Epoxy Tables Are Just a Fad?

Some say epoxy tables are just a fad.
Like the fidget spinner. Or Silly Bandz. Or that sick hoverboard everyone crashed on. Maybe those shoes with wheels in the heels. That yellow Livestrong bracelet. Or those magic necklaces that were supposed to give you “balance and strength” just by wearing them.

I’m here to tell you—epoxy tables aren’t that.
In fact, they might be the exact opposite.

Google Search Trends: Interest in “epoxy table,” “resin table,” and “river table” has surged over the past decade, fueled by DIY and home-decor trends. While exact search-volume figures are proprietary, third-party data show huge online engagement: for example, a Pexels image library labels over 150K “Epoxy Table” photos pexels.com, and Pinterest has thousands of boards of river-table inspiration. Google Trends charts similarly show steady or rising search interest in these terms since about 2015 (versus earlier drops in other fads). In short, people are still looking for epoxy/resin furniture.

Market and Sales Growth: The furniture market for resin-based pieces is growing. Industry reports project the global resin furniture market (indoor and outdoor) to expand from roughly $19.0 billion in 2021 to $29.1 billion by 2030 verifiedmarketresearch.com (CAGR ≈4.9%). A separate analysis forecasts an even faster rise: from $12.5 billion (2025) to $28.0 billion (2032) at ~10.2% annual growth openpr.com. Notably, North America is cited as the dominating region in that market openpr.com, indicating strong U.S. adoption. Even broad epoxy resin demand is growing – one market study puts the global epoxy resin market at $12.9 billion in 2023 and $17.0 billion by 2028 (CAGR ~5.5%) marketsandmarkets.com – reflecting rising use in everything from coatings to furniture. Many mainstream furniture companies are riding this trend: major retailers / marketplaces like Amazon, Wayfair, Etsy, 1stDibs and others are listed among top players in the resin furniture market openpr.com. In practice, dozens of custom furniture shops in the U.S. now report booming orders for epoxy/river tables, and major e-commerce platforms feature hundreds of epoxy table products. This market growth suggests demand is sustained, not vanishing.

photo credit:  verifiedmarketresearch.com.  A basic chart representing the estimated CAGR growth of the global resin furniture market.

Design-Industry Commentary: Interior design media and blogs generally treat epoxy furniture as a real and lasting trend. For example, an Architectural Digest feature (2019) calls resin furniture a “long time coming” trend, noting that designer Sabine Marcelis’s cast-resin furniture (since 2014) quickly became a hot commodity architecturaldigest.com. SeasonsInColour (2024) highlights epoxy’s durability, versatility and aesthetic appeal, saying resin is “transforming” modern interiors seasonsincolour.com. It notes that epoxy–wood dining tables “can act as a centerpiece” in a room, serving as both functional pieces and works of art seasonsincolour.com. Many design posts for 2024–25 list resin/custom tables among top furniture trends, praising their customizable colors, translucence and organic shapes. Even design retailers endorse this: for instance, Crate & Barrel sells a “Fleur Faux Travertine Resin” coffee table, touting that “each one-of-a-kind resin table emulates the look of natural travertine” with unique veining and texturecrateandbarrel.com. In short, design authorities see epoxy tables as a versatile, high-end material that fits many styles (from minimalist to glam) and is more than a passing fad.

this picture represents the versatility of design with epoxy river tables and how they can blend with multiple interior design styles.

Woodworking Community Reactions: Among traditional woodworkers and DIYers, opinions vary. Some enthusiasts love the creative freedom of epoxy, while others critique it. For example, veteran woodworker Greg Klassen (who popularized “river tables”) notes these designs have become “the biggest woodworking trend of our times,” though some makers dismiss the style as “generic” gregklassen.com. Online forums often feature heated debates; some users sarcastically call every epoxy project “tacky” or compare it to a social-media meme. There are also technical criticisms: science blogger David Shiffman warns that epoxy cures slowly and can yellow or degrade over years, potentially releasing microplastics southernfriedscience.com. These voices fuel the “fad” label. However, even among skeptics, most acknowledge river tables have been popular for many years — enough to become “generic” — and show no sign of vanishing.

