The coffee table, despite its traditionally small size, has quite a lot of functionality. This piece of furniture is usually located in the living room seating area, near the sofa or armchairs. It was originally intended for placement and storage of newspapers and magazines, receiving the appropriate name. Today, at the coffee table you can work with a laptop, sit down with a cup of coffee in the company of unexpected guests, and place all sorts of necessary little things: keys, phones, remote controls.
Modern coffee tables for the living room
Currently, coffee tables have several varieties. A classic option for performing the original function - storing magazines, newspapers and correspondence. A variety intended for eating, a small feast, in fact, a mini-version of the dining table. A side-mounted coffee table for accessible placement of important small items and items while relaxing. The decorative version, the main function of which is to decorate the interior, on the surface of such a table there is a place for stylish accessories and objects. Folding transforming tables are especially popular.
What helps improve the functionality of the table
Wheels on the bottom of the legs. With their help, it is convenient to move the table around the room without fear that the legs will scratch the floor covering.
Pull-out drawers and storage niches. They are convenient for having the necessary items on hand. They store magazines and newspapers, remote controls for equipment and books, and other small items.
Devices that are mounted on a table for a laptop or phones.
Lifting tabletops or retractable ones, which are used if you need to get a larger table area.
Transformable coffee table for the living room
Ergonomically and beautifully, the transforming table combines three main functions. In one position it turns into a full-fledged dining table, in another it can be used as a work or desk. The third position allows for use as a side table. The materials for such a table are wood or its high-quality imitations.
Earth Design
This solid wood table with an innovative design will instantly make a statement in any living room. This Pilar coffee table from Indo is painted in blue with ombre blue tones. This is reminiscent of the technique used in ceramics. The ribbed side of the table plays with light and adds visual depth. The handmade product is very functional.
Folding coffee table for the living room
This type of coffee table is necessary, first of all, to save space. When assembled, it has minimal dimensions, and when disassembled, the useful surface usually doubles. Also for a small living room, there is an option for a coffee table that folds like an ironing board: it can be stored assembled and, if necessary, unfolded for use.
Seasonal decoration
The design of the coffee table can be adjusted according to the season. Seasonal decor creates a mood and creates a current atmosphere.
In November-December, you can replace the bouquet in a vase with a composition of fir branches. Place decorative balls in a vase that was previously empty. Add candles. The surroundings of the winter holidays will envelop you with a joyful feeling.
New Year and Christmas are behind us - we are changing the design to a universal one. Spring has come - we buy tulips and add a bird figurine. Before Easter, we include a vase with multi-colored dragees into the decorative base. And so on throughout the year.
Changing the filling is not difficult at all. This may take a few minutes. But the sofa area will always delight and inspire.
Stylish coffee tables for the living room
These tables are most often made to order or are the result of the creative process of interior designers. The material for such tables is both traditional: wood, glass, plastic, and non-standard: old pieces of furniture with an updated design, wooden pallets, large stones, old suitcases and even car tires painted with multi-colored paint.
Decorating a coffee table with coins: master class
How to beautifully decorate an old coffee table at the lowest cost? Use coins! A very original decor will give a boring piece of furniture an updated and unusual look.
To work you will need:
- a lot of old (or not so old) coins, preferably of the same shade;
- liquid nails or any other strong adhesive (for example, “dragon” or “titanium”);
- baguette for pictures or ceiling plinth (for a frame around the decor);
- notched spatula;
- epoxy resin.
The first step is to carry out all the manipulations with the table: remove the old paintwork, sand and prime it. If desired, coat with paint of the desired shade.
Then we cut the baguette so as to lay it around the perimeter (saw at an angle of 45 degrees). If you can’t do it yourself, you can order a ready-made “frame” from a framing workshop. We mount our edges to the table - they will not allow the epoxy to spill over the edge of the table, we fix them with clamps until the glue dries. If necessary, we paint it the same color as the table itself (but you can leave it in a contrasting color).
Before fixing the coins, it is advisable to arrange them in the way they will be glued, so that they can be rearranged if there is empty space. We glue the coins to the tabletop with liquid nails, starting work from the edge. Let the glue dry.
The next step is to use epoxy resin or glaze. We will not recommend any specific brand; any hardware store will tell you what is available and for what purpose it is intended. We dilute the solution according to the instructions and fill the entire surface of the table. Using a notched trowel, spread the resin over the entire surface. Small bubbles may form during the process, you can leave them or try to blow on them to make them disappear.
Please note: the room in which you work with epoxy must be well ventilated, or you can move the table outside.
We leave our table to dry. An unusual piece of furniture is ready!
Coffee tables for the living room made of glass
The glass coffee table is distinguished by its special sophistication, transparency and beauty. The entire table can be glass - from the base or legs to the tabletop, or it can only be the surface of such a furniture element. There are three main models of glass tables: solid or monolithic, sliding, folding. Each model, made in a unique design, becomes a unique and sophisticated piece of living room interior. It is important that this original design fits laconically and appropriately into the chosen interior style.
