Ideas for choosing a coffee table

Choosing a coffee table is something you think you instinctively know how to do…until the time comes to find one. That is why we have made this post so that you do not have to guess the size, shape or type you need to make the perfect combination with the sofa.

The centre table. So functional, so often an afterthought. The sofas take all the glory from the living room, and it is true that they make us feel comfortable. But the coffee table is the workhorse of the room. In it are the drinks, the remote controls, the most beloved technological devices, the most precious trinkets and, for better or worse, the dinners to take away at the end of a long day.

Sometimes it serves as a stool (something we don’t approve of, for legal reasons, but we don’t deny we’ve done it on occasion), a desk, or a craft table. With such a large and diverse job, you’d think it would be one of the first pieces of furniture you think of when moving to a new place and/or redecorating… except it usually isn’t.

How many hours do we spend choosing the perfect sofa, the perfect rug, the perfect chairs for our living room… only to throw away a second-hand coffee table that used to be Aunt Nati’s? (God bless you). Granted, not all of us go down the «who cares about a coffee table» route. We are sure that many of you have already discussed the choice of a table, but regardless of which side you are on, you may need a little guidance or inspiration when buying a coffee table.

The standard height of a coffee table is between 30 and 60 cm high. This variation fits standard-height sofas as well as most tall and low-profile sofas.

The ideal height for your coffee table will depend on the height of your sofa seat cushions. To best accommodate you and your guests, you’ll want the table top to rest about an inch or two below the height of the seat cushions. In this way, you will have enough space to comfortably reach the objects on the table.

The rule of two thirds can help you determine the length of your coffee table. In general, the length of the coffee table should be about two-thirds the length of the sofa. If you have a standard three-seater sofa that is 215cm wide, for example, the length of your coffee table should be approximately 140-145cm wide. This decorating rule is particularly effective because it can help you keep your living room looking proportional and balanced, regardless of the size of your furniture.

We recommend leaving a distance of 30-45 cm between the coffee table and the surrounding seats. While you want the coffee table to be close enough to be functional for people sitting on the couch, you also want to leave enough room for people to easily move around the furniture without bumping into anything.

Consider the rectangular option (or oval, but we’ll talk about this later) if you have a standard sofa (or an extra-long sofa with a chaise) so that everyone can easily access your favourite coffee, cocktail or late-night snack.

It’s also a good option if you have a tight space with little room to walk. If you’re a household with more remote controls or tech cords than you can count, consider getting a table with some functional yet stylish drawers.

If you have a large L-shaped sofa or the traditional conversation setup with a sofa and a couple of easy chairs, a square table is a great choice. It fits perfectly in the L-shaped corner of your sofa or in the large space in the middle of your conversation area. The best thing about a square table? You get the most styling space for your money. Who doesn’t like a well-designed coffee table? We really like the mix of the square top and the round base of the table for a play on shapes.

Another tip if space is at a premium or your room is already occupied is to consider a glass top. This helps things appear more visually open: if you don’t see it, is it really there? Round coffee tables seem to be a bit more fun too, so why not take advantage of the availability of options for something more sculptural?

For those of you who live in a small space, where every piece of furniture counts, consider cutting corners (literally) and opting for something round. It is also a good option to combine with an L-shaped sofa or a sofa with a chaise longue, as it has a good “corner” shape, that is, it fits perfectly in a small corner of the space.

Image: Sublime Interior Design and Real Estate

The oval table is a good choice if you have small humans running around and you want to try to avoid any encounters with the sharp edges of the table (the round one is good for this too). If your living room is a high-traffic area (for example, do you have to walk through it to get to another space like the kitchen or dining room?), a more sinuous shape also helps with visual fluidity. It achieves the same look as a rectangle but softens a really angular or modern sofa.

The classic mixed marble and wood design is a favourite around here. The thin legs keep it light and buoyant (which balances out the heavier wood on the bottom).

Image: wrightauction

If you feel like making a bit more of a statement, check out the ’80s-inspired petrol blue table, which could add some serious cool factor to a simple, stripped-down living space.