In very large living spaces, such as this den in a Dallas home we designed, it’s better to have two coffee tables rather than one huge table that is difficult to get around. These two tables have tops made of fossil stone and iron bases.

You may think that your sofa is the statement piece of the living room, but here at Chambers Interiors, we consider the coffee table to be equally important. A coffee table that’s the wrong size or style can throw off the whole space, so choosing one shouldn’t be an afterthought. As an interior designer, I consider the following criteria when shopping for a coffee table for my Dallas clients.

1. Material

Not all coffee tables are actually used for their intended purpose. Will you be setting down drinks on your table or playing games on it? Will it be purely decorative? The material you choose should depend on how much wear and tear you think the table will get.

A clear acrylic or glass coffee table can help a small room feel more open. Another advantage to clear tabletops that is that they won’t cover up a beautiful rug. Glass is not a good choice for families with young children or pets. Not only is it fragile, prone to fingerprints, and easy to scratch, but any sharp corners are a hazard. Acrylic is shatter-resistant but scratches more easily than glass and must be cleaned with a special cleaner. Upholstery provides a soft landing, making it the safest choice for active kids.

Seen here is a vintage, highly collectible, Jansen coffee table made of glass and brass. Glass tables make a small living room, like this one in a Park Cities home, feel more open.

Wood tables introduce texture and warmth to the room. Mahogany and walnut are classic choices for traditional homes, while Cirrus Oak is a good fit for modern spaces. Just remember that darker woods show dust more easily. I recommend using a contrasting material, such as marble, glass, or metal when you already have wood floors or stunning wood furniture in the space. Marble is a popular choice that instantly adds a touch of elegance into a room. Metal is highly durable and comes in a range of finishes, but stay away from tables that mix metals (like brass and chrome) because they may look dated in the future. Stone tables are suitable for both indoor and outdoor spaces.

Good materials for a modern room include glass, acrylic, lacquer, metal, and stone. For a sophisticated, traditional space, I would suggest choosing a table made of dark wood or marble. Leather can work in either a traditional or a modern setting.

2. Shape

Rectangular and oval-shaped tables are both smart choices in narrow spaces. A round table will soften the look of your room, especially if you have a lot of sharp lines and hard corners.

A square table can fit perfectly into the L-shaped nook of a sectional. Nesting coffee tables, in which one table is tucked slightly underneath a taller one, create more surface area, making them a great solution for when you have guests over.

3. Style

If you want your coffee table to be a focal point, make sure to choose a table with a color or shape that contrasts with the rest of the room. However, the table’s design style should still match or at least complement what’s around it.

A coffee table with extensive detailing, like wood cut-outs or a hammered metal finish, looks best with simple furnishings and solid colors surrounding it.

4. Size and Placement

Choosing the right size is important. When your coffee table is too large, it feels like you have to squeeze past it to sit down. A coffee table that is too small is too far away to comfortably set down drinks.

Your coffee table should ideally measure between one-half and two-thirds the length of your sofa. Leave at least a foot-and-a-half of space between the table and the sofa for legroom, plus twenty-four to thirty inches between the table and your TV console or fireplace for walking room. The height of the table should be equal to the seat of the sofa, or slightly below (one to two inches).

If you have a large living room with multiple seating arrangements, you will probably need more than one coffee table. After all, you don’t want a huge coffee table that is hard to get around. The coffee tables don’t necessarily have to match each other. Consider putting small drink tables and end tables next to additional seating areas.

Putting a glass top on a wood table can offer the best of both worlds: the wood adds a natural and organic texture, while the reflective surface of the glass brightens the room.

5. Storage

Storage is an important consideration if you need a place to hide TV remotes, toys, games, or other items. Look for tables that have drawers, shelves, or a top that lifts to reveal storage. Antique coffee tables usually don’t have storage.

