Coffee Table Ideas -- The Practical, Stylish, & Just Plain Fun
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The internet is a great way to shop for a coffee table
You'll find some coffee table buying tips below, and if you're looking for ideas, there are lots of pictures too. If you see something you'd like to buy, click through and order it from the store.

Modern Glass Coffee Table
New Table of Contents
- Modern Glass Coffee Table
- Choose the Right Style of Coffee Table for Your Home
- An Affordable Wood Coffee Table
- Is a glass coffee table right for you?
- Oval Glass Coffee Table
- Make sure you get the right size coffee table
- Mission Style Coffee Table
- A few coffee table selection "secrets"
- Coffee Table with Four Integrated Ottomans
- Coffee Table Storage Trunk
- Oak Coffee Table with Storage Drawers and Baskets
- Marble Coffee Table Wows
- Share your thoughts!
Choose the Right Style of Coffee Table for Your Home
Before you shop, know what type of coffee table is best for you!
It's easy to see an attractive coffee table in the store or online, order it, and then when it's set up in your living room, you realize... you made a mistake.Let's take a look at a few coffee table buying tips that will help you choose one you won't be disappointed in!
First off, take a look at the style of your living room furniture.
Traditional Coffee Tables for Traditional Furniture
If you have a traditional sofa and chairs, then a traditional rectangular or possibly oval coffee table makes sense. An upholstered ottoman can also go well with traditional furniture. If you have wood in your furniture, then a wood table will probably go well. Glass coffee tables go with many styles as well.
Complementing Antique Furniture
What about if you have antique furniture? Well, there's no such thing as an antique coffee table, as they are something of a post WWII invention, but a table can be made to go with antique furnishings. Get one made from materials that feel antique, such as a wrought iron gate or reclaimed wood boards.
Contemporary or Modern Coffee Tables
There are a lot of great coffee table options if you have contemporary or modern furniture.
If you dig the idea of hidden storage, cubes or cylinders made of wood, leather, or metal can be smart choices. Other modern materials are stone, ceramic, shagreen, and nylon, all of which can be formed into any shape you wish.
Below is an example of a traditional wooden coffee table:
An Affordable Wood Coffee Table
You don't have to spend a fortune to get a good table!
Winsome Wood Coffee Table, Espresso
Amazon Price: $87.94 (as of 02/14/2012)![]()
No matter what style of furniture you have, it's hard to go wrong with a classic wood coffee table with simple lines.
This table features a warm dark espresso finish and can be purchased as a standalone or with a matching set of end tables.
Click on the picture to get more information!
Is a glass coffee table right for you?
Glass can be elegant and attractive, but make sure it's a good choice before buying
Who should consider a glass coffee table? In general...
*families without rambunctious children (glass breaks, ya know!)
*people who don't throw their feet up on the coffee table
*people who use coasters
If you fit all those requirements, then get that glass table!
Oval Glass Coffee Table
Glass coffee tables don't have to cost a lot!
Make sure you get the right size coffee table
You won't appreciate a crowded living room, so measure before you buy
When in doubt, experts recommend you get a coffee table that's too big rather than too small, but you don't want the room to be so crowded you're bumping shins. Here are a couple of "rules" to consider:There should be a minimum of 15" of space between the edge of the table and the sofa.
If you'll be eating at the table, get one that is taller than standard (25" or more versus the traditional 16").
Mission Style Coffee Table
For a Mission Style home, consider a Mission Style coffee table
A few coffee table selection "secrets"
Need more help deciding on a coffee table? Check out these tips:
*A coffee table with notable legs works well standing against a skirted sofa or chairs.
*A table with tiny or unnoticeable legs works best against a sofa or chairs with legs.
*A coffee table can be a great place to secret additional storage, so get something with space underneath if you've got lots of living room clutter.
Coffee Table with Four Integrated Ottomans
This coffee table might just solve your seating problems!
32" Traditional Style Versailles Bathroom Sink vanity - BA-2869M-AW
Amazon Price: $1,025.00 (as of 02/14/2012)![]()
If you like to entertain, it's nice to be able to pull out extra seating for guests. You don't necessarily want to keep a stack of folding chairs in the corner of your living room, so here's a better option: a coffee table that comes with four ottomans.
When you're not using them, the ottomans tuck unobtrusively under the table in integrated slots, and when you need to seat some extra people, just pull out the ottomans and let folks plop down.
