Epoxy River Tables have become one of the most popular custom furniture styles in recent years — and for good reason. They’re stunning, unique, and showcase the natural beauty of real wood in a completely new way. But behind every glossy Instagram photo, there’s a lot of time, work, and craftsmanship that goes into making one.
The Time Investment
Building an epoxy river table is not a quick project. Between the prep work, pouring, curing, and finishing, a single table can easily take several weeks to complete. Epoxy needs proper cure time, and rushing it only leads to problems later. Each pour, sanding pass, and finish layer requires patience — something we’ve learned plenty of in our shop.
The Cost of Materials
Epoxy tables are beautiful, but they aren’t cheap to make. The epoxy resin itself is one of the most expensive materials in custom furniture, especially when using top-tier, professional-grade brands (we use Ecopoxy Brand Epoxy, the best in our opinion). Add in premium hardwood slabs, metal bases, and finishing materials, and the costs add up. What you’re really paying for is both the quality of materials and the skilled time it takes to get it right.
The Prep Work
Before a single drop of epoxy gets poured, there’s a lot of prep involved. Slabs must be flattened, cleaned, sealed, and perfectly leveled in a leak-proof mold. Cracks and voids get sealed, edges are dammed, and everything is staged for multiple pours. It isn’t flashy, but great prep is the difference between a flawless finish and a frustrating mess.
Beauty in “Imperfect” Wood
One of the best things about epoxy tables is that they let us use pieces of wood that might otherwise be discarded — slabs with big cracks, holes, or natural voids. Instead of hiding those features, we highlight them. Epoxy fills the gaps, creating a piece that’s both beautiful and resourceful.
It’s also ideal when two slabs aren’t wide enough on their own — we can spread them apart, pour a “river” between them, and create a wider, more dramatic tabletop. It’s an excellent way to turn “less usable” wood into a showpiece.
Color Choices & Creativity
Epoxy color options are nearly endless. We’ve done everything from deep black rivers with silver swirls to subtle translucent tones that let the wood shine through. Whether you want something bold and modern or natural and understated, the color choice completely changes the mood of the table. Download our Color Chart here.
Finishing That Works in Real Life
We rarely recommend high-gloss finishes on dining surfaces. While glossy can look dramatic in photos, it tends to show every dust speck, scratch, and fingerprint. Instead, we sand progressively and finish with a satin urethane top coat that’s smooth, durable, and forgiving in everyday life — a rich, natural sheen without mirror glare.
Bases Built for Strength
Epoxy river tops are typically heavy, so we often pair them with Sturdy Metal Bases. We offer several standard designs that balance strength and style. Wood bases are an option too, but they must be engineered and reinforced to support the weight. Check out our standard metal base designs here.
Final Thoughts
Epoxy river tables aren’t for everyone — and that’s okay. Some love the bold contrast of wood and resin; others prefer the simplicity of solid wood. Either way, we love building them. Every table we make is one-of-a-kind, handcrafted with care, patience, and the best materials available.
Whether you’re a fan or just curious about how they’re made, we hope this gives you a clearer picture of the craft behind the look.
Interested in Having One Built?
If you’d like to learn more or start designing your own custom epoxy river table, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch with us here.
