While the sofa reigns supreme in any sitting area, the coffee table brings any room to life as it ties everything together to create a stylish and functional living space. Choose the right coffee table for your home with our guide on how to pick the best coffee table for your living room.
We usually spend a lot of effort (and money) in picking the perfect lounge; however, your living space will remain ‘dead’ if you don’t pair your living room seating with the perfect coffee table.
A coffee table is a low table made from various materials such as glass, metal or wood. Coffee tables are designed to increase the function and convenience of a sitting area. As the name suggests, a coffee table is used to hold coffee (or any beverage) and refreshments when lounging or entertaining.
The concept of a ‘low table’ for entertaining guests is not a novel idea. There is a myriad of paintings and illustrations of scenes showing low tables used in revelries in various historical periods and cultures. However, an interior design ‘myth’ places the 20th century ‘concept’ of the coffee table as an invention by F. Stuart Foote of the Imperial Furniture Company. According to the stories, Stuart’s wife was throwing a society party and needed functional pieces to serve guests as they lounged about. As the president of Imperial, Stuart trimmed the legs of a dining table and dubbed it as ‘coffee table’. Whatever its origins, the fact still remains that this is a very functional piece of furniture that bonds your living/entertaining space together.
There are several things to consider when shopping for a low table. More than just personal preference or how ‘great’ it goes with your room, consider the following things when choosing a coffee table for your living room:
The modern coffee table is a hardworking piece of furniture. It serves a variety of functions, from holding beverages to displaying beautiful arrangements, interesting books and knickknacks. Because of this, it’s essential to consider the dimensions of your coffee table. If you envision yourself hosting many intimate gatherings to discuss thought-provoking thoughts, perhaps or even coffee hangouts with your loved ones, you may want to consider an oblong or round coffee table to hold your coffee/tea service while offering a piece of space-saving furniture to gather around. On the other hand, if you’re going to utilise your table to hold more than your beverage, books or trinkets, perhaps consider a slightly taller table or even a coffee table with storage, so you can use the under space for extra storage. The bottom line is, choose a coffee table that’s big enough or small enough to fit your purpose.
Important: you need to balance the proportion of your coffee table to your sofa and your entire living space. Getting a large coffee table may overwhelm your sofa and can affect the function of your living space. Getting a too small coffee table may make your space look silly and lacking. A good rule of thumb is finding a coffee table that is 70% of your sofa’s width (space permitting). Apart from the 70% rule, make sure that when you put your living room furniture, you are able to have a 50 cm distance from each side of your coffee table to have enough room to move around.
Consider the purpose of the table in the space where you will place it. For example, a high traffic space that’s prone to ‘accidents’ might benefit from a metal-framed glass coffee table or even a solid wood coffee table (with water-repelling treatment) to avoid breakage and provide protection against spillage. Have a living space that’s used for more than one purpose? Choose a lightweight coffee table such as a wicker or rattan coffee table, so you can easily move your coffee table around or combine it with other pieces.
Now that you’ve properly considered the size, proportion and material of your coffee table, you can start considering the different styles and iterations of coffee table to perfectly complement your living space.
This shape is one of the most versatile of all table shapes. The rectangular coffee table shape offers practicality as it provides you with adequate surface space to hold your coffee or tea service, decors, and so much more. We recommend rectangular coffee tables such as the Brooklyn Rectangle Glass Coffee Table as a stylish and versatile piece for when you want a table with a little more space.
Round tables offer a stylish vibe that goes well with any living room configuration. Apart from this, a round coffee table is a great space saver that gives you adequate surface space without taking too much of your living area. What’s more, it has no corners to bump into, hence fewer ouchies! For a great centrepiece to your living room, we recommend the Zen Round Coffee Table as an ultra-chic table that’s both visually appealing and space-saving.
Square tables offer a modern look that never goes out of style. It blends well with any interior style, and much like the round coffee table, it goes well with any living room configuration. Whether you pair two small square tables or one large square table with storage, square coffee tables are a great addition to any room. We recommend the Henwick White Coffee Table with Basket Storage for an elegant, multi-functional square coffee table option with storage for any room.
Apart from searching for coffee tables by shape, you can also search for the best coffee table by material.
