Modern Coffee Tables Buying Guide

Coffee tables come in a variety of styles, from antique to ultra-modern. The clean lines of modern design make them the most popular with decorators and homeowners alike. If you’re looking for a new table for your living room or family room, consider the following coffee table materials and shapes to find the best table for your situation. Remember, a coffee table is for much more than holding coffee.

 

Modern Coffee Tables - Materials

Coffee tables are available in five primary materials: wood, metal, plastic, glass, and fabric. The best one for you depends both on your taste and your family life.

 

 

Wood

Wood tables can be quite modern, especially when combined with other materials like glass and metal. A modern wood table will often be stained a dark color, or painted. The legs tend to be straight. The top may either be glass or wood. A newer style features a glass top floating over a wood base, or a square wood base with an inset glass top.

 

 

Metal

For many people, metals like chrome are synonymous with the modern design aesthetic. However, iron is making an entrance into modern design as well. While most iron tables are ornate, some newer coffee tables feature straight black legs that combine both the artistry of iron with the sleek likes of modern tastes. Like wooden designs, most chrome or iron coffee tables feature glass tops.

 

 

Plastic

Although most people think plastic furniture is poor quality and suitable only for dorm rooms, but some of the latest designs feature sturdy molded plastic with a high gloss. Plastic tables are usually topped with glass or acrylic. In addition to being very sturdy, plastic is lightweight. They’re also harder to break, which is important for parents with young children.

 

 

Glass

Glass tables are at the opposite spectrum from plastic tables. Although it’s unusual to find a table made completely from glass, it is possible. Think carefully before buying an all-glass table however, if you have pets or children.

 

 

Fabric

Fabric tables are the newest entry in coffee table design. They’re frequently firm, over-sized ottomans placed in the center of the seating area. However, some new designs are wood covered in tight fabric with have a glass top. Popular fabrics are leather and vinyl.

 

 

Coffee Table Shapes

Aside from the occasionally odd-shaped table, most coffee tables come in four shapes: round, square, rectangular, and oval. Each style is suited to a particular type of room and layout. The shape can also be an important factor for parents with young children.

 

 

Round

Round tables are best for parents with young children because there are no sharp corners to bang into small heads and hands. They are best suited for square rooms with a U-shaped seating area that is even on all sides.

 

 

Square

Square tables are also ideally suited to square rooms with U-shaped seating areas that are even on all sides. They tend to fit better into large rooms where they serve as focal points.

 

 

Rectangular

Rectangular tables are best for rectangular rooms, or rectangular seating areas of larger rooms. The length and width should align comfortably with the length and width of the couch and any side chairs.

 

 

Oval

Oval tables are also ideal for families with young children because there are no sharp corners. Oval tables are best for rectangular rooms or rectangular seating areas.

 

When buying a coffee table, don’t just consider the style of the table. Consider how it will be used in your home, how much use it will receive, who else lives in your home, and whether it’s suitable for your other furniture. A modern coffee table may not look appropriate in a formal living room with a more traditional style. A glass table may not be appropriate for a high-traffic family room, but would be very attractive in a modern living room. Before you buy any table or chair, carefully consider how you live. Then find the right style at the right price.

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