Interior Design
How Do I … Match my Coffee Table to my Interior?
Everyone needs a coffee table but we also want it to make a statement about our personal design choice
There’s a general consensus among interior design professionals that your coffee table should be ‘no more than two-thirds’ of your sofa’s total length, with enough space around it for leg room between the sofa and the table. It should also be about the same height as the sofa seat, or lower.
But in today’s anything goes attitude, your coffee table can really be as large or small as you like, as long as you can place your coffee cup on it, of course.
Interior stylist Priscilla Tan says that you can even forgo having a single coffee table and have a series of side tables or even ottomans or benches (great for doubling up as extra seats).
Although the size and shape of your coffee tables are up to your personal design choices, there are still a few tips to keep in mind when choosing one to match your decor style.
For small spaces
Choose a set of nesting tables that tuck or stack away when you need more floor space.
Choose a set of nesting tables that tuck or stack away when you need more floor space.
Comes with storage
A coffee table that comes with built-in storage is the perfect place to store remote controls, tissues and other everyday things.
Tip: You can quickly pack away any mess on the top if people drop by unexpectedly.
A coffee table that comes with built-in storage is the perfect place to store remote controls, tissues and other everyday things.
Tip: You can quickly pack away any mess on the top if people drop by unexpectedly.
See through them
A busy room with lots of furniture and accessories will benefit from a transparent coffee table that is made of tempered glass or acrylic, or a glass top on thin legs. The transparency will open up the sight-lines in the space.
A busy room with lots of furniture and accessories will benefit from a transparent coffee table that is made of tempered glass or acrylic, or a glass top on thin legs. The transparency will open up the sight-lines in the space.
Get the look: This one’s on wheels so if you’re feeling particularly minimal you can just wheel it away to a cupboard.
As art
For a large room, look for a statement piece of furniture that doubles up as a piece of art. Large sculptural pieces of wood, artisan crafted metal platforms, slabs of marble or even a series of complementary shapes and sizes in similar materials will be not only be functional but beautiful as well.
For a large room, look for a statement piece of furniture that doubles up as a piece of art. Large sculptural pieces of wood, artisan crafted metal platforms, slabs of marble or even a series of complementary shapes and sizes in similar materials will be not only be functional but beautiful as well.
Different decor styles
Keep in mind your overall interior style.
Keep in mind your overall interior style.
Get the look: For a Scandi room, look for classic Nordic designs in smooth timber and tapered legs.
Get the look: The minimalist style will go well with solid, straight edged ‘block’ coffee tables.
Get the look: If your interior style is more eclectic, look for carved timber or painted designs.
Get the look: Ethnic details like carved flora and fauna, metal or shell inlays reflect South Asian heritage.
Get the look: This Chinese daybed has been repurposed as a coffee table.
Get the look: An unstained simple carved teak table can work in a traditional style room.
Get the look: If yours is industrial, a unique piece like this gives heft but is still easy to move around.
Get the look: This one suits a younger user with its military feel.
Get the look: For high style glamour, choose mirrored tables but be careful when placing anything on the tabletop.
Get the look: If it’s impossible to fit a rectangle or square table into your living room, there are oval and triangular ones.
TELL US
Have you found the perfect coffee table? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
Have you found the perfect coffee table? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
Once you’ve chosen your sofa, your dining table and chairs, you need to sort out smaller pieces of furniture like the coffee table.