The center table is one of the most important furnishings in your home. It’s likely where you put all your drinks, food, and remotes while you’re on the couch watching TV or talking with friends and family.
Because it gets such heavy traffic, it needs to complement the rest of the furniture and décor in the space and serve its intended purpose well. Here are ten tips to help you choose the perfect
coffee tables for your home.
Consider Your Space
Your style choice should inform where and how you plan to use your coffee table. Is it a focal point in your room? Is it where you’ll put all kinds of items, like drinks and magazines? Or is it strictly for show? Do you have children or pets that might bump into any furniture that is too delicate or too low to ground?
If so, consider buying a piece that has a stronger and sturdier base so it can support everything placed on top of it. For example, you could buy a coffee table with an X-shaped base made from metal or wood instead of glass. If a piece doesn’t have one already, add wheels (or casters) to make maneuverability easier.
Coordinate With Other Furniture
Take a look at your entire living room. Does your coffee table fit in with that sofa you bought a few years ago? Maybe it’s time to replace it with something new and more modern. Or do you have a dining room table that perfectly matches? Consider decorating around it or purchasing a new one with your coffee table to ensure they fit together seamlessly.
Consider Design And Style
Keep in mind your room’s overall design when you’re shopping for a coffee table. For example, a matching loveseat and sofa will look better than two different pieces of furniture. A table that matches your existing furniture is more likely to look like it belongs than one that doesn’t, so choose something that complements your design style.
Size matters, the size of your coffee table should be proportional to its height and its width; large tables are overwhelming in small rooms while too-small tables might be lost in an overly large space.
Pick Something You Love
Chances are, you’ll spend a lot of time with your coffee table. Because of that, it’s important to find something you love that reflects your tastes. As an example, think about what kinds of books or magazines you like to read and consider getting a coffee table in a complementary style.
Think Wood, Metal, Glass, or Stone
With so many materials to choose from, it can be overwhelming to find a coffee table that you love. To make things easier, narrow down your options by thinking about what materials you want your coffee table to be made of.
Do you prefer your plain bog standard wood panels or would you rather take a look around for live edge wooden slabs online which boast so much more character? Or maybe something more unique, like repurposed antique door? Do you want a glass surface or would you rather have something with character and texture like those live edge slabs? Once you’ve thought about these things, it’ll be much easier to look through coffee tables and pick out a piece that fits into your space.
Focus On Shape
The shape is a great place to start when choosing a coffee table, as it can define a room. Rectangular tables are more formal, while oval tables offer greater seating options. Glass tables can be an interesting touch as well; if you have an open-concept floor plan, a glass coffee table makes your whole space feel connected. For something truly unique, try mixing and matching multiple shapes in one room. A round table between two short sofas? That’s unexpected, but it works!
Size Matters!
Of course, a coffee table should fit in with your home’s aesthetic. But beyond aesthetics, there are some basic size rules to keep in mind: If you’re unsure how much space you need, consider placing a piece of paper over your living room and tracing around it. A good rule of thumb is 12 inches per person sitting at one end.
So if there will be two people using your coffee table, measure 12 inches from both ends. This should give you a good idea of whether or not your coffee table will work and what size it needs to be.
Go BOLD!
A coffee table may seem like an afterthought, but as a centerpiece in your living room, it’s important to take some time and give it thought. If you’re looking to add a unique one-of-a-kind piece to your living room, consider purchasing a well-made vintage table. This can work perfectly if you’ve been looking for something more eclectic or mid-century modern.
With all of those options in mind, be sure to consider these tips when you begin shopping. The first step is deciding how large or small of a coffee table you need: Is it meant to go with a sofa? Will there be other coffee tables around it? Do you want it big enough to eat on? Large enough to put magazines on?
Pay Attention To Budget
Even if you’re not prepared to spend money just yet, knowing how much you have to work with is an important part of picking a coffee table. If your budget is $200 and your only choice is a $1,200 one, it doesn’t matter that it’s beautiful it’s out of your price range.
So start by researching all of your options, including color and material. To keep things simple stick to neutrals like black, white, or brown; they won’t clash with anything in a modern home while still providing an understated elegance.
Compare Color Options
If you’re considering more than one table, visit them both in person and compare color options. Nothing beats seeing furniture in person; it gives you a much better sense of scale, texture, and color. Bring a notebook to your shopping trip so you can write down any preferences or features that appeal to you in each piece.
A coffee table is meant to serve multiple purposes at once: It’s often placed smack dab in the middle of an open floor plan so it serves as a divider between the living room and dining room or den areas and also provides an attractive surface for serving snacks or holding drinks. When thinking about how many tables to buy, keep these objectives in mind.
Conclusion
With coffee tables ranging from narrow to wide, simple to ornate, or minimalist to eclectic, it can be hard to know where to start looking. To help guide you along your search, we’ve assembled 10 tips and ideas that will make picking out a new table easier than ever. So before you run out and buy that next trendy piece of furniture or make another trip to Pier 1 Imports consider these pieces of advice first. You might just stumble upon a great new addition to your home.