What are the options for coffee tables?
As you can see, there are many options for coffee tables, and there is no need to buy them in a store if a person can make it himself with his own hands. By investing in materials and fittings, you can get analogues much cheaper than they are sold in furniture stores.
But by making an interior item according to your own sketch, you can achieve the individuality of the product. Craftsmen come up with many options for coffee tables, and make them from scrap materials.
Coffee table for the living room on wheels
A very convenient and mobile option, easily moving not only around the room, but throughout the house, depending on the needs of the owner, providing comfort and functionality. Tables on wheels also come in several varieties. Tables on side posts provide fairly good stability, which ensures maximum safe operation.
Tables with four legs, having various geometric or arbitrary shapes, are also stable and original, which is very beneficial when embodying the chosen interior style. Multi-tiered shelves with open and closed shelves provide additional storage space for things and necessary small items. Tables with several multi-level tabletops look original. Some of the features and details of the listed coffee tables can be combined to create a combination and versatile living room table.
Why is it needed or what to pay attention to
A coffee table is a wonderful decorative element that will certainly brighten up your interior. At the same time, it can be used as a stand for a laptop, books, as a storage place for newspapers, magazines, remote controls for household appliances, and other small items.
You can gather around it in a close circle and play board games or have a tea party. You don’t have to choose between aesthetics and practicality, since both components are often successfully combined.
At the same time, from a functionality point of view, it is important to first pay attention to the suitability of the characteristics for the purpose of use, for example, the resistance of the surface to high temperatures from cups of hot drinks and plates of snacks, or the presence of pull-out drawers and preferably closed rather than open shelves for storage. storage of necessary items. You can always move the table to the right place without outside help and significant effort if it is equipped with wheels.
To prevent arbitrary movement, they must be protected with a lock. It is important not to miscalculate the level of functionality in order to comfortably enjoy your purchase.
If the coffee table, as planned, should occupy a central place in the room and surprise with its originality of style, color, shape, material, then do not forget the unspoken rule that there can only be one bright accent in the room. When such a role is already played by a sofa or other piece of furniture, you should choose a calm design.
Form should also be given importance. In small rooms, narrow rectangular and oval tables are appropriate. Round and square tabletops also belong to the category of traditional ones, which cannot be said about the free-form abstractions that are found. If you have children, you should avoid sharp corners.
The optimal length is no more than 2/3 of the length of the sofa when placed next to it. In addition, do not forget about the minimum distance between them in order to sit comfortably and walk freely (on average 45 cm). The height of the table should correspond to the seats, that is, be at the same level or slightly lower, but not higher.
Large coffee table in the living room
A small coffee table in the living room is a common and familiar occurrence. But in what cases is a large table preferred? First of all, in the case when the living room has a fairly large area and a small table would simply not be appropriate in such a large space. If we talk about the height of the table, here, first of all, they are guided by the personal preferences of the owners and, of course, compatibility with the interior of the living room.
Style
When a room is already furnished in a certain direction, you cannot choose an additional piece of furniture in isolation from the overall decoration. The design of a coffee table should be assessed not only from the point of view of “I like it”, but also from the point of view of general style.
A traditional interior requires a strict classical form and solid material, in particular wood, stone or metal, including in combination. Ideal if you can create a single ensemble.
The French Provence style implies external lightness, natural materials and original decor, for example, artificial aging, two-tier design, carved patterns.
Country style is accompanied by decorative elements in national themes, such as carved decorations, symbols or ornaments. The main materials used are wood, rattan, stone and leather.
Modern and understandable high-tech is characterized by lightness, dynamism and practicality.
The brutality of the loft does not have the same versatility, but paradoxically allows you to create truly original products for the amateur.
Modern and pop art are meant to surprise. Design creativity leads to bold results in the form of unexpected and extravagant products.
Round coffee table for the living room
Most tables have a traditional square or rectangular shape. However, the round table is in no way inferior in beauty, and in matters of safety it surpasses the usual forms. A table with this shape is especially indispensable when embodying interior styles where rounded lines are welcome. The main materials for making round tables: natural wood, durable plastic, transparent or frosted glass, and even stone of natural or artificial origin.
Mechanical brutality: Industrial Scissor Lift Table Iron Restoration Hardware
Want to add brutality to your living room? Check out the all-metal Industrial Scissor Lift Table Iron Restoration Hardware, which is height adjustable using a wheel on the side. The model is suitable for masculine loft-style interiors, but get ready for the fact that guests who find themselves in your living room for the first time will definitely want to spin the wheel and evaluate how this unit works.
Photo: loft-concept.ru
Photo: loft-concept.ru
Oval coffee table for living room
Oval-shaped coffee tables for the living room fit perfectly into any interior. They are very practical and comfortable, safe and ergonomic. The favorite models of coffee table fans in the interior are made of real wood or high-quality and durable glass. The oval shape is relevant in many interior styles; only the design and decoration of the table will differ in each style: classic, country, Provence, shabby chic or Scandinavian. You will not regret choosing an oval table for the interior of your living room!
