There is a lot to consider when choosing coffee tables for the living room. The humble coffee table, after all, is more than just another piece of furniture in your home. It provides an opportunity to infuse style into the room and potential for offering immense practical functionality.
Apart from knowing how to choose a coffee table that suits your space and interior style, knowing where to place your coffee table is one of the more deceptively complicated choices you’ll have to make. You’ll want to impact both the overall design and the usability of your living room as positively as possible.
Fortunately, whether you have a round or rectangle coffee table, we’re here to help! But first, let’s briefly consider the different coffee table options.
Types of Coffee Tables
Rectangular Coffee Tables
Rectangular coffee tables are the most common type and are found in more traditional living rooms thanks to their versatility in matching various seating arrangements.
They are particularly ideal next to long sofas or sectional seating thanks to the balanced and proportional look they bring to the table, no pun intended.
Square Coffee Tables
The square table makes for an excellent choice in living rooms with modular sofas or smaller seating areas where space is at a premium.
Sleek, contemporary and balanced, you’ll often find square coffee tables in the centre of a room.
Round Coffee Tables
The round coffee table, thanks to the lack of sharp corners, is great for use in smaller living rooms where traffic flow can be limited or tight.
The circular design promotes a sense of unity and cohesion, and can be very functional for intimate gatherings of family and friends.
Oval Coffee Tables
The oval table design offers a unique and dynamic shape. It combines much of the practical benefits of a rectangular table but with the visual flair of a round table.
Use of an oval coffee table will depend largely on the size of your room and the seating arrangements available.Â
The Art of Placing Coffee Tables for Living Rooms
Centre Stage
Placing your coffee table in the centre of your seating area is a bold but excellent option for a range of applications. If you want your coffee table to be the focal point of your design, the middle of the living room is the way to go.Â
But it’s not just about fashion – there’s a functional element to this placement as well. It allows easy access from all sides and encourages use from guests, family and friends. One thing to consider, however, is the size of your coffee table and the distance between the seating and its surface. It should be within easy reach to ensure practical use without obstructing the flow of movements.
By the Sofa’s Side
Is space limited in your living room? Does the space have a rather unconventional layout?
Consider placing the coffee table adjacent to the sofa. Whether you have a round or rectangle coffee table, this allows for the maximisation of available space and avoids cluttering the room both physically and aesthetically. Just bear in mind that depending on how your sofas are arranged, it may limit accessibility from certain seats.Â
The Floater
Knowing how to decide on a coffee table’s placement requires you to know how you intend on using the table itself. For larger rooms, for example, you may want to consider placing the coffee table away from the seating area.Â
This creates a sense of openness and airiness and allows your chosen coffee table to stand proud and independently to showcase its own aesthetic. But, being a floating coffee table means that accessibility from your seating will be restricted. So consider how you intend on using your coffee table and what role it plays in your room.
The Nested Coffee Table
Nested coffee tables are tables designed to be arranged in a group of one or more other tables. In most instances they vary in size and are arranged in a layered formation to emphasis the different heights and/or shapes.
Using nesting tables offers great flexibility in placement. You can spread them out to ensure accessibility from various seating positions in the living room, or they can be clustered together for maximum aesthetic impact.
Dual Coffee Tables
Even if you choose to forgo the nesting style, larger living rooms with distinct seating areas can benefit from having dual coffee tables servicing each space.Â
This layout promotes an intimacy in a larger space and gives you a larger canvas on which to consider the different types and style of coffee tables in each area. Of course, when it comes down to placing the coffee tables, you can still opt for a floating, adjacent or centrally located coffee table depending on the specifics of your particular application.Â
What To Consider When Placing Your Coffee Table
If you’re unsure how and where to place your coffee table in your living room, here is a brief checklist of considerations to ask yourself:
- Does the placement of the coffee table impede the natural flow of movement in the room?
- Is there sufficient space between the table and furniture?
- Does the placement of the coffee table make it easier or harder to access it?
- Is the coffee table the visual focal point of the room? Should it be?
- Will you be primarily using the coffee table for decorative or functional purposes?
- Does the coffee table match the rest of the room’s aesthetic or does it stand out?
- Does the placement of the coffee table work for you?
Ultimately, this last question is the key. The best coffee tables for your living room are only as good as their utility and appeal to you and your family. Experiment with different arrangements to find the option that visually and practically makes the most of the table itself and the space around it.Â
Need help? Contact Euro Marble Today!
Whether you need some assistance in finding the best coffee table for a sectional living room or would like to talk through how to choose a coffee table that suits your home, our team at Euro Marble would love to help. Contact us today or come in to see us in our showroom!
