How to choose a table for the living room - the best combinations and rules for choosing a dining or coffee table (115 photos and videos)

In a small apartment it is difficult to find a place for a dining room; it is worth combining it with the living room and kitchen.
A small living room can be cozy and comfortable at the same time, even if you want a table in it. It is enough to choose the right furniture and arrange it in accordance with the best rules of interior design , choose colors, accessories and decorations, and you can create an interior that the owners of large, spacious living rooms will envy.

Below are many practical ideas on how to arrange a living room with a table. Here you will find tips on how to functionally arrange a table in a small living room, what furniture, colors and accessories to choose to optically enlarge the interior, and... how not to be deceived by the thought “surely everything will fit on this table.” Let our tips and ideas inspire you to design your living room in the best possible way.

What will you read about in the article?

• How to properly place a table in the living room?
• How to arrange a small living room with a table?
• Furniture for a small living room
• Modern small living room
• Small salons - colors, patterns and accessories

What is important to consider when choosing a table for the living room

When choosing the design of tables for the living room, photos of which can inspire the implementation of different ideas, it is important to decide on the main types of designs.

Due to the wide variety of models offered, this choice can be difficult; it is important to focus on a number of factors, these include:

• overall dimensions and the possibility of transforming tables;
• geometric shape and materials used, fittings;
• stylistic design and table design for the living room;
• color scheme, presence of moving elements and parts;
• main and additional functionality, intended purpose.

Dining and coffee tables, work and serving tables look differently in the interiors of living rooms furnished in a certain style.

They should fit perfectly into the created composition and be combined with the decor of the ceiling and walls, floor and textiles, and match the overall presentability of other furniture in the room.

Features of a folding table in the interior of a living room

A special feature of transforming tables is the use of special folding mechanisms. With their help, it is possible to quickly turn a cabinet or small table into a large one, allowing you to accommodate a large company.

Transformable tables when folded take up minimal space, and at the right time they can easily change sizes, purpose and even design

When purchasing, you need to evaluate not only the functionality of the model and the dimensions when assembled, but also how much space will be required if the piece of furniture is unfolded.

Furniture dimensions

Large and massive dining tables for the living room are suitable for a spacious room, but for small rooms it is better to stick to compact furniture.

When choosing sizes, it is important to consider the number of seats at the table, which will allow you to seat family members and invited guests and relatives.

Layout of all the furniture in a small living room

Proper zoning of a room will give it versatility and comfort. To do this, you need to separate the place of eating and rest. A table and chairs should be placed in the first zone, and a sofa and TV in the second.

When choosing a dining table, it is important to take into account the features of the overall interior of the room.

Additional Information! To save space, you can eliminate the sofa and replace it with chairs with ottomans.

The place where the whole family will gather to eat and have a pleasant time together should be well lit.
In some cases, the architectural features of the room allow you to organize zoning without additional effort. For example, if there is a bay window, you can place a dining table in it to designate the dining area.

It is acceptable to arrange the location near the windows. There is always enough light and you can admire the view from the window.

In its absence, the zones are allocated:

• color and texture of finishing materials;
• floor covering;
• pieces of furniture;
• multi-level ceiling or floor - if the height of the room allows;
• lighting - chandeliers, sconces, point light sources.

Important! You should not place large chandeliers in small rooms. It is better to focus on natural light, and in the dark use ceiling lamps or small chandeliers, which provide functionality for changing the placement height.

Furniture stores provide a wide range of products made from different materials and designs.

Table shape

When designing a room, you can choose the ideal shape for the table, which differ in variability and possible design:

The rectangular table is perfect for daily use and formal serving for a holiday or before receiving guests.

Square models are compact and portable, easy to move and use for corner placement in a room.

The classic round table in the living room stands out among other models with its smooth silhouette, which is ideal for a romantic style.

Oval designs, without sharp corners, such elegant designs due to their oblong shape provide maximum capacity.

Figured models, embodying practicality and bright originality, fit perfectly into spacious rooms and emphasize the exclusivity of their design.

For small rooms, you can choose corner or triangular tables that fit perfectly into the interior and help to effectively use the free space.

