How to choose the perfect coffee table for your living room
A coffee table is the anchor in your living room - it holds the room together, makes up for overtly empty spaces, adds functionality, offers options for storage, and just adds a general sense of conviviality in a room. If you were to browse for home décor products online, you’d find an array of coffee tables in different shapes, sizes and materials. How you go about choosing a table is important, and there are quite a few factors you need to consider when you make your selection.
To help you get started, here is our list of considerations to choose the ideal coffee table for your living room.
1) Style
First up, you need to decide the style of your coffee table, depending on the context it will be placed in. Interior design styles are constantly evolving, so your first step is to figure out whether you would prefer a modern, traditional or totally abstract table. More modern settings would be perfect for an abstract table, whereas heavily traditional interiors call for a simple, rustic side table to balance them out. Keep an eye on your colors too - bold and bright interiors can get a nice touch with a neutral table, and vice versa.
2) Size and Shape
Now that you have a defined style in mind, look into the shape and size of the table. Contrasts won’t work here; instead, you need to be mindful of the amount of space you have around the table and in your living room so the table doesn’t seem too overpowering or underwhelming. Square or round tables are a good fit for smaller living rooms and rectangular ones for longer rooms. Large living rooms are the easiest to play with; you can go with any shape and size, and even try 2-3 tables in a nesting format.
3) Height
Coffee Tables and Side Tables are usually low for ease of use. The idea is for the user to simply stretch and place their drink or plate without too much effort. The top of the table must align with the base of the sofa, or slightly below. To understand this better, compare your coffee table height with that of your side table - the latter is always higher since it’s perched by the side of the sofa arm. A lower height will also enable you to place decor accents, glossy magazines and flower vases without worrying about anything being knocked over.
4) Material
Your last, but equally important consideration, is the material of the table. Coffee tables need to be rugged - they’re subject to daily wear and tear, and must be able to handle everything from food and drink spills to laptops and books, to candles and flowers. Tabletops in natural stone or polished wood are your best options for toughness and long-lasting effectiveness.
Bottom Line
Having the right coffee table in your living room can make a world of difference, not just to the aesthetics of the room, but also to how you use and work with it in your daily life. Make the right choice and bring in some elegant utility in your home.