What Is The Best Coffee Table Height For Your Home
If youve clicked on this article theres a good chance youre thinking about updating your coffee table or maybe youre lucky enough to be completely refurnishing your house! Its one of those pieces of furniture that slips by youre not going to spend as long thinking about it as your mattress for example, but yet youll probably see and use every day.
It can really bring together a room, and if youre anything like us, socializing is just as likely to happen around the coffee table as it is around the dining table. Think about those afternoon cups of tea with your friends, watching movies with your nieces and nephews, or sharing a slice of cake with your neighbor, whos quickly stopping by.
So, we know a coffee table is a key piece of furniture in your living room. As with all furniture, there are a number of key decisions to make before purchasing. Do you need your coffee table to have lots of storage? A chunky wooden design, or more minimalist vibes? Do you want to make a statement or is durability more important? Will it fit the space you have available?
These are all key questions to ask, however, we think you should add one more to your list how high should your coffee table be?
Objects For Decorating Trays On Coffee Tables
- Flowers, plants or greenery
- Personal momento or souvenir
- Seasonal decor
A room that I dont show often! In our family room, we have a vintage wood shop check-out table from a friends store. Years ago I cut the legs down to coffee table size and painted/distressed it with milk paint in blue and white. I love the rustic look paired with the modern leather sectional, old floral oil painting in a barn-wood frame and modern gold swing arm light fixtures. The rug is an indoor/outdoor rug and this room serves as well as a family with 3 dogs. To decorate the wicker coffee table tray I placed a book, a simple water bottle with a cutting from our tropical garden and a favorite candle. A vintage 40s piece of white pottery holds the tv remotes and a conch shell that we retrieved diving on a Caribbean trip sits next to it.
Most likely your tray wont take up all of the real estate on your coffee table and will leave room for other groupings. Use similar principles of layering and remember that less is more in styling.
Some of my favorite coffee tables
How Long Should Your Coffee Table Be Compared To Your Couch
So you want a new coffee table, and you want it to last a very long time. It is made of wood, or glass, or metal, but if it is not treated well, then it will not last very long. When buying a piece of furniture, it is always best to start by looking at how long it will last, as the quality of a piece of furniture is often determined not only by how long it has been used but also how long it can be used fo
r. If your coffee table is just sitting there, on a shelf gathering dust, then the quality will probably be very poor, as a table that has been around for years will quickly become damaged, and will look shabby and old. It will be hard to justify having bought it in the first place, and so this will reflect in the price.
As with other types of furniture, tables are available in all shapes and sizes, and in all styles. You could go for a very large table, or a smaller one, as would be possible if you have a small room or even just a very small living space. Some tables are designed to go with certain types of curtains, so if you have dark drapes, you can still put a table in the room, as the dark-coloured drapes will also match the colour of the table.
There are different ways that different types of tables are designed, and if you have a rather small room, then it might be an idea to go for a small one, as the space that they take up is very small, and as such they dont take up too much room.
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Do You Need Added Functionality
The level of functionality your coffee table offers depends on how you want to use it. While most coffee tables have a flat surface supported on a base, there are plenty that offer additional features.
- Look for coffee tables with additional shelves, drawers, or compartments if you need them to double up for storage.
- Trunks and ottomans can offer lots of storage.
- Some tables have surfaces that can be raised for working or eating.
- Casters and wheels are useful if you need to roll away the coffee table.
When To Get A Smaller Coffee Table
Ive talked a lot about coffee tables being too small, but when is it better to opt for a smaller table?
You definitely dont want the table to feel too big for the space. Remember the importance of scale?
Use your judgement when it comes to your space. If you have a smaller, more intimate space, a smaller coffee table will feel more appropriate. Likewise, if your furniture is small in scale, a smaller table will be a better option.
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Styles Of Coffee Table
There are several different types of coffee table styles available. These are based on various dimensions and materials used. Usually, the coffee table is long and low and is placed in front of chairs or sofa and is adorned by books, decorative objects, beverage coasters, etc. This is usually used for tea and coffee settings. There are several different types of coffee tables available, and the average coffee table dimension depends on the style.