How to make a computer desk?

After spending countless hours putting together an amazing workstation, you have a fancy desktop computer, multiple monitors, amazing speakers and... a surface that's too small to hold it all.
Here's how to create your own ergonomic, personalized desk that displays all your tech, looks amazing, and doesn't break the bank. There are an endless number of ways to build a modern computer desk. But for this particular project, there are four criteria that a computer workstation must meet:

1. Large Table: The vast majority of tables you find in the store are not long enough.
2. Cheap: Making something yourself instead of buying it almost always saves money—in this case, it cuts the price by hundreds of dollars. New, our materials cost about half the price of most store-bought tables of this size.
3. Easy: You can make an entire table from a single sheet of plywood, but it requires a lot of tools. It is accessible to everyone, including those who do not have much experience working with wood.
4. Ergonomics: Too many people ignore the difference between a “computer desk” and a “desk.” Over time, these differences can cause serious damage to your body. In this project I'm going to mix the sleek look of the latter with the ergonomics of the former to get the best of both worlds.

For such a large piece of furniture you will need a spacious work desk.
And there are several slabs you can try. You need to buy a ready-made countertop (made of veneer). Its large size and relative affordability made it incredibly popular. You can use the large door as a countertop.

The doors are very reasonably priced. The door will not be as polished around the edges and may require additional work to stain or paint. This is suitable for those who prefer an industrial look.

Look for a door with a solid core (not hollow) and a width that matches the ideal desk depth. If you have a circular saw, you can cut a large slab to size, but for the patient buyer this is not necessary.

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You'll need four or five supports, the total number depending on whether you want to add a set of drawers to your workspace.

While most people would recommend standard table legs or industrial tube, you can choose Ikea OLOV legs. They're a little more expensive than regular Ikea table legs, but they're adjustable, meaning you can find the perfect height for you. This is very important for good ergonomics and is worth the extra cost.

No workspace is complete without storage space. You can buy a ready-made filing cabinet or a set of drawers that fit the ideal height of your desk. You can use the cabinet as one of the legs.

Turn the tabletop upside down and plan the design starting with the legs: one leg at each of the four corners and a fifth at the center of the back edge for support. If you plan to install this filing cabinet, it will replace one of those front legs.

Mark and drill several pilot holes for the legs. This is very important: if you just start screwing into the surface, you can split the wood. Attach everything, including the leg brackets, except the legs themselves. Attach the legs when the table is not in its final position.

Transformation abilities

To provide additional seating at the table, you can use a transformable model in your living room arrangement.

Folding and sliding structures have become widespread due to their compact size and ability to save free space when folded.

Ways to decorate tables

To decorate the table we will use four main techniques:

• Decoupage. A method of transferring and fixing an image to the surface to be decorated.
• Mosaic technique. The table is covered with numerous pieces of different sizes and colors. In cases where the level of skill allows, they add up to a picture.
• Craquelure. A method of artificially aging a surface due to the formation of small cracks on it, which everyone has seen in old paintings.
• Painting. Decorating the table with handmade drawings. Those who do not have artistic talent should not be afraid of this technique. You can work with stencils.

The materials used to cover the tables include shells, glass, and wooden fragments. A richly decorated element will look beautiful on its own and you should not overload it with additional decor in the form of souvenirs, vases, trinkets and books.

Decoupage

To decorate a table using the decoupage technique, you will need PVA glue, varnish, sandpaper, primer and a “carrier” for the picture. It can be napkins, pieces of fabric, photographs and even old wallpaper. If the table is made of wood, then it is first sanded or sanded so that the surface is perfectly smooth. Then a layer of primer is applied. After it has completely dried, the table is greased with PVA glue. Then they apply a drawing or picture, fix it and wait until the composition “sets”. To fix the image, it is successively coated with several layers of varnish. It is recommended to decorate only wooden or plastic surfaces using this technique. On a glass table, only a lace pattern will look original. Such an element can be placed in a living room decorated in a light Provence or shabby chic style.

