Do you really need a coffee table?

Do you really need a coffee table?

A lot of people will tell you that a coffee table is a necessary piece of furniture for a living room. You need a place to put up your feet, put down drinks, and most importantly, to anchor the room. If you're looking to try something a little different consider these coffee table alternatives.

Should you put your feet on a coffee table?

Don't put your feet on Tables. People eat off of tables. Coffee Tables are for coffee, breakfast pastry and/or magazines and nothing else. Don't put your hands on the coffee table, don't put your elbows on the coffee table, don't put your feet on the coffee table.

Should a coffee table be lower than the couch?

The height of a coffee table is important. It should be no lower than 1-2 inches from the seat of your couch. The standard height for a table is 16-18 inches and pairs well with a typical sized couch. A higher sofa requires a taller table, one that is 20-21 inches in height.

Can coffee table be higher than couch?

Generally speaking, a coffee table should not stand higher than the couch. Coffee tables serve a number of functions in a living room or den and come in many different sizes and styles. However, despite the variety of tables available, one general guideline exists: The couch should stand higher than the coffee table.

Where do you put a coffee table?

The general rule of thumb is to place the coffee table within about 14 inches to 18 inches from the sofa. That's close enough to reach for a magazine, but still offers plenty of leg room.

Can an end table be used as a coffee table?

For this reason, more and more manufacturers are creating side table, accent tables and end tables that can be used as a coffee table as well. These smaller tables allow you to place a drink or snack down on top, yet are more compact, and can be moved around when needed.

How long should a coffee table be?

The perfect length for a coffee table is about two-thirds the length of the sofa it complements. For example, if your couch is 6 feet long, you will want to purchase a coffee table that is 4 feet long.

How long should a coffee table be in relation to the couch?

The perfect length for a coffee table is about two-thirds the length of the sofa it complements. For example, if your couch is 6 feet long, you will want to purchase a coffee table that is 4 feet long.

Can I have an ottoman and a coffee table?

When possible, it is perfectly fine to mix and match with both coffee tables and ottomans because they don't clash at all. If anything, they contrast nicely and add visual interest. If you have a large seating area and two sets of sofas, you could use a coffee table and an ottoman for each.

Should I get an ottoman or coffee table?

This makes coffee tables ideal if you like to have people over to watch movies as they can easily reach their food and drinks without worry about spills. This furniture tends to look a lot more formal than ottomans. If you want to make your space more formal, then a coffee table will help with that.

When did coffee tables become popular?

The 1920s and '30s were the era of Art Deco, with coffee tables following this design trend by way of long, sleek, metallic shapes, barely wide enough to balance a book on. After the postwar period, coffee tables became larger as they became used for more practical purposes.

Can I use a bench as a coffee table?

As a coffee table. A simple bench with no back or sides is versatile enough to transform from a piece of seating to a table and back. Use a bench as your coffee table in a small seating group, and you can always move it off to one side as an extra seat for a few guests at a bigger get-together.