How to Choose the Best Coffee Table for Your Space

Every sofa needs something in front of it. You need a place to put your feet up, put your drink down, or display your treasured items. In addition to being practical, coffee tables play an important role in family room design. They anchor and define a space, making them an essential element in any seating area.

If you are looking for the perfect coffee table for your space, here are a few things to consider.

Function: Consider How You Will Use It

Think about how you will use your coffee table and the space it is in. Is your space casual or formal or somewhere in between? Do you want to use it as an area to display personal items? Do you want extra storage? Take all these things into consideration when choosing your coffee table.

The Ocean Club Stone Top Solstice Cocktail Table from Tommy Bahama is a great, multifunctional piece for your family room. It creates a dramatic center for any family room, offers two drawers for storage, and two levels of display space.

Home in on Your Style

At Baer’s Furniture, coffee tables are available in every style you can think of, from traditional to contemporary to transitional or mid-century modern. This means you’ll be able to find the perfect style for your space. You can choose one that stands out or blends in, depending on the look you are going for. You’ll also want to consider the shape, materials, and how it will go with the rest of your furniture. Take some pictures of your family room furniture so that as you browse through our showroom, you can see how your current pieces will work with your new coffee table.

Find the Best Shape for Your Space

Rectangular coffee tables are the more traditional choice and a perennial favorite. However, they are not the only choice you have. Coffee tables shapes include round, oval, square, and octagonal. The best choice for your space will depend on several factors, such as the size of your space, how many other pieces of furniture are in it, and your lifestyle.

When thinking about the shape of your coffee table, consider the other shapes in the room. Is most of your furniture rectangular and angular? An oval coffee table such as the Calista Cocktail Table from Bernhardt can add a rounded shape to the space. Or, if your furniture is rounded, it can complement the other shapes in the space. It’s elegant, transitional style goes with several different styles.

Size Up Your Space

Measure your space before you purchase a coffee table and not just the space where you intend to put it. The ideal height for a coffee table is slightly lower than the seat height of the sofa and chairs that surround it. When thinking about your space, remember that there should be about 14”-18” between the coffee table and the sofa, so measure to see how much space you have. Buying a coffee table that is too deep for your space will be unwieldy and make the space seem cramped.

Substitutes for a Coffee Table

You don’t have to choose a coffee table to fill your space, you can always go with an ottoman. This gives you extra seating if needed and a place to put up your feet. The Colston Square Ottoman from Bernhardt features a leather tufted seat, which makes a comfortable footrest for two. Small benches or two small ottomans pushed together are also good substitutes for a coffee table.

If you are looking for the perfect coffee table for your space, stop into Baer’s Furniture near you and browse our showroom.