Countering the “Fad” Narrative: In reality, epoxy/resin tables have key qualities that argue against them being a mere trend:

• Artisanal Uniqueness & Customization: Each epoxy table is one-of-a-kind. Makers emphasize personalization: owners choose wood slabs, resin colors/pigments, embedded objects, shapes, etc. One furniture blogger notes that epoxy tables offer “unparalleled customization,” letting individuals design unique heirlooms that reflect their style uidwoodworks.com. Another trend analysis emphasizes that resin furniture is “100% custom”, with each piece tailored in size, color and form backyardresin.com. This bespoke nature means buyers aren’t just following a mass trend — they’re investing in personal art. For example, Crate & Barrel’s resin table is praised precisely for being “one-of-a-kind” crateandbarrel.com. When someone sees an epoxy table in their home, it’s unique to them, unlike a trend piece from a big-box.

• Durability & Longevity: High-quality epoxy resin tables are extremely durable. Modern epoxies cure into a hard, stable surface that resists scratches, heat and moisture uidwoodworks.com. (Thicker resin fills also make the wood slab structurally sound.) The Urban Industrial Design blog explicitly calls them “incredibly durable” — able to maintain beauty for years under normal use uidwoodworks.com. Even if poured epoxy eventually yellow slightly over decades, today’s UV-resistant formulations and finishes greatly slow that process. In practice, many epoxy tabletops remain in use for decades without issue. Rather than disposable decor, they are often treated like fine furniture or art pieces. One maker argues epoxy tables can become “cherished family heirlooms” uidwoodworks.com — a far cry from a short-lived fad purchase.

• Versatility in Styles: Epoxy tables aren’t a monolith; they span styles. Minimalist interiors use clear or subtle-resin river tables to show off the natural wood (and some designs celebrate the wood’s “live edge” form). Other examples are bold — bright blues, greens or even metallics swirl in the epoxy to match a contemporary or eclectic room. Trend forecasts highlight “bold, colored resin” and even metallic-accented tables as popular styles backyardresin.combackyardresin.com. Because epoxy can mimic glass, stone or organic forms, it fits rustic, modern, boho, or glam decors. This flexibility in look-and-feel makes epoxy tables adaptable, not tied to one fleeting aesthetic. As seasonsincolour.com notes, by mixing pigments or inclusions like flowers or stones, designers create “truly unique pieces that fit a wide range of styles” seasonsincolour.com.

• Sustainability & Materials: Far from throwaway, many epoxy tables use reclaimed or sustainably sourced materials. Trend reports point out that eco-conscious makers use non-toxic, bio-based resins and locally-harvested or reclaimed wood slabs backyardresin.com. This appeals to green-minded buyers. The wood can be from deadfall or salvaged logs, giving new life to old timber. Even though epoxy is a plastic, its applications in tables can save wood pieces from the landfill and replace heavier, resource-intensive materials like stone. Some producers emphasize the longevity of these tables as a sustainable plus — a well-made table that lasts decades is greener than cheap furniture replaced often.

• Small-Batch & Local Craftsmanship: Most epoxy tables are made by small furniture studios or woodworking artisans, often domestically. This contrasts with global fast-furniture. Buyers value the handcrafting: each table often involves hand-sanding, layer-by-layer resin pours and custom assembly. The industrial report explicitly notes “home furniture” is a major application, and many companies are local or boutique openpr.com. In other words, epoxy tables thrive on custom, small-batch production. When something is produced on demand rather than mass-market, it behaves less like a fleeting trend product. The high price points of quality epoxy tables also reflect this craft — a piece can cost thousands of dollars, so owners expect longevity and uniqueness.

This image represents the lifespan of epoxy tables compared to their counterparts.  This demonstrates what epoxy tables look like vs box office furniture after an extended time period.

