Buying a Coffee Table?

Function.  Match the coffee table to your lifestyle. If you seldom use the space your table will need to be less sturdy than if your table will be subjected to feet or toy cars. If you use the space to watch TV, the table will be needed for snacks and drinks. A durable surface that is easily cleaned will be your best bet. Glass, sealed granite, marble or wood, laminates and heavy-duty veneers are good prospects. Will it need to hold your magazines and books? Will you need storage? Look for a coffee table with shelves or a chest like design.  Do you enjoy a meal while looking at the TV? Do the children do crafts on the coffee table? Consider a lift-top table that raises the table from cocktail to dining / working height. For safety, if you have young children, select glass only if it is very thick and set in a frame. If the table is purely decorative your decision can be mainly based on form.

 

Style. While a bit of eclectic surprise is refreshing, your coffee table style should complement the overall decorating style of the room. In traditional spaces the coffee table will most likely be made out of wood or wood based product and can have decorative carvings or turnings or just have an understated elegance. More contemporary pieces have cleaner lines, and may feature wood or unusual materials, organic or geometric shapes and glass. Contemporary or modern tables can be dramatically artistic and be statement or sculptural pieces in their own right. 

 

Shape. The classical rectangle is probably the most popular shape. But the circular and the oversized square are gaining favour. A round table is easy to navigate around safely (great for families with children or where space is tight), wonderful for gatherings of people, and fits well in square rooms with U-shaped or L-shaped seating. The square can balance out a galley-shaped room and is also good in square rooms with U-shaped or L-shaped seating, and best in large rooms where the seating runs the risk of being too far apart. It unifies facing seating and offers a great surface for decorative accents, while leaving ample space for other functions. The rounded curves of the oval marry the benefits of the rectangle and the circle. They are also best used in rectangular rooms. Furniture designers have, however, given us an infinite number of shapes to select from. Look at the other shapes in other furnishings and decide whether you want the drama of a different shape or the blend of mirroring the other shapes.

 

Size. The table should be in scale with the other furnishings in the room and in proportion to the size of the room.  For good balance, a rectangular table should be about two-thirds the length of your sofa, excluding the sofa arms. Coffee tables come in all sizes, but rectangular tables are usually in the range of 22-30 inches wide by 44-48 inches long. Your coffee table should be the same height or within 2 inches of your sofa seat height. This makes the standard height to typically be within the 16–20 inch range. If you entertain a lot, or if members of your family are tall, you can take the table to the higher limit to make it more convenient to set plates and drinks down. Traffic flow should also be taken into consideration.  You should allow for at least 18 inches and up to 3 feet of space between the table and the seating. If the space is too large your guests will have difficulty reaching to set down their glass and too close they will not be able to sit, stand or walk by comfortably.  

 

Materials. Wood is a traditional and formal material. But wood can also reflect a modern aesthetic, especially if stained or painted in a dark colour. Metal is almost always synonymous with modern design. Modern style lines are clean and smooth. Look for floating or inset glass tops. Vinyl, plastic and fabric are also possibilities. The upholstered ottoman and tray or glass top can also function as a coffee table.