How to choose a coffee or a side table?
You already have a furnished apartment, a sofa in the living room and you are thinking about choosing the right table? We have created a small guide for you, what to consider when deciding on a coffee table or an additional table.
A coffee table is an extremely practical and necessary piece of equipment, but it is often pushed into the background when decorating an interior. First of all, we furnish the living room with a sofa. Of course, this makes sense - it is usually the largest piece of furniture in the room, and also the most expensive investment. Although coffee and side tables are not so comfortable in themselves, they are certainly extremely functional. Because where, when watching a series in the evening, do you put a cup of tea? Where do you put a book or magazine? Please, do not put a glass of wine on the floor. This can end in a small disaster!
Okay, but where do you start when choosing a coffee table? There are two important aspects: material and color, and shape and size. I dare say that the second set of parameters, although less exciting, is more important. For a coffee table to work well with a sofa, proportions are important. We suggest following these rules:
- for a standard sofa, choose a long table with a width of 1/2 to 2/3 of the sofa,
- for a sofa with a chaise longue I suggest a table with the same proportions, but only in relation to the non-extended part of the sofa,
- for the corner, use the same width ratio in relation to the longer side of the furniture.
Pro tip:
If you dream of a round table, but a more elongated shape would be a better fit for your sofa, you can put together two round models (for example, of different heights).
Another issue is of course the material. Here the choice is huge! From wood, through plastics, to natural stone, leather and metal. In this case, it is worth taking into account the style of the entire room, or even the entire house or apartment. There are no golden rules here, but a trained eye will easily assess whether a given piece of furniture will fit and be a decoration of the living room.
If you are looking for a durable table that does not require too much attention and care, we recommend models with a metal top or a non-demanding stone. It can be slate, granite or limestone - but it is important that it is impregnated. We recommend marble for interiors that are constantly tidy and quiet, because it is very absorbent, which increases the risk of stains. When it comes to steel tops painted in different colors, make sure they are powder-coated!
An additional advantage of a coffee table can be more storage space, for example in the form of a shelf or drawer. Such a shelf can also be a decoration of the furniture, provided that it is made in a visually appealing way. Have you already seen our tables from the Stade series with shelves woven from strips of natural leather? If not, you should definitely catch up :)
If you are looking for a durable table that does not require too much attention and care, we recommend models with a metal top or a non-demanding stone. It can be slate, granite or limestone - but it is important that it is impregnated. We recommend marble for interiors that are constantly tidy and quiet, because it is very absorbent, which increases the risk of stains. When it comes to steel tops painted in different colors, make sure they are powder-coated!
An additional advantage of a coffee table can be more storage space, for example in the form of a shelf or drawer. Such a shelf can also be a decoration of the furniture, provided that it is made in a visually appealing way. Have you already seen our tables from the Stade series with shelves woven from strips of natural leather? If not, you should definitely catch up :)
There is also little talk about living room side tables, i.e. small tables placed on the side of the sofa or next to the armchair. It's a pity, because they are very handy! Their height is usually higher than coffee tables, so to put something on them we don't have to bend down at all - just reach out your hand. Such side tables can also work well in bedrooms instead of bedside tables. They may not provide as much storage space due to the lack of drawers or shelves behind the closed front, but they are visually lighter and often more compact - this is important in small bedrooms.
To sum up - when choosing a coffee table for the living room, pay attention to its shape and material, but start with proportions. Don't let this element be neglected. A well-chosen coffee table can be the heart of the living room :)