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Designer FAQs: How to Choose a Coffee Table for Your Living Room
Do people still have coffee tables in today’s homes?
Visit your friends and family—most likely, you’ll find they have a coffee table! It’s such a functional, common-sense solution for storage and provides a welcome surface for snacks, beverages, phones, books, and more.
Coffee tables come in an array of shapes and sizes that can work in almost any living room.
- A rectangular coffee table goes well in almost any space, particularly if your living room is anchored by a sofa.
- A round coffee table will add visual variety to your space, softening the room’s angles.
- A square coffee table makes a particularly good companion to a sectional.
If you want to switch things up, you can opt for these coffee table alternatives:
- Nesting tables are a pair of staggered tables in which one can tuck beneath the other. They can either be positioned side by side, as shown in this living room, or be separated for use in different parts of the room.
- Bunching tables are the same height and, like nesting tables, can be used together or separately. Here’s an example of how we used our Quick Ship Lyons bunching tables in a living room.
- A cocktail ottoman in fabric or leather, with a tray on top that can hold drinks and more.
Should my coffee table be taller or shorter than my sofa or couch?
Measure the distance from your floor to the top of your sofa or sectional seat cushions. Look for a coffee table that’s an inch or two shorter than your seat surface.
What’s the best size for a round coffee table—or any coffee table, for that matter?
We recommend a coffee table that’s about two-thirds the width of your sofa, with a perimeter that positions it 12 to 18 inches away from other pieces of furniture, so people can walk around it easily.
If you’re tucking a coffee table inside the L-shape or U-shape of a sectional, compare it not to the entire width of the sectional but to the longest side within the L or U.
If you need help visualizing what a new coffee table will look like in relation to your other furniture, you can use your phone to project an image of the coffee table in your living room. Click here to find out how to preview our products in your space.
What are coffee tables made from? Why would I choose a wood coffee table instead of a glass one?
Start by noticing what appeals to you—what makes you say, “I like that one.” Then think like an interior designer so that your coffee table becomes part of a cohesive living room design.
- In a living room with ornate window treatments and darker fabrics, a glass-top coffee table offers a light, airy contrast.
- A stone-top coffee table feels elegant in a classic space, but it can also add a natural element to a modern room.
- A metal coffee table can feel classic and formal in certain finishes and modern/industrial in others.
- Do you have items to display? Try a coffee table with a glass curio case on top.
A wood coffee table is incredibly versatile; its silhouette, the type of wood from which it’s made, and the finish that’s applied to the wood can each influence how it plays within an interior design concept. If you need advice on selecting the right wood coffee table for your living room, try our complimentary design service.
How do I style the top of my coffee table?
It’s easy for a coffee table top to become a cluttered landing zone for all kinds of objects. To keep things neat, start by giving each item a home: Place an accent tray on top of your coffee table and corral your remotes, coasters, and other small items inside.
Once you’ve taken care of the functional part, make it pretty:
- Stack some books inside your tray and place a small faux floral arrangement on top. Alternatively, skip the books and add a tall faux orchid.
- Add a sculpture or other piece of décor that you find inspiring.
- Incorporate a candleholder to give the space some ambience.
Why should I buy a coffee table from Ethan Allen?
Our coffee tables are crafted by hand and rigorously tested to ensure they meet our high quality standards. We offer an incredible variety of styles, and many of the coffee tables we make ourselves can be customized in more than a dozen finishes.
If you don’t see what you’re looking for online, visit a Design Center. One of our interior designers will help you select and customize a coffee table that’s perfect for you.
Need one-on-one answers on choosing a coffee table? Visit a Design Center or click Designer Chat—we’re happy to help!