Testimonials and Endorsements: Architects and designers frequently showcase resin tables as statement pieces. In a 2024 article, an interior-blog author gushes that epoxy resin has “significant traction” in modern design due to its durability, versatility, and aesthetic appeal seasonsincolour.com. Another design source highlights that epoxy tables literally become living-room centerpieces seasonsincolour.com. On social media and magazines, we see features of epoxy tables in celebrity homes and boutique hotels — often treated as unique art. For instance, the custom furniture maker Chagrin Valley built a glow-in-the-dark epoxy “river” dining table for a Hollywood star, a commission requiring months of work. (Though not publicly named, this example shows high-end use.) Even mainstream furniture lines include epoxy/resin pieces: retailers like Crate & Barrel offer resin-accent tables crateandbarrel.com and Wayfair/Walmart carry epoxy-table designs in their catalogs. These endorsements by design authorities and retailers reinforce that epoxy tables aren’t just a garage project — they’ve entered the broader decor market.

Logical Rebuttals to “Fad” Critiques: Critics sometimes say “everyone’s doing it” or “this will date badly,” but we see counterarguments:

• Trend Longevity: By now epoxy river tables have been around over a decade. Designers recall them as early as 2014 (Marcelis) architecturaldigest.com, and small craftsmen have been making them since the 2000s. That history suggests it’s not a one-year trend. Think of other design trends (e.g. Art Deco, mid-century) that have recurring popularity; epoxy’s bold look may similarly cycle but overall interest persists.

• Versus Fast Fads: Unlike a fad accessory (think fidget spinners or brief fashion crazes), epoxy tables are expensive, long-term investments. Owners don’t discard them after a season. A buyer considering one usually plans it into a home renovation or custom project. Each sale is personal, not impulse. This slow purchase cycle helps maintain stable demand even if mass hype fluctuates.

• Modern Improvements: Concerns about yellowing or plastics are being addressed. Today’s epoxies often include UV inhibitors and are more stable. Surface coatings and careful sourcing of “clear” resins reduce the risks older DIYers experienced. Manufacturers also emphasize sustainability (some resins are plant-derived). So many of the early drawbacks (toxin concerns, yellowing) are being engineered around.

• Art vs Furniture: Many advocates point out that epoxy tables live in the intersection of art and furniture. Just as people collect original paintings or sculptures that withstand time, epoxy tables serve a similar niche in home decor. Their value comes from artistry, not trendiness. If anything, labelling them “fad” undervalues the craftsmanship involved.

In sum, the combination of strong market growth, mainstream adoption, lasting materials, and creative customization makes a strong case that epoxy/resin tables are more than a temporary craze. They represent a stable segment of high-end furniture that continues to innovate (with new colors, techniques, and collaborations). Yes, styles evolve (maybe in 10 years the popular resin color will be pink or clear), but the category is broad and flexible.

Recent Collaborations and Market Expansion: We see epoxy furniture expanding in both bespoke and retail channels. Several custom furniture expos and maker fairs highlight epoxy tables as star attractions, sometimes integrating technology (LED lighting, engraved logos, etc.). Large furniture brands have experimented too: for instance, Ashley Furniture has offered lines with epoxy-inset tables, and Home Depot/Walmart now stock epoxy-tabletop kits for DIYers, showing broad retail interest. Additionally, design studios collaborate with resin artists — e.g. high-end cabinetry firms may add an epoxy river table as a kitchen feature. While exact “celebrity endorsements” aren’t widely published, these professional applications hint that epoxy tables are moving into the mainstream of furniture design.

Conclusion: The evidence points to epoxy/resin tables being a sustainable trend rather than a fleeting one. Search and sales data show growing, not dwindling, interest. Design authorities treat them as a vibrant, ongoing style with staying power seasonsincolour.com seasonsincolour.com . And many logical factors — customization, durability, artisan craftsmanship — all argue that buyers see these tables as unique investments, not throwaway decor. It’s reasonable to predict that epoxy river tables will remain a recognized category in furniture design for years to come, continually refreshed by new artisans and innovations.

Sources: Industry reports and design articles seasonsincolour.com openpr.com verifiedmarketresearch.com; furniture maker and market analyses marketsandmarkets.com.  crateandbarrel.com uidwoodworks.com (All quotes and data cited above.)