diff --git a/pyiceberg/catalog/rest.py b/pyiceberg/catalog/rest.py
index c401339e18..a5f33f02dd 100644
--- a/pyiceberg/catalog/rest.py
+++ b/pyiceberg/catalog/rest.py
@@ -149,9 +149,12 @@ class CreateTableRequest(IcebergBaseModel):
     partition_spec: Optional[PartitionSpec] = Field(alias="partition-spec")
     write_order: Optional[SortOrder] = Field(alias="write-order")
     stage_create: bool = Field(alias="stage-create", default=False)
-    properties: Properties = Field(default_factory=dict)
+    properties: Dict[str, str] = Field(default_factory=dict)
+
     # validators
-    transform_properties_dict_value_to_str = field_validator('properties', mode='before')(transform_dict_value_to_str)
+    @field_validator('properties', mode='before')
+    def transform_properties_dict_value_to_str(cls, properties: Properties) -> Dict[str, str]:
+        return transform_dict_value_to_str(properties)
 
 
 class RegisterTableRequest(IcebergBaseModel):
diff --git a/pyiceberg/table/__init__.py b/pyiceberg/table/__init__.py
index 09cb814a0e..76aa533d7c 100644
--- a/pyiceberg/table/__init__.py
+++ b/pyiceberg/table/__init__.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
     Union,
 )
 
-from pydantic import Field, SerializeAsAny
+from pydantic import Field, SerializeAsAny, field_validator
 from sortedcontainers import SortedList
 from typing_extensions import Annotated
 
@@ -124,6 +124,7 @@
     NestedField,
     PrimitiveType,
     StructType,
+    transform_dict_value_to_str,
 )
 from pyiceberg.utils.concurrent import ExecutorFactory
 from pyiceberg.utils.datetime import datetime_to_millis
@@ -293,7 +294,7 @@ def upgrade_table_version(self, format_version: Literal[1, 2]) -> Transaction:
 
         return self
 
-    def set_properties(self, properties: Properties = EMPTY_DICT, **kwargs: str) -> Transaction:
+    def set_properties(self, properties: Properties = EMPTY_DICT, **kwargs: Any) -> Transaction:
         """Set properties.
 
         When a property is already set, it will be overwritten.
@@ -474,6 +475,10 @@ class SetPropertiesUpdate(TableUpdate):
     action: TableUpdateAction = TableUpdateAction.set_properties
     updates: Dict[str, str]
 
+    @field_validator('updates', mode='before')
+    def transform_properties_dict_value_to_str(cls, properties: Properties) -> Dict[str, str]:
+        return transform_dict_value_to_str(properties)
+
 
 class RemovePropertiesUpdate(TableUpdate):
     action: TableUpdateAction = TableUpdateAction.remove_properties
diff --git a/pyiceberg/table/metadata.py b/pyiceberg/table/metadata.py
index 1e5f0fdcec..323f6d85a8 100644
--- a/pyiceberg/table/metadata.py
+++ b/pyiceberg/table/metadata.py
@@ -221,7 +221,9 @@ class TableMetadataCommonFields(IcebergBaseModel):
     current-snapshot-id even if the refs map is null."""
 
     # validators
-    transform_properties_dict_value_to_str = field_validator('properties', mode='before')(transform_dict_value_to_str)
+    @field_validator('properties', mode='before')
+    def transform_properties_dict_value_to_str(cls, properties: Properties) -> Dict[str, str]:
+        return transform_dict_value_to_str(properties)
 
     def snapshot_by_id(self, snapshot_id: int) -> Optional[Snapshot]:
         """Get the snapshot by snapshot_id."""
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_reads.py b/tests/integration/test_reads.py
index da43e7825e..fdc13ae752 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_reads.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_reads.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 import pytest
 from hive_metastore.ttypes import LockRequest, LockResponse, LockState, UnlockRequest
 from pyarrow.fs import S3FileSystem
+from pydantic_core import ValidationError
 
 from pyiceberg.catalog import Catalog, load_catalog
 from pyiceberg.catalog.hive import HiveCatalog, _HiveClient
@@ -119,6 +120,14 @@ def test_table_properties(catalog: Catalog) -> None:
     table = table.transaction().remove_properties("abc").commit_transaction()
     assert table.properties == DEFAULT_PROPERTIES
 
+    table = table.transaction().set_properties(abc=123).commit_transaction()
+    # properties are stored as strings in the iceberg spec
+    assert table.properties == dict(abc="123", **DEFAULT_PROPERTIES)
+
+    with pytest.raises(ValidationError) as exc_info:
+        table.transaction().set_properties(property_name=None).commit_transaction()
+    assert "None type is not a supported value in properties: property_name" in str(exc_info.value)
+
 
 @pytest.mark.integration
 @pytest.mark.parametrize('catalog', [pytest.lazy_fixture('catalog_hive'), pytest.lazy_fixture('catalog_rest')])
@@ -141,6 +150,14 @@ def test_table_properties_dict(catalog: Catalog) -> None:
     table = table.transaction().remove_properties("abc").commit_transaction()
     assert table.properties == DEFAULT_PROPERTIES
 
+    table = table.transaction().set_properties({"abc": 123}).commit_transaction()
+    # properties are stored as strings in the iceberg spec
+    assert table.properties == dict({"abc": "123"}, **DEFAULT_PROPERTIES)
+
+    with pytest.raises(ValidationError) as exc_info:
+        table.transaction().set_properties({"property_name": None}).commit_transaction()
+    assert "None type is not a supported value in properties: property_name" in str(exc_info.value)
+
 
 @pytest.mark.integration
 @pytest.mark.parametrize('catalog', [pytest.lazy_fixture('catalog_hive'), pytest.lazy_fixture('catalog_rest')])