Coffee Tables that Tie your Living Room Together: A Buyer’s Guide

A sumptuous sofa and stylish accent chairs are a must for any living room, but the true star of the show is the coffee table. This essential item can make or break your living room aesthetic because, as the focal point, it ties all the elements of your space together. This contemporary buyer's guide will help you fine-tune your coffee table requirements to find the perfect centrepiece.

Size matters

A well-proportioned coffee table brings satisfying balance to your room. While you must take into account the size of the whole room, importantly, you must also consider the size of your sofas. To keep that all-important sense of harmony, your coffee table must be smaller than your main sofa (ideally no more than two-thirds its length) and around the height of its seat cushions. The space between the sofas and your other items of furniture will largely determine the depth of your coffee table. A 30-45cm gap between the sofa and the coffee table is desirable, with at least 75cm between the coffee table and the other pieces, such as the TV console.

A question of shape  

The traditional rectangular coffee table has timeless appeal. Depending on the style, it can look classically elegant or geometric and modern, but it always brings clean lines and uniformity, offering scope to play with curves and patterns elsewhere in the room. A square table brings the same benefits when working with a smaller space. A round table is also good for bijou spaces, while an oval silhouette works when you need a larger table but still want the flowing curves. An oval coffee table is a superb choice for L-shaped sectionals and seating arrangements.

Materials that match 

The materials in your coffee table need to offer style cohesion throughout the room by physically or stylistically coordinating with your other furniture.  

Wood remains a popular choice because it is durable, practical, and full of charm. Equally durable, marble, travertine, and other stones, and thoroughly contemporary concrete, introduce texture and natural hues to a room. 

Glass allows you to play with light and can be a clever design tool in smaller spaces, creating a sense of airiness. Highly polished metal offers the same benefits with an edgy and contemporary aesthetic.

Selecting your style

Sitting at the centre of your seating arrangement and drawing the eye, your coffee table is the pivotal furniture piece for setting your style tone. From clean lines to sculptural forms, your coffee table tells a design story, and your choice of material will add depth to that narrative. 

There are further style choices, with nesting tables to expand your usable surfaces during gatherings and handy storage tables to stow away sofa blankets and magazines.  

By understanding your space, appraising your furniture, and defining your style aspirations, you can choose a new coffee table that will perfectly tie your living room together. From sweeping minimalist spaces to snug family living rooms, Crate & Barrel's coffee table range has the right design to finesse your look.