We’re back with another “living in a tight space” challenge: how to have a coffee table in your small living room. And how it can be both stylish and, well, space-saving at once! We’ve done some browsing on interior design sites and furniture outlets, and spotted great ideas to get that chic and compact result you’ll love living with. So grab some tips below, then go on to shop from among our coffee table picks that follow!
8 Tips for Choosing, Positioning and Making Space for a Coffee Table
- To make the most of limited space, consider a loveseat sofa rather than a sectional set or a conventional sofa. You can also opt for single lounge chairs or reading chairs that you can position and rearrange as you wish.
- Use small side tables instead of full-size consoles for additional surfaces. Ones that double as planters or even pet boxes would be practical, too.
- Add an area rug to create a more interesting layout for your coffee table. Shaggy or textured ones look best.
- Tables in unusual shapes like round, oval, tree stump style, or polygons, make optimal use of space since they double as decorative as well as practical pieces.
- Select a sleek, minimalist table design that occupies less space both visually and in actuality.
- Choose a glass-topped design to create an illusion of more space, and light-colored finishes or slim wood or metal legs for a sense of lightness.
- If you prefer a mid-century modern, rustic or traditional style table, opt for one that is scaled down for small spaces.
- Consider purchasing your sofa before your coffee table because it is easier to match the size of the table to the sofa than the other way around.
Coffee Table Finds: Small Yet Stylish
With the above tips in mind, take your pick from these compact tables in a range of contemporary to more traditional designs. (*affiliate links)
1 – Altra Owen Retro coffee table, ships from and sold by Amazon.com
2 – Buckthorn Coffee Table by Wade Logan on All Modern
3 – Bricker Coffee Table by Mercury Row on All Modern
4 – Oslo White coffee table (Convenience Concepts), ships from and sold by Mailzon via Amazon.
5 – Henrik Coffee Table (triangular) in a tripod mid-century inspired design by Kure via All Modern
6 – Classon Glass Rectangle Coffee Table, ships from and sold by GDFStudio on Amazon
7 – Wood slice coffee table via World Market
8 – Bronze Iron Round Coffee Table (Elana Collection) via Pier 1 Imports
9 – Java Square Coffee Table with Knobs (Anywhere Collection) via Pier 1 Imports
10 – Round Coffee Table (Mother-of-Pearl) via Pier 1 Imports
11 – Espresso X Coffee Table (Simon Collection) via Pier 1 Imports
12 – Coffee Table by Closet Maid via Wayfair
