What Coffee Table to Buy? How to Choose a Coffee Table

Coffee tables…Coffee shops… “Can I take you out for coffee some time?”

“Wanna come up for some coffee?”

How is it that ‘coffee’ became the ultimate centre of attraction-slash-euphemism for all things social? You don’t hear people doing the same thing with food… “Hey, wanna come back to my place for some koeksisters (wink wink)?” It just doesn’t have the right ring to it. 

Well, there are probably as many defences of the coffee fixation as there are coffee addicts. The point is, things that include the word ‘coffee’ in their descriptions generally mean we’re expecting to have a good time with some other pretty cool humans. So, when you’re faced with literally thousands of options in choosing a coffee table, and maybe feeling just a tad overwhelmed, it might help to keep this fundamental idea in mind. 

Of course, everyone has their own priorities when it comes to furniture. Your coffee table can definitely be the crowning touch to your living area, a great opportunity to highlight your personal sense of style and enhance the mood. But even here, it all comes back to the basics: creating a living space that brings the people in your life together, and makes you feel truly at home – whatever that looks like for you and yours. 

So grab a cup of coffee, and let’s have a brainstorm on how to choose a coffee table that will live up to its name… 

Why size matters…and other awkward scenarios 

Of course, size is one of the main things you need to think about with a coffee table, and it comes down to striking the right balance. You don’t want a table that’s too small and loses all its mojo

because it gets dwarfed by your other furniture. And you don’t want a table that’s so big it traps you on your corner couch or puts you in danger of chronic knee injuries. There are two basic rules of thumb when it comes to size. First, choose a table that’s not more than two thirds the length of your main couch. And second, make sure you’ll be able to keep at least a half a metre open between the table and other furniture, to ensure you have adequate legroom and can get around it without having to do an awkward side-shuffle while juggling five scalding coffee mugs. 

Speaking of awkward situations… One website claims ‘there's nothing more awkward than a coffee table that's too high or too low.’

Look, we agree it’s definitely not ideal if you have to strategically reposition your or your partner’s feet on the table top to be able to catch those Dothraki subtitles on Game of Thrones, but we can certainly think of awkward situations...like discussing the final season of Game of Thrones.

If you really prefer to have a higher table, then keep it on the smaller side to help balance the look and avoid your table becoming a focus piece for all the wrong reasons. 

Choosing the best shape to suit the space 

The shape of your coffee table will likely come down to personal taste more than anything, but if you’re not sure what’s going to work best, there are a few basics you can keep in mind to help shape things up.  One key principle that’s not so obvious to the untrained eye is that perfectly symmetrical shapes appear to take up more space – so if you like the look of a square or round table, make sure you have a living space that’s big enough to handle it, keeping the legroom rule in mind. If you have a smaller space to work with, then a rectangular or oval coffee table is probably going to be an easier fit.  

You can also think of the shape in terms of creating contrast – if the rest of your furniture has a lot of angular, harder lines, then you might want to go for a rounder shaped coffee table to create a softer contrast. Of course, rounder shapes or rounded corners are also major headache savers if you have little ankle-biters crawling and running around. 

Material matters

As with a lot of furniture pieces, wood is always a popular choice. It’s solid, it’s versatile, it brings a natural sense of warmth and comfort to a room, and there are plenty of types and styles to choose from.  A rustic wooden table can really add that extra level of cosiness and make your living room literally feel more ‘lived in.’ Some reasons not to choose wood would be if you already have a lot of wooden furniture in the room, or an uncovered wooden floor. In that case, a metal table or glass top with a metal base can be a great complement. Glass can also be a great option for a more contemporary look, and can help create a feeling of lightness and space in the room. Of course, it can also help create the feeling of horror movies and emergency rooms if you’ve got small children (or larger ones of the hyperactive variety), so we’ll leave it to you to weigh up the risks... 

On a more zen note, it’s always good to think about creating harmony and balance with your furniture choices, and letting some pieces speak louder than others. If you want to really make a statement with your coffee table, consider something quirky or non-traditional. There are some really cool industrial metal furniture styles around that will really turn some heads.  If you like an organic look, you might want to look at a table made of a different kind of natural material like mango wood and coconut fibre, or a unique combination of sculptured wood rounds and glass like the Jabari coffee table above. 

Function over form?

For a lot of families, buying a coffee table may just come down to function more than form. If there’s one thing all of us can do with more of, it’s storage space – tables with open platform bases or drawers can be really stylish while giving you a designated spot for the remotes, the tissues, all those things you don’t want to have to get up for…again. Maybe your coffee table is going to be boardgame central. Or maybe it’s where the kids are going to be eating for a few years…ok, let’s be honest, maybe it’s where the whole family’s going to be eating most nights (darn you, Netflix!). The bottom line is, your coffee table should speak to your lifestyle, your needs, your family, and bring together the things you all love most.

For a wide range of unique, classic and quality coffee tables you’ll fall in love with, pop into one of our Cielo store or check out our online range.