanding Dimensions and Structure

When it comes to creating the perfect farmhouse plank table, understanding the typical dimensions and structural elements is key. Most farmhouse tables are 30-36 inches tall and 30-48 inches wide. Length can vary dramatically depending on the size of the space and desired seating capacity, with farmhouse tables ranging anywhere from 36 inches for a small console up to 144 inches for a large banquet-style option.

In terms of structure, farmhouse plank tables typically feature a tabletop that extends roughly 2 inches past the apron and legs on each side. The apron is usually about 1.5 inches thick while legs range from 3-4 inches thick depending on the overall proportions. These dimensions help create the signature overhang look on a farmhouse table while maintaining plenty of stability through thick, sturdy legs.

The DIY Approach to Farmhouse Furniture

One of the most appealing aspects of farmhouse style furniture is that it lends itself perfectly to the DIY approach. There are countless free building plans available online that provide detailed, step-by-step instructions for constructing your own farmhouse plank table. Most plans break the process down into easy-to-follow sections, making this project approachable even for amateur woodworkers.

When undertaking your own farmhouse table build, start by sourcing reclaimed wood planks, new pine boards, or another wood of your choice for the tabletop. Poplar and maple also work very well. For the base, opt for either squared timber legs in a wood that matches or complements the top, or go for turned steel or wood legs for a more decorative look. You’ll also need essential woodworking tools like a saw, drill, sandpaper, and possibly a Kreg Jig if you wish to create pocket holes for joining.

Finishing Your Farmhouse Table

Beyond structural wood, consider how you want to finish your DIY farmhouse table. The most authentic look usually involves simply sanding and sealing the wood with a protective polyurethane. However, you can also stain the base or full table for deeper color variations. Painting the base white while leaving the raw wood plank top is also a popular farmhouse aesthetic. And be sure to intentionally distress your finish for that aged, timeworn look if desired.

Pricing for Farmhouse Tables

When examining pre-made farmhouse plank tables available from brands online and in furniture stores, you’ll find prices vary dramatically. Mass-produced imported tables with faux reclaimed wood tops can retail for $300 or less. Meanwhile handmade, authentic farmhouse tables built to order from reclaimed barn wood and custom dimensions easily run $2,000 and beyond. Generally speaking, expect to invest at least $700-$1,000 for a quality solid wood farmhouse table from recognized brands like Georgia Artisan, Grain and Frame, Jen Woodhouse, and others.

Styling Your Farmhouse Table

The next section will explore styling tips for dressing up your perfect farmhouse plank table design. But the most important first step is understanding the core structural design, dimensions, and material considerations that set quality farmhouse tables apart. Taking a DIY approach can help cut costs considerably too. Just be sure to factor in the value of your time and access to necessary tools.

Styling Your Farmhouse Plank Table

When it comes to styling your farmhouse plank table, there are plenty of ways to make it your own and infuse personality into your dining space. Consider incorporating metal tension bars or nailhead accents along the aprons or edges of your table. The contrast of the dark metal against the wood brings an industrial touch that blends nicely with the rustic farmhouse aesthetic.

You can also play around with different finishes to add character and dimension to your table. Try using intentionally distressed stains, paint techniques like chippy or distressed paint, or combine stains and paints for a multi-tonal look. For example, use a grey stain on the table base and legs, and a distressed white paint on the tabletop and benches. This helps highlight the beautiful wood grain while giving the table a cozy, vintage appearance.

When choosing your finish, keep in mind that darker stains like walnut and ebony tend to work well for small spaces, while lighter stains like pine or whitewash allow the wood texture to stand out and brighten up the room. Combining stains is also an option – use grey on the base and a rustic brown on the tabletop planks. Get creative and don’t be afraid to mix up shades to find the right balance for your space.

Complementary Furniture and Decor

In terms of complementary furniture, farmhouse coffee tables, end tables and sideboards can complete your dining room. Try incorporating wooden ladder-style shelves or cabinets to display sentimental dinnerware. Woven baskets also work nicely for additional storage. Wrought iron candleholders, galvanized metal buckets, and distressed rugs further enhance the cozy farmhouse atmosphere.

Embracing Imperfections

Remember that imperfection is part of the beauty when it comes to farmhouse style. Don’t be afraid of knots, cracks, nail holes or other natural elements that showcase the authenticity of the wood. Let any blemishes shine through. The key is to create a relaxed, inviting space for gathering around the table with loved ones over delicious home-cooked meals.

Creating a Personalized Dining Space

Overall, infusing personal details into your farmhouse plank table allows you to create a warm, personalized dining area that friends and family will flock to. Get creative with your finishes, include complementary decor elements, and don’t be afraid to highlight the natural imperfections that give your table character. Most importantly, enjoy the process of crafting your perfect farmhouse table!

Bringing the Farmhouse Home: Final Thoughts

After reviewing the key elements that give farmhouse plank tables their rustic yet refined style, you likely have a clearer vision of how to incorporate this popular look into your own dining space.

The combination of thick, reclaimed wood planks and sturdy timber or turned legs checks the box on traditional farmhouse aesthetics. But don’t be afraid to blend in modern touches too – metal bases or contemporary chair styles can make the style your own. Distressing techniques like rub-throughs and chippy paint builds on the vintage charm.

When it comes to actually constructing your table, detailed plans available online make DIY an achievable option for many. But don’t bite off more than you can chew either. Consider your skill level and whether custom ordering might better suit your needs and timeline. Pre-made tables span a wide spectrum of price points. And many manufacturers like Grain and Frame allow customization too.

No matter which route you take, keep practicalities like measurements and proportions in mind. Having ample table space for dining and entertaining is likely a priority. But make sure the size also aligns with your room layout and flow.

The finishing touches also hold importance. Mixing complementary furniture like farmhouse coffee tables and sideboards builds on the cohesive feel. And consideration of durability and easy maintenance is never a bad idea either – especially in dining spaces that will see a lot of use.

In the end, achieving the farmhouse plank table look comes down to balancing all these elements – the reclaimed wood textures, distressed finishes, smart measurements and comfortable gathering spaces we all crave. My best advice? Start by building your vision board, chat with experts and fellow farmhouse enthusiasts, and take that first step toward making this popular style your very own.