Are you thinking about buying a pool table but not really sure where to start? Buying a pool table can seem a bit daunting and it is certainly something that needs a bit of thought. But a pool table can make a great addition to any home or office space.
Our pool table buying guide is here to answer all your questions and help you choose the right type of pool table for you and your space!
Location, Location, Location
The first thing you need to consider before purchasing a pool table is where you’re going to put it! Finding the right location for your table is really important. You need to make sure you’re going to have enough space to move around the table and play every shot with ease. Bear in mind that a standard British pool table is between 6 and 8ft long and an American pool table is as much as 10ft!
A great way to check if you have enough space for the type of table you’re thinking of getting is to follow this simple formula. Add the length of your cue to the width of your proposed table’s playing field. For example, if you usually have a 54in cue and you want a standard 6ft British pool table with a width of a little over 32in you would need just over 11ft of space. A rule of thumb is to add 1500mm for a full size (57”) cue from the nose of the cushion.
Here is a great table to show the room size needed for a few different size pool tables:
Room dimensions for pool or snooker table.
A pool table is a big, beautiful piece of furniture and one that can be a striking centerpiece in any home or office. And with designs that convert into work or dining tables, it can be multi-functional and practical too.
Bespoke Or Off-The-Shelf?
There are plenty of pre-made, off-the-shelf pool tables out there but are they worth the investment? It really depends on how often you expect to play and the type of game you want. Many off-the-shelf tables are made of lightweight materials like MDF and some are fitted with folding legs. Both of these things are great if you need to move your pool table around or put it away. However, this can also lead them to be less hardwearing and compromise the quality of the game.
A bespoke pool table on the other hand is a totally different story! It not only gives you the flexibility of designing something that fits your home or office. But it also guarantees you a piece of furniture that is made to the highest standard by skilled craftsmen from start to finish.
One of the great things about a bespoke pool table is that you can really let your creative side out. You can have a table that is truly unique with your choice of wood, metals and cloth colour. A bespoke table also gives you the option to make it multi-functional. Need it to convert into a dining table? No problem! Want it to spend most of its time being a coffee table with hydraulic legs to lift it to optimum playing height at the touch of a button? You’ve got it!
You certainly can’t get that kind of flexibility with an off-the-shelf pool table.
Choosing The Best Materials
If you decide to go for a bespoke pool table you’ll need to decide what you want it to be made from. Wood is of course traditional and still the most popular for pool table construction by far. Choosing the right wood makes for a solid and stable table that will last for many generations.
But if a traditional wood finish isn’t your kind of thing what about clean and stylish aluminum?
Another thing to consider when looking to buy a pool table is what the bed is made of. The bed forms the playing field of the table and what it’s made of can mean the difference between a good game and a great one!
At Designer Billiards we would only ever make our beds from high-quality slate. Opting for a slate bed means choosing flawless performance and professional standard quality.
Whether you’re a serious pool player or just want the same quality game you get from playing at the pub a slate bed is the best option.
Once you’ve chosen what you want your pool table to be made of, next up is cloth! Choosing a high-quality cloth will again give you the best possible gameplay. And these days the best clothes come in pretty much every colour of the rainbow! Just another way a bespoke pool table can be made truly unique to you and your style.
If you’d like to create your own bespoke pool table for your home or office space, get in touch today for a chat. We love a challenge when it comes to creating new and unique pool tables. So let your creative side out and let’s design something that perfectly fits your space!