A coffee table is an essential piece of your living room in terms of style and function.
It’s vital to find a table that fits your design and room. Ensuring that it works well with your sofa or chairs and doesn’t crowd the room are just a few lines on the checklist. Your table should provide the right amount of utility to withstand whatever your daily routine entails. There are a lot of factors to consider, but choosing the perfect coffee table for your home doesn’t need to be difficult. Follow this buying guide for an easy shopping experience.
Before diving into the specifics, consider factors like budget and function. Where and how you use your table narrows your options and makes the buying process easier.
1.
Location
Coffee tables aren’t just for the living room. Bedrooms, keeping rooms, offices, and more can benefit from the style and storage offered by a coffee table. A chest-like coffee table is a stylish storage piece for your bedroom, while a coffee table with built-in drawers or cubbies is a practical choice for your office.
2.
Desired Function
Determining the function of your coffee table makes the decision-making process easy. Decide if you want your table to be a decorative stand-out that serves as the focal point, a functional storage piece that blends into the room, or a combination of the two. There are plenty of coffee table options that serve one or all three purposes.
3.
Cost
Budget for your coffee table. Decide how important this furnishing is for your design and determine your budget. If you want your coffee table to make a bold statement as the centerpiece of the room, your budget may be liberal. Those who just want to tie the room together with a piece that adds the finishing touch can get away with a modest spend.
Size
Choose the right size coffee table by determining the size of surrounding furniture and your living room dimensions. Your table should match your sofa in terms of height and shouldn’t crowd the room. It also needs to have an appropriate surface area. You don’t want your room feeling over or under-crowded.
Proportion is key. Your coffee table should be slightly less long than the length of your sofa. If it’s too short or long, it will look off balance.
Don’t go higher than one inch above the seat of your sofa or lower than three inches below it. Your coffee table should be level with the seat of your couch, so you can easily lean over and place items.
Material
Coffee tables have seemingly limitless options when it comes to materials. Unless you’re decorating the rest of your living room using the design of the table as inspiration, your coffee table should blend in with your other living room furnishings.
Wood
Wood coffee tables come in a range of natural tones and colors. The grain of the wood gives each table a unique look while adding texture to the room.
Glass
The clear quality of a glass coffee table allows it to visually take up less space, helping smaller rooms look more open. It’s also one of the easiest to clean options. Typically, a glass-cleaning solution wiped down with a soft cloth gets the job done.
Acrylic
Acrylic coffee tables offer the same space-opening appeal as their glass counterparts, but they are more durable and less prone to damage.
Leather
True or faux leather coffee tables complement everything from classic to modern interior design. Leather tables are easy to maintain. Just wipe them down with a soft cloth.
Stone
Marble and marble-look coffee tables are popular in
contemporary home decor. Their luxurious look and ability to fit into almost any design make them a favorite amongst design enthusiasts.
Shape
The shape of your coffee table is determined by personal preference and function. Explore the options below and decide which shape meets your needs.
Square/Rectangular
Large square coffee tables are an excellent option for gathering around during meals or game time. They also complement
L-shaped sectional sofas.
Round coffee tables are an ideal choice for tight quarters in front of a loveseat. Given their compact nature, they may not be the best placed in front of longer sofas.
Oval coffee tables are a great alternative to rectangular shapes if you have small children; the lack of sharp corners may help create a safer playing space.
The type of coffee table you choose has less to do with aesthetics and more to do with functionality, versatility, and available space. The most important question here is: How hard do you need your table to work for you?
Traditional
This timeless style offers a tabletop with four legs and no storage. It’s most commonly made in a rectangular shape, but it can also be round, square, or oval.
Nesting
Nesting coffee tables have smaller tables that “nest” underneath the primary table. You can pull it out to varying degrees to create different shapes and configurations based on what you’re using it for. These are a great option if you’re looking for versatility or have a smaller space.
Storage
True to its name, these coffee tables come in a wide variety of storage options. Some have simple shelving beneath the tabletop, while others offer storage drawers or cubbies.
With the help of our buying guide, choosing a coffee table doesn’t have to be difficult. Narrow your search and find the perfect coffee table. Browse through our selection of coffee tables to find an option near you.