A coffee table does a lot of work. It needs to hold books, magazines, drinks, food — even games on game night. You might want to put your feet up on it, or the kids might need a place for coloring. Plus it’s usually smack dab in the middle of the room, where you can’t miss it — so make sure it’s a good one.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re picking a coffee table.
Before buying a table, mark the footprint with painter’s tape so you can see the scale of the piece in the room and how that affects the surrounding furniture.
One classic coffee table size is 48 by 24 inches, so you can plan on that when thinking about your furniture arrangement. A large coffee table is often double that: 48 inches square.
Coffee tables should be the same height as the surrounding seating, with 18 inches being a good average (although it will depend on your furniture).
When you have two sofas or any larger seating arrangement, a big coffee table might seem like the obvious solution. But also consider a pair of matching coffee tables.
Metal bases with glass tops are a good choice to keep rooms feeling open. They’re also great when you have a special rug and don’t want to block views of it.
Round coffee tables aid circulation, especially where there are many available seats, as in this example. If not every seat can reach the table, make sure there’s another surface at hand.
Using a vintage object for a coffee table adds a bit of history — a story — to a room, and is one of my favorite things to do.
The best rule when buying a coffee table is to make sure the table works for your space as well as for your aesthetic.
Article published on Houzz.com
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