We include an article that lists out and shows coffee table alternatives.
Alternatives are not what we talking about when discussing whether coffee tables are in or out of style.
What we discussing is whether there should be no central raised surface for the center of a living room (or family room) for the usual coffee table fodder such as magazines, drinks, flowers, etc.
After all, a tufted ottoman with a tray is in effect a coffee table, right? I think so. It serves the same purpose. Check out the following example:
Living room with large tufted ottoman serving as a coffee table in a living room.
Reasons the coffee table concept is in style
Fills a void: a living room with nothing in the center of a couple of sofas looks like it’s missing something. However, I’m aware that I’ve probably been programmed to expect something to be there. Likely you have as well since almost all such rooms have some form of surface-based furniture in the center.
Serves a purpose: Literally, raised surfaces of any time in a living room serves a purpose – a place to put things on to relieve you from holding them. I’m thinking of drinks principally. Unless you constantly tilt back your beverages, it’s nice to put them down somewhere.
A place to decorate: Flowers, magazines, candles – raised surfaces in living spaces offer a place for further decor.
Living room with custom designed coffee table
For those of you who are wondering whether the traditional table concept in the stricter sense is out of style, you may be right.
What do we mean by the “stricter sense”?
We mean literally a table, as in 4 legs and a tabletop that’s shorter to serve as a coffee table.
While they come in many sizes, shapes and styles, some people might prefer to eschew the table all together for something else.
There are many options other than a table such as an ottoman, platform and other surface options for a living room.
While there are indeed alternatives to a table, given the incredible variety of coffee tables out there, I find it hard to believe that it’s a non-table or bust. I do like the ottoman concept for a coffee table, but it’s not a dealbreaker for me and I don’t think it should be for you.
Living room with tiny coffee table
Of course, you can. Even if you love coffee tables, too big is too big. There’s always a limit. Just like having 8 coffee tables is not a good idea either no matter how much you love them.
Living room with a huge coffee table
Here’s an example of a living room with a coffee table so large it’s verging on being the size of a ping pong table.
Best of both worlds – a coffee table that blends in
Maybe you’re the type that loves the functionality coffee tables offer but you don’t like how they break up the space or look. Consider a coffee table that blends into the floor.
Living room with low coffee table
I actually had to look at this living room twice to spot the coffee table. If the grain on the side of the table were vertical, it would be almost invisible. As it is, it blends well into the floor.
For the coffee table lover – is 2 better than 1?
The idea of two equally important (or identical) coffee tables in a living room is as interesting as kitchens with two islands. While it may seem redundant or overkill in writing, don’t jump to such conclusions so quickly.
While most of us live in regular-sized homes with regular-sized living rooms, some houses have gargantuan living rooms that really do benefit from more than one coffee table in the living room.
