Picking Perfect Coffee Table and Styling them.
DRICoffeeTable_Blog
Coffee and Cocktail table, has always been my biggest center point when designing any Living space. I always tell my client the Upholstery pieces like Sofa or Sectional needs to be comfy and practical but when deciding your Cocktail table you can go bold and make a statement.
It can be the Center point of your Living room, which we sometimes call a Conversation starter. However when we are picking the Coffee table for Family Room all that matters is the functionality. It is a workhorse that holds our drinks, remote controls, beloved tech devices, treasured trinkets, and, for better or worse, our take-out dinners at the end of a long day. So, we bend some of our own rules..
Rules to Guide Your Coffee Table SIZE.
While you can, of course, go with whatever shape and size you like, to have an ideal relationship between your coffee table and sofa, here are some general things to keep in mind:
Your coffee table should be at least half the length of your sofa (but no more than roughly ⅔ the length) and should sit at about the same height as the seat, give or take 4 inches (i.e., if your sofa is 96-inches long and 20-inches tall, you should look for something, no matter the shape, that’s around 48 to 60 inches wide and 16 to 24 inches tall).
Scale is key in making any space cohesive. Making sure your coffee table is at least half of the size of your sofa will ensure that the two pieces look great and belong together. Your coffee table should be no more than 4″ higher or shorter than the top of your sofa seat cushions.
Rules to Consider Your Coffee Table SHAPE
There are so many shapes to choose from it can be overwhelming at times. So here is a simple breakdown of what is the most important aspect for you.
Square – Square coffee tables are great for larger rooms
Round – Round tables are great for a conversational grouping
Rectangular – the most common shape and can go anywhere, the only variable is the size.
Oval , Hexagonal or Octagonal – pretty much interchangeable with round, depending on the space and effect you are going for.
Amorphous or other shapes – Amorphous could be a piece of driftwood and other shapes could be a classic mid-century boomerang.
A Rectangular Coffee table is a great choice when you have a narrow space with minimal walk-around clearance. If you’re a household with more remotes or tech cords than you can count, think about getting a table with some functional but still sleek drawers. And if you regularly eat in front of your TV (whether by choice or because you don’t actually have a formal dining area), a lift-top coffee table is super useful for not having to hunch over your plate.
A Round or circular Coffee table is a great choice for anyone living in a small space where every piece of furniture counts. It’s also an excellent choice when paired with a sectional or sofa with chaise , as it can perfectly in the nook.
When I am designing homes with little kids and the clients are really into something fancy than usual round we go for Oval Coffee table. It is a good call if you have some small humans running around and want to attempt to avoid any face-to-table sharp edge encounters (round is also good for this). It accomplishes the same look as a rectangle but softens a really angular or modern sofa.
Sometimes we just go out of all these rules and introduce a unique piece like in the picture here.
Once you have tackled all these rules of picking the right Coffee table, it comes down to how you style them to make it look like a Pro styled Coffee table. Phoebe Howard did an article for Southern Living Mag a while back and her advice is exceptionally good. I have combined these rules with my love for grouping Odd number of items as it is visually more interesting. I have styled most of my Coffee tables following and breaking some of these concepts.
Styling your Coffee Table like a PRO
1. Add something Fresh and Green : We always recommend some form of Green to this setting in a speciality shaped or color planter. In the image above how we incorporated Hydrangea to bring that element of life with pots replicating the color element.
2. A Tray is your friend on this piece of furniture. They always helps you hold the small trinkets and Coasters etc. Like in the image on the side, it holds the group of Vases.
3. A Stack of Books : Use a few large pretty Art books with beautiful Cover to make a stack and top it off with something decorative and shiny.
4. One Oddball Object: Choose something that is sculptural or quirky to express your personality. Like in the space above the Tic Tac Play set which kids can use when they are getting bored as well as the Coral Red piece.
I understand if you have kids at home it cannot be always possible so go with whatever is more practical and goes best with your lifestyle. These blogs are designed to inform you of some of the design principles and rules we live by and incorporate in our designs. Please let us know if you enjoyed this post and would like to learn little more about DRI, head on to our Contact page.