Wood is the traditional choice for coffee tables. They are sturdy, hardwearing and exude a grand, dependable vibe which compliments any style. Wood coffee tables also offer versatility in that it comes in a variety of shapes and shades, thus allowing you to match your coffee table to the rest of your furniture suite. A great example of a wood coffee table is the Ballard Wood Coffee Table. It has a stylish x-frame with removable trays for easy entertaining.
Wicker coffee tables made from synthetic or natural materials, such as bamboo or rattan, offers a cosy, natural vibe due to their unique woven detail. An excellent choice for coastal-inspired interiors, wicker coffee tables are sturdy, lightweight and add a sense of casual elegance that’s great for any living space. A great example of a wicker coffee table is the Calais Round Hamptons Coffee Table. This rustic wood coffee table provides a stylish round coffee table look with its basket woven details complemented by a sturdy, hardwearing surface.
Whether natural or synthetic, Rattan is one of the most popular materials for wicker coffee tables. Rattan is naturally lightweight and flexible, thus allowing furniture artisans to create sturdy, lightweight furniture with intricate handwoven patterns. In addition, rattan tables exude a luxe, coastal charm that’s sure to impress. One of our favourite rattan tables is the Manado Rattan Coffee Table. The combination of solid wood and rattan makes a perfect statement coffee table with its solid frame and delicately woven rattan panels with inset glass.
Glass is a very popular material for coffee tables. What sets glass tables apart is their aura of sophistication and weightlessness. With glass coffee tables, your space becomes less cluttered and more spacious. Additionally, the glass surface is resistant to water stains, thus making it low maintenance. Some people may argue that glass coffee tables are too fragile or too heavy, but for us at La Maison, we are huge fans of the beauty and elegance of a glass table. One of our best-selling glass coffee tables is the Juliette Glass Top Coffee Table. This elegant coffee table features an iconic curved metal base, a space-saving rounded shape and a thick glass top that make the coffee table seem sturdy yet lightweight.
You can repurpose anything to make a coffee table. Here are other cool table alternatives that you can consider for your space.
Nesting coffee tables are basically a set of varying table sizes that can be pushed underneath each other (hence the term ‘nesting’). What’s excellent with nesting coffee tables is that you can create a larger table area by pulling out the tables and utilising them separately or as a group. You can nest the tables back together to create one compact coffee table if you don’t need the extra space. One of our favourite nesting sets is the Brooklyn Round Nesting Coffee Table Set. Use it as one big coffee table, pull the smaller table out to make a more elongated coffee table or use the two tables separately to cover more space.
Old steamer trunks or chests can serve as great coffee table alternatives. It gives a quaint, charming vibe to your space while providing added storage to put away books, magazines, extra pillows, and the like. One of our favourite trunk tables is the Hampton Trunk Coffee Table. This beautifully woven rattan trunk is a sturdy storage that offers a multipurpose use. Its both furniture and a statement piece to your home.
A popular trend, especially for those with limited spaces, is using the ottoman as a coffee table as it’s very multipurpose – it can be a footrest, an extra seating or additional surface space to serve refreshments to your guests. We recommend the Conran Ottoman as a table alternative, especially for compact sitting areas as it’s a comfy-tufted bench, a nice footrest or a table, all in one finely crafted furniture.
In conclusion, selecting the perfect coffee table for your living room is a decision that should be made with careful consideration of both style and functionality. Your coffee table serves as a focal point, a versatile surface for daily use, and a reflection of your personal taste. By keeping in mind the size, shape, material, and storage needs that best complement your living space, you can make a choice that not only enhances the aesthetics of your room but also enriches your daily living experience.
La Maison presents a stylish selection of well-appointed coffee tables. You are truly spoilt for choice as we bring you a beautiful range of crafted rectangle coffee tables, round coffee tables, coffee tables with storage, glass top coffee tables or even wicker coffee. Finely crafted with durable, top-quality timber, glass and metal, our modern coffee table selection offers both durability and sophistication for your home.
Bring your living space to life with a chic, multi-functional coffee table from La Maison. Browse online or visit our Sydney showroom.
Hamptons style furniture is defined by a timeless classical, coastal look. It defines the lifestyle choice of many people wanting a relaxed but modern house. La Maison furniture blends classic Hamptons furniture with a modern style to suit any home.
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