Coffee Table Storage Trunk
Old trunks can make great coffee tables!
Oak Coffee Table with Storage Drawers and Baskets
Here's another way to get some storage from the coffee table
Available in three finishes, this oak rectangle table comes with two drawers and two wicker baskets, so there is plenty of space underneath the tabletop.
This coffee table is built in a simple Craftsman style, and there are matching end and console tables available if you want to put together a set.
Marble Coffee Table Wows
Check out this marble-top table with a cherry wood finish
Share your thoughts!
Tell us about *your* coffee table (or whatever else you'd like to talk about)
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ladykida Dec 12, 2011 @ 5:40 pm | delete
- I really need a coffee table, thanks for the reminder, good job on the lens!
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ladykida Dec 12, 2011 @ 5:39 pm | delete
- I really need a coffee table, thanks for the reminder, good job on the lens!
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wickerstorageb
Dec 7, 2011 @ 2:40 pm | delete
- Ha, that’s actually a really good suggestion of wicker storage baskets. Thanks so much for this wicker storage baskets lens!
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agent009
Nov 29, 2011 @ 7:50 am | delete
- I saw a coffee table with adjustable surfaces that could be moved out and back "inside" the table, it was a space saver!
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JoshK47
May 8, 2011 @ 11:49 am | delete
- That first yin-yang-ish coffee table is pretty awesome - I like it a lot! Very interesting lens, gotta love lenses about things people take for granted and rarely notice, but are rather interesting in their own right. :)
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careermom
Apr 8, 2011 @ 2:59 pm | delete
- We had a huge one where the looked like a waffle cone bowl with a glass top. It seem really odd by itself but somehow it fit perfectly with the sectional we had at the time.
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dukethepcdr Jan 31, 2011 @ 10:31 am | delete
- Very interesting lens! We have a somewhat unique coffee table that I found at a used furniture store. It's an oak table with somewhat tall legs and is almost knee high (on me anyway). It is unique because it is knee high in "coffee table mode" but if you lift up on the top of the table, spring-loaded hinges let it raise up and towards you to a comfortable height to eat from. It becomes almost as tall as a kitchen table. I only paid $50 for it and a couple of matching end tables. Gotta love family-owned used furniture stores in small towns! I probably would have paid $500 or more for something like this in a fancy new furniture store if I could find anything like it.
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lawrenchalter
Jan 18, 2011 @ 12:51 am | delete
- We have antique chairs and a table in our veranda. The brass material came from one the best brass manufacturers. Since those are antique, the theme is truly 50's. Up to now, we didn't replace the rods of our curtains because they are still useful. Luckily, my dad bought those rods from known brass rod suppliers, so we didn't need to buy new rods.
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Oct 29, 2010 @ 1:09 am | delete
- Luxury Living Room Furniture and modern Dining Room Furniture with latest designed Coffee Table in London. Our broad range of Bedroom Furniture to buy online.
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WriterBuzz
Sep 29, 2010 @ 1:46 am | delete
- Your lens is great. Very informative. I liked your lens with a thumbs up.
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zim351y1
Apr 3, 2010 @ 2:03 pm | delete
- Great Lens! Please feel free to check out our beautiful aquarium coffee tables at
squidoo.com/fgravesaquariums
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melodyaking
Feb 11, 2010 @ 5:40 pm | delete
- Don't you just love how a beautiful coffee table in the middle of your living room and nicely coordinated end tables strategically placed around the room can completely change the tone of the atmosphere?
I purchased an amazing set of coffee and end tables last month that I just LOVE.
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azpoppy
Jan 27, 2010 @ 12:47 pm | delete
- Ooh, I like that table with the integrated ottomans. We always need extra seating. I would also like to be able to store blankets. But, that would be assuming that my blanket users would actually *fold* them back up. *sigh* Nice assortment of tables presented here.
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Pastiche
Jan 18, 2010 @ 12:18 pm | delete
- I've used an old steamer trunk for my coffee "table" for decades ... storage, interesting old wood and metal, and sturdy! I can keep an extra pillow and blankets handy or store old newspapers without making any clutter.
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sukkran
Jan 16, 2010 @ 2:21 am | delete
- nice presentation. the modern glass coffee table is my choice. 5* and my fav too.
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by WritingforYourWealth
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