Four Tips For Choosing The Right Coffee Table
The recent months at home have led many people to reevaluate the comfort and configuration of their furniture.
Whether you want to purchase all new furniture or upgrade the look of your family room, your coffee table may be a good place to start. If youre like most people, your coffee table functions as a serving table, a footrest, a repository for books and magazines, a workstation and your jigsaw-puzzle spot. Choosing the right size, shape and material for your coffee table can make a big difference in how it works and how long it lasts.
We asked two interior designers for tips on how to make this important choice: Robin Rains, owner of Robin Rains Interior Design in Nashville, and Heather Hilliard, owner of Heather Hilliard Design in San Francisco. Here are their four tips via email:
1. Size and placement are key. Its important to get the right size and shape table for your room, so get out your tape measure before searching, Rains wrote.
The height of the table should be generally between 14 to 20 inches tall, she wrote. I prefer the table to be approximately two inches lower than the seat height on your sofa. Keep approximately 16 inches from the edge of the table to the sofa and at least 28 to 30 inches to the TV cabinet or furniture opposite the sofa. A table should be two-thirds the length of your sofa for correct proportion.
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Length Of The Coffee Table
Choosing a coffee table with an ideal length is important too. Using one that is too long can obstruct or restrict movement inside the room. While a shorter one may be insufficient to support the objects that you need to place on it.
To get the ideal coffee table length for your home, pick one that is about 2/3 the length of your sofa.
For example, if the length of your sofa is 72 inches, then the ideal length for your coffee table is around 48 inches.
Using one that is close to the recommended length is preferable. It will allow people to reach things and walk around the room with ease and comfort.
Standard Coffee Table Height
As a general rule of thumb, a coffee table should be about 1 or 2 inches shorter than the sofas seat height from the floor. The height of the sofa is up to the seat cushions so when sitting on the sofa, it helps to have an unobstructed eye-line by going 1 or 2 inches lower.
The standard sofa seat height is 18 inches so the standard coffee table height will be around 16 17 inches. When in doubt, measure the height of your sofa including the cushions before buying the table.
If you want to create a modern feel in your living room, low-height tables can come in handy and provide an unobstructed view of the rest of the furniture.
On the other hand, if you want a traditional feel, taller tables are ideal for entertaining and ease of reach. These tables are especially useful when they are paired with tall sofas as the extra inches help make it easier to reach for the tabletop.
No matter which type of table height you choose, make sure it is 1 or 2 inches shorter than the sofa as previously mentioned.
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Placement & Clearance Of A Coffee Table
So your coffee table has arrived home and its time to put it in the right place. As a rule of thumb, the ideal distance is 18 inches from the couch as this will leave plenty of legroom while keeping the coffee table within easy reach. If the table has cabinets or drawers that open towards the couch, the 18-inch space allowance will comfortably provide room for quick access.
If you need to place chairs close to the table, apply the 18-inch distance rule with them too. Having said that, this rule isnt set in stone so you can be flexible and go within the range of 12 to 18 inches of space between the couch and table, depending on your personal preference. It also depends on the type of coffee table you buy as an ottoman table, for example, needs to be closer to someone with short legs.
But what about other large furniture items? To prevent your coffee table from blocking the way in the room, allow at least 30 inches of space between the table and other furniture items. In narrower living rooms, allow 24 inches of open space.
To round it up, keep an open space of between 12 and 18 inches between the coffee table and the couch. Allow 24 to 30 inches of open space between the table and the TV stand.
Standard Coffee Table Length
Once youve determined the proper height of your coffee table, its now time to think about the tables width and length. The ideal coffee table should be no more than two-thirds of the sofas length. When its centered with a sofa, allow equal space on each side of the table as this will allow you to move around the table easily.
To give you an example, in a living room with a 2-3 seat sofa , an average coffee table size would be around 30 48 inches in length, and 16 18 inches in height.
Now that you have a basic idea of the right height, length of your coffee table, youre ready to make a purchase decision. Keep reading for more tips and recommendations on where to place your table and how to make your living room look more stylish with the right coffee table shape.