If pieces of thick fabric or wallpaper are used, they must be carefully smoothed so that after drying there are no unsightly wrinkles left. Secure unruly fragments with pushpins. By the way, metal hats sometimes fit into the decor and remain after processing.

Mosaic

First you need to prepare the table. Its surface is cleaned and treated with one layer of spray paint. After it has completely dried, the places where the mosaic pattern will be laid out are greased with special glue. You can use both pieces of old tiles of different colors, and special mesh tiles, which are already divided into many small fragments. After the pattern is laid out, it is given time to consolidate. Then the seams are treated with grout, after which the entire surface of the table is washed. If the designer decides to leave areas untreated with mosaics, then before finishing work with the joints between the fragments, they must be covered with a cloth or sealed with masking tape.

The mosaic table will look great in the garden. It is often complemented by a set of chairs decorated using the same technique.

painting

To decorate a painted table, you only need a brush, paints, a stencil and varnish to fix the design. If the surface is wooden, then it is first prepared:

• Remove the layer of old paint, if any.
• The surface is polished, thereby removing irregularities and defects that can distort the image.
• Cover with a primer to ensure better adhesion between the wood and the paints.
• If necessary, the surface can be painted in a neutral background color (usually white).

Then a stencil is applied to a separate area. If necessary, it is fixed with buttons. The rest of the surface is carefully covered with masking tape or cloth. Now you can apply the drawing. After the paint has dried, the tape is removed and, if necessary, the contours of the image are outlined with a thin brush. This will have to be done if the stencil does not fit tightly to the table and part of the pigment “spreads” beyond its boundaries. As for the color scheme, it is recommended to use contrasting combinations:

• White and black, red, blue.
• Yellow and green.
• Purple and grey.
• Red and pink.

The choice of shades depends on the overall color composition.

Craquelure

The craquelure technique is an artificial aging of the surface. A special composition (PVA, gelatin, vinegar, egg whites) is applied to the not yet completely dry layer of paint. These substances contribute to surface cracking. Exactly the same cobweb decorates paintings by famous masters. No amount of restoration can save canvases from forming a network of cracks years later. The surface is prepared in advance (washed, sanded, primed). Then a layer of paint is applied. While it is still wet, you can complement it with a second contrasting color and cracking compound. The combined options look very original.

The craquelure technique is often combined with decoupage. Flower bouquets, portraits or landscapes in oval frames against a cracked background look great and are incredibly similar to decorating antique furniture.

Mirrors

A mirrored table will be a great addition to modern style, hi-tech, minimalism and even loft. This piece of furniture will emphasize the rigor and elegance of the decor. Making it yourself is quite simple. To work you will need:

• Silver paint.
• Liquid Nails.
• Mirrors cut to size to order.
• Durable chipboard box.

The mirror table will not have shelves inside, so you will have to store everything you need right on its surface. So, the base box is covered with a layer of silver. This paint is sold in cans, is easy to apply and dries quickly. After this, mirrors are attached to the surfaces. They are simply “planted” on liquid nails. To prevent the fragments from falling off before they stick, they are secured with tape. After complete drying, it is removed and the surface is thoroughly wiped. Simple tables are decorated with five mirrors exactly according to the number of edges, but the number of modules can be increased by decorating only the top, that is, the tabletop, with a single piece.

Shells

Of course, you can decorate ready-made “two-tier” tables with shells, but a homemade model will look much more original. At any time of the year and in any interior, it will evoke warm, pleasant memories of summer and the sea coast. To work you will need:

• Sheet of impact-resistant glass.
• Silicone gaskets.
• A rope or twine from which its likeness can be woven.
• Shells, pebbles, starfish.
• A sheet of plywood is identical in size to glass.
• Thick bamboo stems.
• Fasteners

Four bamboo stalks are attached to the plywood base around the perimeter. The edge of the sheet is decorated with a twine rope. It can be nailed with small nails or placed on staples. Then the bamboo and twine are coated with a layer of varnish. Next, you need to prepare places for attaching silicone gaskets. The plywood bottom is decorated with shells, stars and other “seafood”. Then the glass is fixed on top. The legs for such a table can be sawed off from an old one.

