Typically wood. Sometimes it has the residue of your last meal. Often it is cluttered with mail, laundry or dirty dishes. Does this describe your kitchen table? Well it's time to clear it off, wipe it down and get one that adds some style to your kitchen or dining area. Go from square to round and wood to glass and find one that shows off your personality not your Aunt Ruth's.

Sure you can go to some local furniture stores, but often you can find a better selection and the best prices by shopping online. Your new kitchen table doesn't have to be boring. Choose from ornate metal frames with elegant glass tops or go for something a little darker like a wooden table with a rich cherry finish. Add some fun with one that doubles as a poker table. Downsize to a table for two now that the kids have all grown up and moved out. Whatever you desire you'll be able to find it with a few clicks of your mouse.

So refresh your kitchen or dining room with a new look. Go from formal to casual or classic to fun. One way to start a redecorating project is to have a theme. Maybe you want some old-fashioned comfort or you like the simple yet sophisticated look of white. Or you want the feel of a European bistro with ornate wrought iron and glass. Once you choose a theme your table choices are narrowed down and it becomes a matter of what you prefer. A table made of oak or a table made of cherry? Silvery metal, bronze or black powder coated metal? Scrolls in the metal base or straight lines? A top made of glass or a top made of wood? You might also want to consider if you are going to use it for more than dining. Will it double as a desk or workbench? If so you need to find one that can stand up to rigorous use.

One more thing to consider is the shape of the room in which you're putting your table. Is it long and narrow? Instead of going with a table that mimics this shape throw some curves and light into the boxy space with a glossy white round table. After all the center of the room should be the center of attention. No matter what type of table you choose you want your kitchen or dining room to be inviting, welcoming diners to sit for awhile. It should be a room both you and your guests want to hang out in. You can share some good food, great wine and even better conversation. The kitchen table has always been a gathering place. A place for family members and friends to meet, spend time together and check up on each other. Don't you think it's time to get a table that people actually want to come and sit around? There is no better time than now to make your kitchen or dining room a happy place, a place you would want to come home to, a place that is filled with brightness and warmth. And a new kitchen table is a great place to start.