The coffee table is a relatively recent addition to the home. They first appeared in the mid to late 1800s. Today, it's hard to imagine a living room or great room without a coffee table, or a cocktail table as they were referred to in the 1950 and 60s.
Even though it is a latecomer to the home, choosing the right table is still a bit of an art. Outside of the sofa, sectional or love seat, these tables are one of the most dominant pieces of furniture in the room, and choosing the right coffee table can spell the difference between a gorgeous, cohesive room and a decorating disaster.
Thankfully, choosing the right table is pretty straightforward. While you can have quite a bit of latitude as far as its color, style and features, the scale of the piece is pretty standard. It should never be more than two-thirds the length of the sofa or section. Put simply, if you have a 9' sofa, the table should be roughly 6'. This allows plenty of room for visitors and family to move around the table without it getting in the way. It will also keep the table from becoming dominant. When choosing the right coffee table, know that it should never compete for attention, only complement.
Choosing the right coffee table requires that you assess the space you have available. For instance, if you have an L-shaped sectional, you can choose a table that is a little wider than normal, since the space inside the L can accommodate a larger piece. Conversely, if you have a single sofa in a room that's not very wide, you may want to go with a coffee table that is slimmer.
When choosing the right coffee table, you also want to think about how you use a table in your living room or great room. If you do a lot of television watching, you may want to get a table that can double as an eating area. Lift top models are perfect for this as the top lifts up and out, creating a table.
If you have guests over a lot or you want to keep a spare blanket handy for snuggling up with, you may want to get a coffee table that has storage. This will allow you to keep your favorite things within easy reach, including your favorite books or magazines, the remotes or even some candy to snack on during a movie.
Choosing the right coffee table also requires you to consider the color and style. The style should definitely fit the character of the room. While you can mix and match and claim it's eclectic or shabby chic, you want to make sure that your coffee table doesn't stand out like a sore thumb. Stick with the same general style and colors of the rest of the room. Basically, if your furniture has dark woods, the coffee table should, too.
If you're new to decorating, you may want to start the process of choosing the right coffee table online. Online retailers have a huge selection and you can start narrowing your choices more easily. For example, if you have a transitional living room you can enter the keywords "transitional coffee table" in the search box on the website. Seeing hundreds of different tables can really be overwhelming, so use the search feature to quickly narrow down your choices. Shopping online also allows you to save pictures of your favorites and print them all out so you can compare them face-to-face. Just remember to keep track of where you saw your favorites. It can be a real heartbreak when you find the coffee table of your dreams, only to find that you can't remember who sells it.
Even though it is a latecomer to the home, choosing the right table is still a bit of an art. Outside of the sofa, sectional or love seat, these tables are one of the most dominant pieces of furniture in the room, and choosing the right coffee table can spell the difference between a gorgeous, cohesive room and a decorating disaster.
Thankfully, choosing the right table is pretty straightforward. While you can have quite a bit of latitude as far as its color, style and features, the scale of the piece is pretty standard. It should never be more than two-thirds the length of the sofa or section. Put simply, if you have a 9' sofa, the table should be roughly 6'. This allows plenty of room for visitors and family to move around the table without it getting in the way. It will also keep the table from becoming dominant. When choosing the right coffee table, know that it should never compete for attention, only complement.
Choosing the right coffee table requires that you assess the space you have available. For instance, if you have an L-shaped sectional, you can choose a table that is a little wider than normal, since the space inside the L can accommodate a larger piece. Conversely, if you have a single sofa in a room that's not very wide, you may want to go with a coffee table that is slimmer.
When choosing the right coffee table, you also want to think about how you use a table in your living room or great room. If you do a lot of television watching, you may want to get a table that can double as an eating area. Lift top models are perfect for this as the top lifts up and out, creating a table.
If you have guests over a lot or you want to keep a spare blanket handy for snuggling up with, you may want to get a coffee table that has storage. This will allow you to keep your favorite things within easy reach, including your favorite books or magazines, the remotes or even some candy to snack on during a movie.
Choosing the right coffee table also requires you to consider the color and style. The style should definitely fit the character of the room. While you can mix and match and claim it's eclectic or shabby chic, you want to make sure that your coffee table doesn't stand out like a sore thumb. Stick with the same general style and colors of the rest of the room. Basically, if your furniture has dark woods, the coffee table should, too.
If you're new to decorating, you may want to start the process of choosing the right coffee table online. Online retailers have a huge selection and you can start narrowing your choices more easily. For example, if you have a transitional living room you can enter the keywords "transitional coffee table" in the search box on the website. Seeing hundreds of different tables can really be overwhelming, so use the search feature to quickly narrow down your choices. Shopping online also allows you to save pictures of your favorites and print them all out so you can compare them face-to-face. Just remember to keep track of where you saw your favorites. It can be a real heartbreak when you find the coffee table of your dreams, only to find that you can't remember who sells it.
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