A living room lacking surface space is a decidedly sad thing; without it, where are you going to put your tea mugs, snacks, books and other knick-knacks? This is where coffee tables save the day. Designed to provide a needed spot to put all of your bits and bobs within reach of the sofa, these handy pieces of living room furniture are as utilitarian as they are aesthetically pleasing. When it comes to picking the best coffee tables for your living space, we suggest finding something akin to your other furniture, so it blends into the look.
From humble classics to ostentatious showstoppers, we’re going to give you a run-down of our favourites, each suited to different types of interiors. Whatever your style preferences or architectural limitations, there’s something for you.
Skip to:
- Coffee Table Considerations
- The Best Coffee Tables Revealed: Our Top 10 Picks
- Best for: Small Spaces
- Best for: Nifty Storage Solutions
- Best for: Modern Interiors
- Best for: Country-Style Living Rooms
Coffee Table Considerations
Before we get started on our list of the best coffee tables, let’s take a step back. How do you find the right coffee table for your specific living arrangement? After all, the size of the room, your existing décor, storage requirements and your intentions for this handy piece of furniture will all play a role in what you can feasibly achieve. Hence the importance of running through the following considerations before you ‘add to basket’.
Purpose
Often overlooked, because the assumption is simply to dump things on, the purpose of your coffee table is a useful thing to consider. For example, do you need room to play board games? Are you part of the recent trend towards sofa dining and need a hard surface to pop your plates on? Or is it merely somewhere to stack your magazines and conveniently place the remote?
If the coffee table is less instrumental to how you enjoy the space, you might find that a small one will do. Perhaps a foot stool also fits the bill. Whatever the case, be sure to keep the intended function of the table and indeed the room in the back of your mind.
Size & Dimensions
Just as you shouldn’t let the purpose of the coffee table escape you, you mustn’t forget the importance of size. We provided a complete rundown of the ideal coffee table heights and placement in our dedicated guide, so we won’t repeat all of that here.
Nonetheless, it’s helpful to remember that a 1.5-5cm difference between your sofa and coffee table heights will create the most natural-looking arrangement and ergonomic set-up. On top of this measurement, you should also heed the golden rule – 30-45cm of clearance – which will allow you convenient movement around the seating area, which is, in turn, conducive to a comprehensive overall scheme.
Shape
Intrinsically connected to sizing is shape – and here is where you can have some real fun! From traditional regular shapes like squares and rectangles to the flowing lines of circular alternatives, the varying silhouettes can alter the mood in both striking and subtle ways. The former blends into practically any living room plan along the aesthetic continuum from mid-century modern to contemporary new build chic, while rounded edges can break the mould in an interesting way.
More niche options like this hexagonal coffee table are best placed in eclectic living rooms, and particularly those with awkward layouts that require a bit of thinking outside the box when it comes to getting all the essential furnishings in there.
Material
When picking out the best coffee tables for the job, the material should be up there on your list of immediate considerations. From the timeless warmth of wood to a clean glass finish, there are certainly many routes to explore. In our book, oak coffee tables are a stellar choice; in part because they lend themselves effortlessly to a plethora of different colour palettes, not to mention how easy it is to maintain them – cleaning and refinishing included!
But if oak is too traditional for your liking, why not try mango wood instead? Similarly hardwearing and with simple upkeep, these pieces have a slight edge when it comes to the aesthetic. With a darker, more golden grain, you’ll also often see these coffee tables finished with brassy metal detailing in the handles and hinges.
Storage
As far as we’re concerned, it’s hard to beat a coffee table with internal space to hide away the clutter and keep your non-seasonal décor. Ater all, who doesn’t love multipurpose furniture? Whether in the form of pull-out drawers, a subtle shelf or a hollow centre, these extra few inches can become a lifeline in a busy family home, where your bits and bobs can easily go missing.
Psst! Here’s another tip. If you’re regularly entertaining guests, why not consider nesting tables? These canny interlocking structures are just like those Russian nesting dolls, full of hidden potential. So, if one day you need to pull out an extra table to pop your glass of wine on and the next, you need a little extra floorspace to do your home yoga routine – we got you.
