In this blog post, you will learn which shape of coffee table will work best in your room, which width and height you have to be aware of and why it is important and lastly what material the coffee table should be made out of.
Out of all the rooms in the home, I have to admit that the living room might just be my favourite. In my opinion the living room is the place where the most memories can be made whilst lounging with friends, watching a cool movie, catching up with personal stuff, talking with your family, I do really love the living room. In addition, to this reason, I find it important that the living room accommodates your needs and makes you feel comfortable.
One important element of the living room which can help you achieve this feeling is the coffee table. Indeed, you might not think of it as an important part of the living room, granted you might even think it is the sidekick of the sofa but that is the contrary. The coffee table is more like the yin to the yang; imagine if you had to hold your cocktail or hot chocolate in your hands the whole time. Or if you had no place to put your remote control or to show off that beautiful bouquet of flowers you received from a dear friend. I hope it is now apparent to you how important the coffee table is.
The coffee table does not only play a functional role but it is also important in grounding and anchoring the space, especially in a large living room because otherwise the furniture pieces will look scattered.
Room
Before you make the decision on which coffee table to buy you, also want to consider the following points:
What is the focal point of the room? Often times you will hear that the rug centres the room, or the sofa or the coffee table. This is a decision you have to take. If you have a very busy rug then you will need a simple coffee table to balance it out. Alternatively, you could also make the coffee table the focal point by choosing something unique and spectacular.
What is the purpose of the living room? Is it a formal living room or is it more of a family room? Obviously, in a family, you might want to choose a table, which is child friendly, but in a formal living room, you could gladly choose a glass rectangle coffee table, which might be challenging in a family room because of its fragility and it is easy to get scratch marks on.
You also want to think about the size and shape of the room, there are some coffee tables, which will work best in a small room than in a larger living room. As I will explain soon.
Shape
Now that we know what vibe of the living room we are going for, we know how big the room we have to think about the shape of the table. Instead of simply scrolling through your favourite furniture shop hoping to find the coffee table that will catch your eyes, you actually want to consider the space where you want to put the coffee table then choose one that will fit accordingly.
Round
In a very small living room, a round table will be a great choice. It will make getting around so much easier since it has no corners and will still be functional. A round table can also be great in a bigger room if you want to soften the space and add some interest. Most of the furniture in the living room can tend to be rectangular think of the sofa, the TV console and the armchairs so soften up all the lines and edges you can use a round table to balance everything out.
If you want to add more surface space to your round coffee table then you can also nest using two or three tables clustered together to form one composition. If you are going to nest your coffee table then in order to make it an interesting composition, you want to vary the heights of the tables, you can even choose two different finishes or tabletops, what will make everything harmonious is the similar shape that the tables have. If you want to know other ways you can make your living room and home look and feel cosy then I encourage you to look into this blog post or video below.
Square
If you have an L sectional then a square coffee table might be your best choice because it nestles perfectly with the sofa. If you want to have symmetrical balance in your living room, a square shape will help you achieve that since it can be evenly divided whilst sticking to symmetry.
Oval
If you have a long room and yet still want enough surface space then an oval room will work best. It softens up the rectangular shape of the room whilst still giving you ample access to a table from all angles. As it has no sharp edges, it will work in a family living room as well.
Abstract
If you want the focal point and centrepiece of the living room to be the coffee table then an abstract form will help you do just that. An abstract coffee table has no rules that you have to follow; it is a good choice to really show off your personal taste and style. If you have been on many travels, maybe something you brought back home can work as a coffee table. Odd shapes like triangular shapes can also add another dimension to the look and feel of the room and they go well with regular size sofas or even modular sectionals. I have seen people who have used huge African drums, tree trunks and even sculptured stones all as a coffee table. It is such a unique perspective and a breath of fresh air. So for a choice, I say unleash your creativity and let it lead the way.
Width and Height
Interior design cannot be good unless it takes into consideration ergonomics. So now that we know the shape of the coffee table that we are going for, we need to make sure that it will support its function well. Finding the right height and width is majorly tied to how the coffee table pairs with the dimensions of your sofa. So obviously you want to buy your coffee table after you have your sofa picked out.
Length
Generally the longer sofa, the longer the table should be. It is all about balance. You want people at the far ends of the sofa to be able to easily reach the coffee table too as much as those that are closer to it. Your coffee table should be at least 2/3 the length of the sofa. However, at the same time, it should not be too long that it blocks the flow of traffic.
Height
Do not go lower than seven cm below or higher than 2cm above the seat. Remember this is not a desk where you have to write nor is it a footstool, which should be low and close to the ground.
Placement
Keep the table about 35 cm from your sofa so you have adequate space to walk around it. If you have kids, they are going to need space to run around and play so you really do not want to make it too tight.
Material
Now to finish everything off, you want to consider your lifestyle and how you will be using the coffee table again. Do you like to put your feet up after a long day? Then an ottoman will work best. Do you have kids? Then maybe you want to avoid glass surfaces. Do you need storage space and want to keep everything organized? Pick a style with extra storage built in.
Wood
If you want to bring a feeling of texture and natural warmth to the room. Darker wood such as mahogany or teak can look great in a traditional living room.
Metal
Is your style industrial? Alternatively, are you concerned about durability? Metal offers a range of finishes for design forward contrast.
Upholstery
If you are looking for something inviting which creates a softer landing for active kids.
Stone
If you want to go for a modern and contemporary look that suits both indoor and outdoor spaces.
Marble
Offers some beautiful natural colours, which can set a luxe and luminous tone perhaps perfect for a formal living room.
Glass and acrylic
If you have a small living room, then the glass will help create an open, airy feel without compromising on the function of the table. Also works in a modern and contemporary room.
Extra functionality
Lift tops
If you want to work from the comfort of your living room, a lift-top coffee table will be great for that. This table has an extra top layer that lifts and moves toward you allowing you to use your laptop comfortably or even write or eat a pizza whilst still enjoying your loveseat. Typically, lift-top coffee tables are square and are usually made out of wood.
Ottomans
Man, I love ottomans. They work great as coffee tables, provide some extra storage underneath, can be used as extra seating and to top it all you can use lift your legs on them and enjoy comfortable support underneath.
To round it up, before you buy a new coffee table you want to consider what the intended use will be, for example, will it be in a formal living room or in a family casual room? What kind of space is it? Is it a big rectangular room, or maybe a smaller intimate room? This will help you determine the shape of the table. Then remember to buy one with good proportions and made out of an appropriate material that matches your interior design style and design.
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