Coffee Tables
How to Choose a Coffee or Cocktail Table
A coffee table is sized against the sofa, not the room. A modern coffee table is usually about two thirds the length of the sofa it faces. The same proportion works for a coffee table for sectional seating, using the longer run of the sectional rather than the overall footprint of the room.
Shape changes the way a living room table occupies the space between seats. A rectangular coffee table suits a long sofa. A round coffee table or oval coffee table removes the corners that interrupt a walkway, while a square coffee table can sit naturally between an L-shaped sectional or two facing sofas. A pedestal keeps the perimeter clear, while a drum or plinth base carries the table down to the floor.
Material affects both use and upkeep. A solid wood coffee table can be made from oak, white oak, walnut, acacia, or other woods, while veneer allows a wide wood coffee table to stay flat over time. Burl brings more variation to the surface. Glass, marble, travertine, stone, metal, brass, rattan, cane, and concrete each wear differently. The category also includes nesting coffee tables, lift top coffee tables, coffee tables with storage, and coffee table ottomans, which handle the same central position in the room in a different way.
What size coffee table do you need for your sofa?
A coffee table is usually about two thirds the length of the sofa. An 80-inch sofa works with a table near 54 inches, while a 96-inch sofa wants one near 64 inches. For a sectional, measure the longer run and use the same proportion.
Rectangular coffee tables are commonly 20 to 30 inches deep. Square and round tables often run larger, around 36 to 42 inches across. A narrow table can make sense when the sofa sits close to another piece of furniture or a main walkway.
How much space should there be between a coffee table and the sofa?
Leave 14 to 18 inches between the coffee table and the sofa. That keeps the table close enough to reach while leaving enough room to get past it without turning sideways.
Around the other sides, allow about 30 inches for a walkway. If the table sits between a sofa and chairs rather than against one clear seating arrangement, the same clearances still apply.
How tall should a coffee table be?
Coffee table height should match the sofa seat or sit up to two inches below it. A sofa seat is typically 17 to 19 inches high, so a coffee table between 16 and 18 inches usually falls in the right range.
A lower table reads more relaxed and sits farther below the sofa seat. A table taller than the seat is the mistake that shows immediately, because the difference is obvious when the two pieces sit beside each other.
Round, square, oval, or rectangular, which coffee table shape works best?
A rectangular coffee table suits a long sofa and often follows the shape of a rectangular room. Round and oval tables have no corners, which helps in a tight room or where people regularly pass around a sectional.
A square table works well with an L-shaped sectional or a pair of facing sofas. A pedestal base keeps the perimeter clear, which can make it easier to pull seating close to the table. Drum and plinth bases occupy more of the space below the top and sit solidly on the floor.
What is the best material for a coffee table?
There is no single best material because they wear differently. Solid wood can be sanded and refinished, although it moves a little with the seasons. Veneer over MDF or plywood stays flat and weighs less, but cannot be refinished once the surface wears through. Burl, usually used as a veneer, has pronounced figure and varies from one top to another.
Glass keeps a small room feeling open but shows rings and fingerprints. Marble, travertine, and other stone are porous and can stain from oil or wine. Cane and rattan are light but do not take a wet glass well. A metal base can support a thin top without adding much visual weight.
How do you care for and protect a coffee table?
A damp cloth and coasters cover most routine care. Wipe up spills rather than letting them sit, and keep indoor wood tables out of prolonged direct sun. A coaster under anything oily matters more on a stone top than a wood one. Glass should be cleaned with a soft cloth rather than a scouring pad.
Grain, color, and figure vary from one piece to the next. A board that looks different from the one beside it is part of the material, not a flaw.
Should you choose a coffee table, an ottoman, or nesting tables?
A traditional coffee or cocktail table gives the room one fixed surface. An upholstered ottoman works as a coffee table with a tray on top and can also serve as extra seating or a footrest.
Nesting tables suit a small room because they separate when more surface is needed and tuck back together afterward. A lift top coffee table or coffee table with storage gives up a cleaner line for a place to keep remotes or blankets.