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Standard Coffee Table Size For Your Space
Are you feeling overwhelmed with the vast number of coffee table size options and have no idea how to choose the right one? Admittedly, choosing the right table size for your living room isnt the easiest task, but there are some basic rules you can follow to avoid making the wrong decision. Keep reading to find out the right measurements you need when choosing a coffee table for your home as well as my insider tips on selecting the best shape table.
Dont have time for the whole article reading. Heres a quick answer.
The average size of a coffee table size should be measured against the surrounding sofas and couches. Typically, its height is 1 2 inches lower than the sofas seat height meanwhile its length should be no more than two-thirds of the sofas length. As such, in a room with a 2-3 seat sofas , an average coffee table size would be around 30 48 inches in length, and 16 18 inches in height. It should have 18 of space from the sofa and 30 clearances from other furniture in the room.
In This Article
Best Coffee Table Shapes For Standard Sofas
If you have a standard sofa, you have a lot of flexibility when it comes to picking a coffee table. You can safely go with just about any shape, and its just easier to know where to place it. So, really, it just comes down to preference. Below, youll see how different coffee table shapes work with a standard sofa.
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Common Coffee Table Dimensions
- 36×36: Either round or square. Two squares are great to pair next to each other. We often love a 36 round coffee table for living rooms with sectionals.
- 40 Long: The next size up is usually about 40 long, and anywhere from 20-30 wide . These tables are best for smaller spaces. If you place this size in a larger living room, its going to feel too small.
- 48 Long: This is the minimum size I like to go when sourcing for an average home size living room. Anywhere from 20-30 wide it will work in smaller spaces as well. I prefer something larger than this if the room allows for it.
- 54 Long: A fairly standard length for coffee tables, 54 in length, and anywhere from 20-30 wide is a good size for larger living rooms.
- 60+ Long: If the room is large enough for multiple chairs and a sofa, youre probably better off with at least a 60 coffee table.
Coffee Table Length Or Width
The perfect length for a coffee table is about two-thirds the length of the sofa it complements. For example, if your couch is 6 feet long, you will want to purchase a coffee table that is 4 feet long. This length leaves plenty of room for you to walk on either side of the table, and the size difference between the couch and the table will give your living room some stylish depth as well.
To correctly determine the ideal length for a new coffee table, you should always take measurements of your couch before you make a purchase. If you are having a hard time finding a coffee table that is exactly two-thirds the length of your couch, just find one that will leave enough room on either side.
Length is sometimes called width in product descriptions, and the two are often interchangeable. Both width and length refer to the greatest distance that a piece of furniture occupies from one end to the other.
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How To Get The Perfect
When you plan to buy a new coffee table, you must first do a thorough analysis of your living room furniture. This is essential to find a size at coordinates with all the other pieces in your living.
You must get a tape and measure all the height of your sofa set, of your TV compartment and the other furniture pieces in your living room. These measurements will be the building block for selecting a good coffee table that will be great for your space.
It would help if you had the dimensions of length, height with depth, and the placement style of your coffee table to make a wise decision.
Coffee Table Width And Length
As have been mentioned, the right coffee table length should be at 36 inches and a maximum of 48 inches. However, in some circumstances where the couch is extra-long and the living room is spacious, you can extend it to 56 inches. When it comes to width, keep it at 18-24 inches or 32 inches maximum for larger couches in the living room.
Along with these dimensions, make sure that there are 16-18 inches of space surrounding the table for ease of movement.
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Coffee Table Dimension Guide
Are you overwhelmed by the many coffee table height and length options available to you and have no idea of how to choose the right one? Are you confused about all the rules that you need to remember to avoid choosing the wrong one? Keep reading to find out what measurements you need to take and what coffee table dimensions you need to know in order to create a comfortable space for you and your guests.
Prior to embarking on your search, pull out your tape measure. Certain measurements need to be taken to find a table thats a perfect fit. A coffee table in proper scale with surrounding furniture will keep the overall look in proportion.
Explore Coffee Table Styles
Choosing the best coffee table to go with your sofa also means finding one with the right style. As evidenced by the variety of coffee tables featured in this post, there are so many styles to consider! If youre uncertain about what style or shape of coffee table to choose, take our style quiz, or work with one of our designers to find the best furniture pieces and layout for your whole living room!
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