Styling
Finally, you might also want to put some thought into how you want to approach your coffee table décor. When you’re not actively using the surface in a functional way, how do you want it to look? A smart choice is finding a coffee table that can run the gauntlet completely unadorned, maybe even act as a living room focal pointand appear stunning all dressed up. The key is opting for something that truly speaks to your design sensibilities, and you will love for years to come.
The Best Coffee Tables Revealed: Our Top 10 Picks
With the preliminaries explained, we can finally reveal 10 of the best coffee tables, lovingly curated by the furniture experts at Evelyn Lily Interiors.
Best for: Small Spaces
No results found
You can try clearing any filters or head to our store's home
1. The Lottie Dark Wood Coffee Table
The Lottie coffee table combines the best of mid-century modern style with robust craftsmanship. Its iconic rounded hairpin legs ensure that it’s not taking up too much space, while the in-built central drawer and shelf help you to keep things spic and span. Ideal for long, narrow living rooms where space is at a premium, this coffee table makes a large statement that dwarfs its size.
2. The Acacia Wood Low Coffee Table
This acacia wood coffee table is a great choice for Japandi interiors, owing to its low stature and minimalist silhouette. Bringing top-notch quality and a humble simplicity, its short stature can both keep things emotionally grounded and draw attention away from low ceilings.
Best for: Nifty Storage Solutions
3. The Mantis Low Coffee Table
Another great contender for minimalist-adjacent styles, the Mantis Low Coffee Table is a crowd-pleaser. With a delightfully solid look, intricate oak wood graining and the convenience of an in-built shelf, practicality and beauty need not compromise one another.
4. The “Storage Drum” Coffee Table
There’s something so inherently fun about this industrial-style coffee table. You get a great deal of storage from inside the metal drum, but with the sleek mango wood lid, you wouldn’t know it at a glance. This is because it’s so easy to get lost in its unique design and see it as a decorative piece. Stuff all of your blankets in the hidden interior, and suddenly the room feels so much bigger.
Best for: Modern Interiors
5. The Redlett Coffee Table
For those with a penchant for industrial styling, meet the Redlett Coffee Table. This intriguing creation is defined by durability, high-quality materials and a visually stimulating appearance. The arresting contrast of the cool metal and warm wood top keeps things light and contemporary, making it perfect for a whole range of living room interiors.
6. The Westbury Coffee Table
Taller than your average coffee table, the Westbury is poised to become your new living room centrepiece. Marrying together a contemporary elegance with rustic materials, it feels warm and inviting without becoming too twee. Neither do you have to worry about the room feeling cramped, its slimline legs leave plenty of room underneath, contributing to a sense of openness and calm.
7. The Aldro Coffee Table
Part of our Aldro collection, this coffee table is crafted from solid mango wood, tempered with a lacquer finish. Its standout feature is its sheer length; with a generous 135cm tabletop, doing jigsaws in front of the telly along with a cuppa isn’t just a fantasy.
Best for: Country-Style Living Rooms
8. The Farmhouse Oak Nest of Tables
Unsure how to decorate a country style living room? This trio of coffee tables is a brilliant place to start. Balancing form and function just perfectly, you get to appreciate the oak grain at its finest, and thanks to their solid construction, you can rest assured that they will be a long-term investment.
9. The Roston Lift-Up Lid Coffee Table
Measuring 40cm in height and 60cm x 60cm in width, this compact storage coffee table will fit into the tiniest of living rooms, whilst packing a visual punch. Not only can you hide way those unsightly charging cables and extra remotes, but you can make use of a functional surface that evokes the energy of a historical film set.
10. The Seaham Storage Box
Achieving a true vintage charm isn’t a hassle when you look to the Seaham Storage Box. Wonderfully versatile, this handy piece of furniture doubles up as a blanket box and a coffee table, making it two birds one stone.
Which Is the Best Coffee Table for You?
We want to know – which is the best coffee table for you? Something tried and true like a traditional rectangular coffee table, or perhaps something more bespoke? Whatever your choice, we hope it serves you well as you hunker down in this vital space for relaxation. You deserve it.
