Home | Lifestyle | Furniture & Home Storage | Coffee Tables | Coffee Table Ideas

Coffee Table Ideas

by Emily Goodman

  • Overview

    The coffee table is a relative newcomer in the history of furniture. Although first invented in the 19th century, it didn't really become popular until the 20th century. A coffee table is a low table often placed in front of the couch and used both as a surface for food, drinks, magazines and display articles, and as a footrest. Because coffee tables have such a short history, you can be as inventive as you like in choosing one for your own home. Let your tastes and interests and your household's needs lead you to one that's both fun and practical.

  • Coffee or Tea?

    Before invention of coffee tables, the standard piece of furniture was the tea table. This was a smaller and taller table that was a good height for eating at, but easier to maneuver around when you got up off your couch or chair. A tea table may be the perfect choice for smaller spaces or for people who often eat meals sitting on the couch. Because it's taller, it's a more comfortable height for eating at than a coffee table. You also might find that two small tables will function better in a small space than one big table.
 

  • Use Your Imagination

    For those who want a low surface, nearly any object with a flat surface can be turned into a coffee table. Choose something that reflects your interests and is a good size for your space. People have made coffee tables out of surfboards (just add legs), children's sleds, wheelbarrows (add a board over the top) and even aquariums (top with glass so people can look down at the fish). Another option is to wrap a beautiful piece of fabric or wallpaper around a board of the size you choose, cover it with glass, frame it with strips of molding and add legs. Pairs of large flower pots or ornamental planters can be topped with glass to make a handsome coffee table. Just be sure to get tempered glass that's not likely to break, and have the corners rounded for comfort and safety.

  • Storage Options

    In addition to providing a surface, coffee tables also can incorporate storage, which can be very useful in smaller homes. Any low chest, or even a spare kitchen cabinet with a nice top added, can serve as a coffee table while hiding all manner of objects inside. Other options include hassocks where the top cushion lifts off; architect's tables with narrow drawers that can hold newspapers, magazines or possibly board games; and vintage trunks, which can conveniently stash bedding for convertible sofa beds near where it is used. Old suitcases can be made into clever small coffee tables with storage by simply adding legs. The drawback to suitcases, trunks and hassocks is that you have to remove everything on top to open them up. Still another modern option is an adjustable-height coffee table, which can be lifted to eating height when you need to host a dinner party. Use your imagination to come up with the perfect coffee table.

    References & Resources

    • Elegant and Easy Living Rooms; Dylan Landis; 2000
    • What Do You Say to a Naked Room?; Catherine C. Crane; 1979
       
       
     
     

    Popular Topics