Wooden blocks

A table decorated with blocks is ideal for styles that use everything natural. To make the original decor you will need a base box. It is noteworthy that its bottom should protrude beyond the walls by about 2-3 cm. This indentation is necessary to secure the lower part of the pads. So, use a tape measure to measure the distance from the bottom to the top of the box. Add 2 cm to the resulting value - this will be the height of each block. After they are prepared and processed, the elements are attached to the lower protrusion with glue along the entire perimeter of the base. They are also glued together to ensure greater strength. Then the table top is created. To make it, blocks 2 cm high are used. The bottom of each is coated with glue and fixed to the surface of the base. After this, the cracks are covered with grout, and the table itself is varnished.

Veneering

If the coffee table is completely satisfied with the design of the owners, but its surface is already slightly worn out, then layers of veneer are applied to the old layer of wood. This natural material has an original pattern and is distinguished by a rich range of colors. Veneer is fixed using cold and hot methods. For the first, you will need special equipment (at least a press), but for the second, PVA glue, a sheet of paper and a hot iron are enough. The surface is cleaned and prepared for the procedure. Then it is covered with glue. After it has dried, the veneer is applied to the desired area, covered with a white sheet of paper and a hot iron is passed through it. Unsightly air bubbles may form during the process. You need to get rid of them in time. It is enough to pierce a hole with a thin needle and press lightly to deflate the bubble. Then the area is re-treated with a hot iron.

Combined table decoration

We have already discussed one option for combining techniques (decoupage and craquelure). The designer's capabilities are not limited to this. The tables decorated with mosaics and partially painted look original. Typically, both techniques are used when applying different fragments of the same design. Shells can be laid not on plywood, but on a mirror bottom. Visually, the amount of sea wealth will increase, and if you add glass that has been polished by waves for a long time, the decor will sparkle and shine. Wooden blocks can be combined with a smooth veneered or glass countertop surface.

Material of manufacture

A regular or transformable table for a living room can be made from a variety of materials, among which wood is especially popular.

Natural and environmentally friendly wood and its high-quality derivatives, such as MDF, chipboard and veneered boards, retain the warmth and texture of solid wood.

Table models that are made from several materials deserve special attention.

This can be a combination of a wooden or metal frame with countertops made of natural or artificial stone, tempered glass and specially treated metal.

Living room with sofa and table: dining option

If the living room is divided into zones, you need to choose a high-quality table. You can choose an extendable dining model, a solid wood table, or another option. One area will be for eating, the other for meeting guests.

Wooden chairs with graceful curves perfectly complement the table located in a classic living room

You need to follow these tips to avoid making a mistake with your choice:

• The choice of table depends on what the dining area will be like. If static, then classic will do. If the area is dynamic, existing only for meeting guests, a transforming table will be a suitable option;
• In order not to be mistaken with the size of the table, you can easily measure its dimensions - lay out a tablecloth on the floor. This will help you navigate the area of ​​the future table;
• For a small living room, a round table on one leg is suitable, so more people can fit behind it.

A beautiful corner sofa can be used for zoning. Upholstered furniture will add comfort and practicality, but you don’t need to place it near the table and work area - it can easily get dirty. A bar counter can also divide the space. It can be used instead of a dining table.

You can make a dining table with your own hands; making it will cost much less than purchasing a ready-made one in a store. It can be wooden or chipboard, if the hands grow from the right place, the result will be good in any case.

Model design

A writing or coffee table for a living room can differ in different designs and correspond to certain styles.

When choosing a suitable model, it is important to consider its compliance with the concept of decorating the room and compatibility with other furniture, decoration and accessories.

Color and legs, wheels

The color scheme of the table can be varied, but on the advice of the designers it is better to choose it in accordance with the design idea.

Functional tables should maximally emphasize the style and concept of the room, models on wheels can be easily moved around the room, and stationary tables should be as stable as possible.

To make a living room with a computer desk look presentable and stylish, you must first zone the space of the room.

To highlight a dining or work area, different lighting systems, a combination of colors, or structures such as partitions and shelving are used.