The right coffee table can elevate your room to the next level of luxury. When you style it with carefully chosen accessories, your design will look even more tasteful. Those of you who are giving your formal living or family room a facelift may consider reaching out to an interior designer like myself. Along with access to trade-only resources, Chambers Interiors & Associates pays attention to the small details that are easily overlooked. We can find the perfectly proportioned table for your space while ensuring that the layout of your room flows beautifully. You can reach us by calling our Dallas office at 214.651.7665 or sending an email to info@chambersinteriors.com.

The flowers on this coffee table are baby blue, matching perfectly with the blue and white china in the room.

You should never underestimate the impact that a coffee table has on the rest of the room. Coffee tables are important because they’re usually the centerpieces of the living room or the den, so they have an effect on a visitor’s first impression. Fortunately, they’re also pretty easy to style once you know the tried-and-true methods for decorating them.

An antique dog statue adds interest and character to this contemporary Dallas living room.

How you decorate your coffee table depends largely on what shape it is. The six basic coffee table shapes are: round, oval, square, rectangular, hexagonal/octagonal, and “amorphous.” Rectangular coffee tables tend to be easier to decorate because they have more surface area than a similarly sized round or oval table. If you have a round table, try arranging items in a triangular shape, and make sure to include at least one round object on the table.

The classic go-to accessories for a coffee table are stacks of books, something tall (such as a plant or a candle), a storage tray or dish, and one unusual accessory. Don’t push any of the objects out to the corners of the table; it looks better if everything is loosely centered.

Books:

Coffee table books look best when stacked in groups of two to four each. Photography, art, fashion, or interior design books are all great choices. Whenever possible, try to select books with covers that complement the color scheme of the rest of the room.

We filled the decorative bowl on this coffee table with Shiva Lingams, which are egg-shaped river stones polished by hand and originally from India.

Plants:

A coffee table without a single plant (whether faux or live) can feel a little staged. Plants add an organic touch and some texture to the tablespace. As with everything else, the plant needs to be the correct proportion for the table. For example, you wouldn’t want an oversized plant that overwhelms the table, but a tiny potted succulent in the middle of a large table wouldn’t work either. Plants should not be so large that they get in the way of conversation or watching television. For special occasions, you may enjoy swapping out your potted plants with some fresh flowers.

The flowers spilling out of a shallow bowl over this glass-top coffee table add color to the otherwise neutral space.

Trays and Bowls:

Trays can help organize functional items, such as coasters. Make sure to pick one that doesn’t occupy more than half of the tabletop space, and don’t place it right in the center either. Clear trays and flower vases fade into the background, making your table look a little more spacious. Although many homeowners use their coffee table tray to store remotes, I recommend storing those out-of-sight in drawers or a decorative box instead.

Decorative Objects:

Coffee tables are also a great place to show your personality, since they’re an appropriate spot for unusual collectibles and antiques. Examples can include pretty jewel boxes, antique tea caddies, glass orbs, or small sculptures. To vary the heights of your objects, place decorative objects or plants on top of your stacked books.

Although not every coffee table has to have each of these elements (books, trays, plants, and small accessories), these are usually what you’ll see on a professionally styled coffee table. If your table is smaller, you may want to restrict yourself to just three objects of interest.

The best coffee tables are artfully designed, but functional too: leaving plenty of space for homeowners to set down a magazine or a drink with a coaster. By following these tips, you can design a coffee table that’s not only useable, but also adds some serious style to your Dallas home.

Seen here is a round coffee table from the foyer in SMU’s Kappa Alpha Theta house, which we designed in 2016.

If you need help finding charming accessories for the coffee tables in your home, you may want to consult a professional interior designer. At Chambers Interiors, we know the best places to find antique tea caddies, statues, porcelain plates, and other great accessories for coffee tables. Call our Dallas office at 214-651-7665 or send an email to info@chambersinteriors.com for more information.

Five Key Decisions to Make Before Buying a Coffee Table / June 6, 2024 by Margaret Chambers