Marble cocktail tables can be a beautiful addition to any room, particularly a living room or family room. Like their cousin, the venerable coffee table, marble cocktail tables give you a little extra room to keep reading materials, remotes and knickknacks during the day while easily converting to the ideal party space in the evening when you have guests over.

Wooden Cocktail Tables

One of the great things about marble cocktail tables is that they have a wonderful upscale look without being pretentious. In contrast to wood tables that can all look alike, the natural grain of the marble makes every cocktail table unique. Yours will be unlike any other in the world. In many ways, marble is as much a work of art and miracle of nature as it is a piece of furniture.

Wooden Cocktail Tables

Marble cocktail tables come in an endless variety of styles and colors. Some are all marble, others have marble tops or marble accents. Colors can vary widely, since marble can be found in virtually any color imaginable.

Remember that all tables are not created equally. Some so-called marble tables aren't really real marble. That's not to say that faux marble tables are bad. Quite the contrary. In many cases you can't even tell the difference between faux and real marble. And in many cases, faux marble tables are easier to maintain since the surface isn't porous.

Real marble cocktail tables are pretty easy to take care of, however. In many respects, they are on a par with wooden tables in terms of keeping them clean and looking like new. But you do have to realize that marble is a porous material - it can stain if you don't take proper care of it.

Unlike some other materials used in furnishing, you shouldn't use any generalized cleaners that can contain harmful detergents and cleaning agents. This may only make the problem worse, especially if you end up with some stains.

Regular maintenance is straightforward. All you need is a soft cloth and some warm water. Marble cocktail tables should be cleaned four or five times a year. A little soap or a cleaner made especially for marble should be used. You can also use baking soda with a little rubbing alcohol or a baking powder paste (add some warm water to the powder to create it).

After you clean the table, use a damp cloth or chamois to remove any leftover cleaner and water. Finally, you want to apply a little stone polish to return the marble to its original luster and shine.
If you do get stains, don't panic.

The best way to prevent them in the first place is to use a sealer. Before you invest in these products, you want to make sure that the marble used in your cocktail table can be sealed. Sealers are easy to use and will make your marble cocktail table less prone to staining or damage.

If you can't seal your marble, then you will just want to make sure drinks and dishes are placed on coasters and trivets. This will prevent damage and it's really something you should be doing with wood tables as well. It's a good habit to get into either way.

If there is a spill, especially if it's coffee, fruit juice, wine or tomato-based sauce, try to blot the spill up immediately.
If you do see stain and it doesn't come out with a marble cleaner, you may need to step things up a bit.

Thankfully, you can get spray marble cleaners and other products at your local home improvement store that will do the trick.

First, use the cleaner to remove dust, dirt and any staining at the surface. You want the surface really clean before you move onto the poultice. Marble poultice is an odorless, non-acidic blend of dry absorbent clays and mild detergent. Follow the instructions on the package to create a paste, then spread it over the surface in a thick, even layer. Cover it with plastic wrap and let it work its magic for up to an hour or more. Then remove the wrap and wipe the poultice off. Spray on cleaner again to remove any of the remaining poultice and then buff the marble until it's dry.

Finally, seal the marble top so it won't get stained again.

With a little preventative maintenance and regular cleaning, you can keep your marble cocktail table looking like new for many years to come.

Marble Cocktail Tables

Wooden Cocktail Tables