Butcher block styles have evolved greatly since their introduction in the 1880s. At that time, butcher blocks were simple, square-shaped blocks of hardwood that were placed on a counter or mounted on four legs. As appreciation and demand for butcher blocks in homes increased, manufacturers began designing butcher blocks in new styles to increase their aesthetic appeal and usefulness for home chefs.

Butcher block tables are a newer style that is widely available from top butcher block manufacturers. Table styles provide larger working surfaces and often can accommodate two home chefs working side by side. Some designs are ideal for both seating and serving areas, while others provide ample storage without compromising aesthetic appeal.

We created our Buyers' Guide to Butcher Block Tables to help you explore the wide array of styles produced by today's manufacturers. Use the guide to help you identify the materials and features that are best suited for your needs in order to select the ideal table that will add to the beauty and utility of your home for years to come.

Getting Started

Before you begin shopping for butcher block tables, you need to fully explore your needs to ensure the model you ultimately select is perfect for you. To get you started assessing your needs, consider the following questions:

Where will your butcher block table be placed? Is it in an area with high visibility? Based on its location, how much will the appearance of the table affect the look of your kitchen?

If your butcher block table will be seen frequently by guests or if its location will greatly affect the look of your space, you'll want to opt for more decorative styles than standard working tables.

Will you be using your butcher block table for seating? If so, how often? Will guests be using the table, or will it just be your immediate family?

If you will use your butcher block table frequently for seating, you'll want to ensure that any storage located underneath the tabletop will still allow diners to sit comfortably. By knowing who will be using the table for seating, you can determine how decorative you wish the style to be.

How satisfied are you with the current amount of storage in your kitchen? If you are dissatisfied or only slightly satisfied, what areas of your kitchen are the most cluttered, and what items are stored there? Will your butcher block table be replacing any storage spaces in your kitchen, and if so, how much space will you dedicate to its addition?

Butcher block kitchen tables have a wide variety of storage options. Having a clear picture of what you need to store will allow you to focus on the storage options best suited for those items and simplify shopping.

How often will you be using your butcher block table for actual food preparation? What types of tasks will you be completing there? Will you actually be using knives at the surface? Will you be performing messy tasks like butchering while working at the table?

Understanding how you will use your butcher block table for food preparation allows you to spot useful special features and to make selections about the wood and finishes for your block.

What are your working habits while you cook? Do you prefer to use cutting boards? Do you move around the kitchen frequently or prefer to work in one spot? How important is it for your equipment to be within easy reach?

If you have a clear picture of how you will work at your butcher block table, you'll be sure to make the right decisions about the options and features available in the various styles.

Style

Now that you have a clear picture of your needs, you can begin considering what style of butcher block table is right for you. There are two primary styles available: work tables and kitchen tables. Each style has its own unique features and own set of benefits that make it ideal for use in certain situations.

Work Tables

Work tables with butcher blocks are designed for function over aesthetic appeal. Typically, these tables combine a butcher block top with either a simple wood or stainless steel base designed for strength. Some useful features that are common in work tables include:

• Backsplashes
  
  If your work table will be placed against a wall, adding a backsplash is often ideal. The backsplash is a raised wooden lip that extends above the tabletop. The backsplash helps protect your walls from splatters when you perform messy tasks at the table and helps to simplify cleanup.



• Sidesplashes
  
  Some work tables have raised lips on their sides, called sidesplashes, in addition to backsplashes. Sidesplashes help keep messes contained on the tabletop and protect your floors from drips and spills.



• Casters
  
  To make your work surface mobile and capable of being stored in an out-of-sight area, look for butcher block work tables with casters. These sturdy wheels make it easy to roll your table from one room to another.



• Storage Options
  
  Butcher block work tables offer a variety of storage options to enhance the organization and space in your kitchen. Common options include:
  
  
  • Open shelves, which keep equipment within easy reach
  
  
  
  • Drawers, which slide out from the table and are ideal for storing small items like knives and wooden spoons
  
  
  
  • Sliding doors, which hide your equipment out of sight and allow you to access your items without having to step away from the table
  
  
  
  • Pot racks, which allow you to hang cookware overhead to keep the cookware better organized and easy to grab when needed

Kitchen Tables

Kitchen tables with butcher blocks are meant to function as seating and serving areas as well as work surfaces. As a result, they are designed with both appearance and function in mind. You'll find a wider variety of paint color and style options available in butcher block kitchen tables to help you select a model that best fits your decor.

Kitchen tables are generally available with natural colored wood, painted wood or stainless steel bases. In addition to traditional rectangular styles, oval and round models are available from some manufacturers. Fewer storage options are available in kitchen tables and are generally limited to open shelves and drawers. Some manufacturers produce styles that use sliding wicker baskets in place of drawers to enhance the beauty of the table.

Considerations

Once you have focused on the style of butcher block table, you'll need to make some choices about the block itself. This is particularly true if you're opting for a kitchen table style, as manufacturers typically offer more options in these decorative models.

Wood Type

The type of wood used for your butcher block affects its appearance and durability. How important the durability of the wood is will depend on the types of tasks you will be performing at your table, as well as how often you will be using the surface to actually prepare food.

The most commonly used type of wood for butcher block tables is maple, which has an attractive golden color and is extremely durable. Birch wood has a similar appearance, but is not as hard, making it easier to scratch with knife blades. Red oak is slightly less durable than birch, but has a slightly red tint that many homeowners prefer. Walnut and cherry woods have attractive dark brown and red colors, respectively, but are less durable than other wood surfaces.

Finish

The materials used to seal and protect the butcher block surface of your table affects how you will use and care for it. There are two finishes available in today's selections of butcher block tables.

• If you want to use your table as a work surface without the need for a cutting board, a natural oil finish is for you. The finish is a food-safe blend of mineral oil, which can withstand the force of knife blades. When scratches do occur, the natural oil finish allows you to sand your tabletop and re-oil it at home without the need for professional assistance.
  
  Natural oil finished tables require regular maintenance to preserve the finish; you'll need to wax or oil the tabletop every four weeks. Because the finish itself is delicate, you'll need to be extremely cautious when caring for natural oil finish butcher block kitchen tables. After using the table, first remove any crumbs and solid food particles with a dry cloth. Then, use a wet cloth and a mild dish soap to wipe the surface. A second wipe-down with clean water is then necessary. Because all water must be removed from the tabletop, pat the surface dry after cleaning.



• Varnique finish creates an easy-to-care-for semi-gloss surface on your butcher block table. The finish never requires oiling or waxing and can be wiped clean like other surfaces in your kitchen, provided you avoid harsh, abrasive chemicals.
  
  A table finished with Varnique is not designed to be used as a cutting surface, meaning that you'll need a cutting board any time you use knives. You can, however, place food on the butcher block to perform other tasks. Scratches in Varnique tables will require professional repairs.