The Best Coffee Table

Coffee tables are the workhorses of your living room furniture. Most people need a furniture piece to store books and magazines, one that also provides a spot for drinks and snacks. Some people use their coffee tables to play games while others set theirs up as an art desk for the kids. Coffee tables provide a surface for putting up your feet. They also make a room feel finished and put together. When it comes to buying a coffee table, it’s important to get the right one.
A Few General Purchasing Tips
Before you begin shopping for a coffee table, establish what you want it to do for you or what the room needs. Along with this, assess the overall style of the room. Decide whether you want a formal look or a traditional style. If you’re attracted to rooms that feature an eclectic blend of furniture, then keep this in mind as you begin searching for the right piece. The right piece will have the look that you want combined with the function you need.
Determine Your Needed Size
To determine size, decide where you intend to position the coffee table and outline the footprint of it with painter’s tape. This will let you establish the piece’s scale and how it compares to the size of the room as well as to the other furniture in the space. When adding a coffee table to a room, you don’t want a piece that diminishes its surroundings or vice versa.
If your style preference is a classic oblong coffee table, then select one that is half the length of your sofa or slightly shorter. Common coffee table sizing is from 44 to 48 inches long and 22 to 30 inches wide. For something trendy, choose one that’s an oversize square. Regardless of whether you select an oversize coffee table or a traditional rectangular one, confirm that you’ll have at least 2 to 3 feet between your new furniture addition and the pieces that surround it. By doing so, you’ll make sure that people can move around it.
If the space is on the tight side, then consider buying a round coffee table with a diameter that measures no more than 36 inches. Circular furniture is easier to navigate around since it doesn’t feature sharp corners. The style also complements love seats and small L-shaped sectionals. In addition to shape, search for a coffee table that is near the same height as the seat of your main sofa, which is usually about 18 to 20 inches. This brings a room together because it creates a noticeable horizontal line.
Determine Your Function Needs
Form follows function. At least it does, or should, in the architectural world. As you embark on your coffee table purchasing journey, ask yourself how you intend to use the furniture item. Is it to decrease clutter in the space? Will it provide a surface for food and beverages? Or, do you need a coffee table to exhibit your favorite décor? Most people use the furniture item for multiple purposes.
If storage is your main priority, look at lift top coffee tables. This style is ideal for storing blankets or toys. Mission style tables often include a lower shelf, so this design is great if you need a spot for magazines and books. Furniture makers craft coffee tables with drawers, so look for this style if you need one for more general storage like for your family’s photo albums or a small movie collection.
Glass coffee tables are easy to keep clean when they are made from one uninterrupted sheet. Also, some designers make glass coffee tables with display areas. This style lets you exhibit valuable collectibles because it protects them from dust.
Determine What Form You Need
If your coffee table buying budget is tight, you may be tempted to purchase one that’s less than $30. At this price, it will likely be a table that’s made from particleboard and covered in veneer. But, if this is a coffee table that you intend to place in a family room that gets heavy use, consider spending more by buying a quality piece.
Better budget items include coffee tables made from bamboo, wicker or reed. You can find them starting at $50. They are also sturdy enough to hold a heavy set of books or withstand actual use by your family. Another plus is that they are made from sustainable materials, so buying one is good for the planet.
If you’re in the market for a family-friendly piece that you intend to keep for years, go for a coffee table made from solid wood. This style is durable and versatile. You’ll also have more choices in this material category. Solid wood coffee tables start at around $60 for unfinished birch items and reach prices of $2,000 or more for traditional oak pieces that will last through multiple generations.
To get an especially sturdy piece, make sure that the table’s wood is cut with the grain. When it is, it runs parallel to the edges, which increases its sturdiness. Also, look for dovetail joints. This involves cutting the table’s pieces to fit together minus the hardware. Dovetailing is a classic sign of a quality piece because the extra construction effort decreases wear.
Glass or molded acrylic are other durable coffee table materials. While coffee tables made from these materials aren’t as warm style-wise, they do make a room appear more spacious.
Other Considerations
A popular and common use for coffee tables is to hold your drinks. Because wood is vulnerable to water rings, be sure to invest in a good set of coasters and keep them handy. You can also increase the versatility of your coffee table by purchasing one that features additional leaves.
If you have small children, save the glass coffee table for the next phase of your life. The reason for this is that the edges can be dangerous. Also, avoid buying safety or tempered glass because while the style is more affordable, it will shatter if it breaks.
It’s also worth considering how long you like to have the same furnishings surrounding you. If you’re a person who dislikes change, then it’s probably worth investing in something that will last, but if you enjoy freshening up your spaces frequently, then it may be better to buy something on the cheaper side.
What Matters Most
When it comes to coffee tables, the furniture item can be constructed from almost anything. People make them from copper, aluminum, driftwood and even antique doors. The thing that matters the most is whether it’s a furniture item that you want and enjoy seeing in your home.

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This page about Coffee Table was composed by V. Tobies and published by Alternative.me.
It was last updated on 2025-02-13 08:13:36 and has been viewed 3221 times.