A coffee table is by no means the most important and basic piece of furniture and interior design. But in many everyday and everyday situations, sometimes it is irreplaceable. And some designer or self-made coffee tables amaze with their originality and beauty, complementing and decorating the stylish interior of the living room.
Material
The species diversity is complemented by the materials used. This factor affects the practicality, durability and even appearance of furniture.
Eternal classics are furniture made of wood. It is distinguished by its naturalness and reliability. Does not require any special care.
Durable and moisture-resistant rattan, furniture made from which is now very popular, deserves special attention. A rattan coffee table is quite affordable with all its advantages. As a rule, it comes in a round shape, and the design is determined by various textures and colors.
If natural wood sets a high price tag, then artificial panels are a budget option. In the lower price category there is furniture made from chipboard, a rather toxic material, but such a coffee table is not moisture resistant, has an unpleasant odor, and looks extremely simple.
It is much better to choose an affordable table made of MDF. Although this material is more expensive, it is more environmentally friendly and practical. A compromise option is a combination of chipboard and MDF. For greater attractiveness, such models are decorated with veneer similar to solid wood.
A glass coffee table will fit perfectly into a modern interior. This material has the property of optically increasing space and being well adaptable to the decor of a room of any style. Glass, by the way, can be frosted or transparent. The laconic design of the table top can be complemented by original legs (supports) of a different texture or abstract shape.
The ease of maintenance makes up for the fact that the surface attracts dust and fingerprints and handprints. Carefully consider whether it is worth purchasing this particular option, taking into account the comparative fragility of the material, if you have a small child or an active pet living with you.
Products made of stone and metal are heavy, literally and figuratively. At the same time, their originality, solidity and durability cannot be denied. The stone can be natural (granite, onyx, marble are most often used) and artificial, with differences in cost. Metal is mainly used in the elements, although the countertop can be made from this material. Forged furniture looks harmonious in high-tech and loft spaces.
Inexpensive plastic makes coffee tables of interesting shapes and styles made from it or using it as accessible as possible. The main disadvantage is instability to mechanical loads.
You may be surprised, but leather is also used as a covering. This table resembles an office style, so it is ideal for a study. It looks respectable and expensive, unless the leather is leatherette.
In order to reduce the cost, and also in some cases create new successful variations, it is now customary to combine different textures in a single composite product. Among the collection from the IKEA brand, such coffee tables are very common.
Reflection And Color
Sophisticated, yet modern and minimalistic. This is how you can describe the unusual Wave Table coffee table from Kin and Company. Underneath the large glass top is a base made of steel sheets. The base is curled and curved, like the curl of a wave that is about to reach its peak. The unusual multi-colored surface of the steel sheet is achieved through a heat treatment process that rearranges the molecules. This process also creates a bright shine to the metal.
The Art of Recycling
This creative reuse of materials shows the skill of woodworker Richard Haining. The coffee table looks great thanks to the alternating colors and textures of the wood. Combining smoothness and ribbing, the base of the STACKED coffee table is created from small parts. The outer side of the stand is polished by hand. A creative touch turned wood destined for the trash heap into a beautiful coffee table. It will definitely be the focal point of the living room and the main talking point.
Expressive Color
It's not often that a coffee table becomes a way to add color to your interior. But the works of Lucite from the Italian Poliedrica are certainly capable of this. This expressive coffee table is handcrafted from high quality materials. The unique design of the coffee table is created by folds and indentations on its surface. The tabletop resembles sheets of ice or frozen waves. The effect is enhanced by the refraction of light. The solid brass base contrasts with the top, enhancing the lightness of the tabletop.
Nature in the Spotlight
Adding live plants to a room is always a good idea. Especially when you can do it with a stylish coffee table like this one from Opiary. The studio specializes in biophilic design. When creating furniture, designers combine nature with unique furniture and modern interiors. The central element of the table can be any living plant. These coffee tables are made to order. The shape of the table depends on your preferences and the size of the room.
Game of Contrast
Keystone Designer Furniture created the Aerin Coffee Table to showcase the beauty of wood. To achieve this, two contrasting parts were used in one table. Geometrically, the coffee table consists of two identical figures. The triangles are located opposite each other, creating the feeling of an optical illusion.
Like Landscape
The Pokopoko table from design studio Wooyoo is like a natural landscape. The designers used table space that most often goes unused. The contemporary tabletop design includes small holes for pots that add islands of greenery to the table. With a gently sloping wood surface that rises and surrounds each opening, the tabletop truly resembles a natural landscape.
Unconventional Composition
When a coffee table is made from unconventional materials, you can be sure that it will attract attention. For example, this piece of furniture from Ryspot Design. This studio focuses on non-traditional materials when creating furniture. The designers strive to “challenge your expectations of the material.” Legs formed from extruded material support the scenic top. A colorful coffee table in a traditional rectangle shape is anything but boring.