Choosing a coffee table. Advantages and disadvantages of each material. Which table should you choose for your interior? Do you need shelves and drawers on a coffee table? Photo ideas for inspiration: transforming table. We make a coffee table with our own hands.
- Classical
How to decide the height of a coffee table
Tips for choosing a product:
- In accordance with state product standards, the height of the structure must be determined based on the expected load on the surface when used for its intended purpose.
- Le Corbusier's classification says that the main condition when choosing the height of a table is the ease of using it while sitting in a chair.
- Modern designers claim that a piece of furniture in relation to a sofa should not be higher than the seat next to which it is located. The product can only have a lower height.
- Another condition is that the parameters must be proportional, that is, the larger the tabletop, the lower the support.
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A coffee table is one of those pieces of furniture that can easily become an attractive accent, a kind of memorable highlight in the interior of almost any room. Its use in the living room and office is especially relevant.
Coffee tables, despite their name, are intended not only for magazines. They can help fulfill a wide variety of needs and have an interesting design. Depending on your desires and needs, this piece of furniture can become a workplace, a mini-library, a “podium” for flower arrangements, or a corner for gatherings in pleasant company.
Table of contents
- Types of coffee tables
- How to choose a coffee table: current tips
- Secrets of caring for a coffee table
Types of coffee tables
Dining table in miniature
This is the most common type of coffee table. It is characterized by a square or round tabletop shape, the presence of one central support or three or four legs. At one glance at such products, it becomes clear that they are distinguished from large dining tables solely by their size.
Side table
Its shape resembles the letter “P” falling on its side with a square (sometimes round) tabletop. The support of such a product easily slides under the base of the sofa - this makes it possible to conveniently use the tabletop directly above its seat or side. There are a lot of similar models among the Duet coffee tables.
Table - matryoshka
Sold exclusively as a unique set. Three, four, and sometimes even five tables together - and one is smaller than the other. The nesting doll table can be used both as a complex - placed in the form of a kind of cascade, and in a “disassembled” form - by dispersing its individual elements in the right places in the apartment.
Interesting! A “set” of tables allows you to make friendly gatherings even more convenient - after all, each guest can be offered a “personal” surface for a cup of coffee, a glass of wine, and all sorts of little things.
Truly a coffee table
This type of table is designed specifically for working with books and periodicals. True coffee tables are necessarily equipped with “containers” for storing the “printed word” - these are either sections under the tabletop or drawers.
You can often find models with a special vertical newspaper holder, which is a functional replacement for a regular leg.
Transformable table
This type of coffee table includes a wide range of models with various transformation capabilities. Some tables can be adjusted in height, others can change the size of the tabletop, and still others can do both.
One of the best among the “transformers” can be called the Acrobat coffee table - in the blink of an eye it turns from a low living room into a dining table, hookah table, children’s play table or bar table.
You can also pay attention to the Agate coffee tables.
Display table
The tabletop of display tables is in the vast majority of cases glass. Underneath there is a closed shelf designed for storing and displaying souvenirs dear to the guests such as shells, figurines, and hand-made crafts.
Table stand
Its progenitor is the classic gueridon table on one leg. The purpose of the product is to serve as a stand for a lamp, telephone, vase, and, of course, a couple of cups of coffee.
Decorative table
A decorative table is like a sculpture or a painting: created to be admired. This type usually includes “works” of famous designers. They are created from ultra-modern materials using unique technologies. The shape of decorative coffee tables can be absolutely any – even the most unimaginable.
Such products are not intended for drinking coffee, reading books or children's games. Only contemplation.
How to choose a coffee table: current tips
Budget
The price of original Italian coffee tables sometimes goes through the roof; ordinary Chinese, Malaysian and domestic products can cost quite tolerably. It is best to immediately decide whether you are ready to fork out for an exquisite piece of furniture or whether a coffee table from China is quite suitable for your household needs. Contrary to popular belief, Chinese products can be the optimal combination of price and quality - they are not always low-grade consumer goods.
Height
The standard “height” of a coffee table is from 40 to 50 centimeters. But, taking into account today’s progress, which could not help but affect the furniture sector, we can say that this is a pure convention. There are products on sale that only rise slightly on the floor (height - up to 15 centimeters), and there are universal transformers that turn into a high dining table in a matter of seconds. Well, don’t forget about high coffee tables and stands.
So this parameter is entirely at the mercy of your taste and feelings.
Style
The styles of coffee tables can definitely make an inexperienced person's eyes run wild. Do you want country or classic? Please! Do you prefer modern or high-tech? No problem!
There are models made in ethnic and colonial styles: without knowing for sure, it is very difficult to even assume that this miracle is a coffee table.
Often it is not possible to accurately determine the style of a product; for example, many Mebelik coffee tables are made in a generally traditional style.
Shape and size
Round, oval, or any streamlined tables are definitely suitable for apartments where every centimeter is worth its weight in gold: the absence of corners makes it possible to move around the table more calmly. This is also an excellent choice if the family has small children or pets - the risk of injury is minimal.
Coffee tables of any shape are suitable for spacious living. Square and rectangular products will look especially good in a large living room.
Functionality
Functionality is a very important parameter when choosing a coffee table. Think about whether you plan to store something in it, how much space it may require - and, based on this, determine the desired number of shelves and drawers. In principle, the range of modern Chinese coffee tables can satisfy any functional wishes of the buyer.
If you decide to go along the “designer path”, focusing exclusively on the beauty of the product, try to choose a model that will be quite original, but at the same time will not go out of the general mood of the interior.
Material
The material of coffee tables is different, here you can make custom-made furniture. Manufacturers offer the following materials:
Glass. Transparent tabletops allow you to see the legs of the product, which can be classic straight or pretentiously curved, metal or wooden. Wenge coffee tables with glass tops look very nice.
Glass coffee tables from Malaysia and China have gained great popularity due to their excellent appearance, ease of maintenance and high scratch resistance of the material (compared to wood, in particular).
But there is also another side to the coin. Glass, no matter how you temper it, remains a fragile thing, so you need to be extremely careful when handling such coffee tables.
Important! A number of users note that the specific sound created when dishes come into contact with a glass surface can cause irritation.
Tree . Wooden coffee tables from Italy, Russia, China, and Malaysia will harmoniously fit into both the most sophisticated and the simplest interiors. A solid wood table can be simply matched to other existing furniture.
Classic Berger coffee tables are an excellent choice for admirers of tradition, naturalness and durability.
Leather. Beautiful leather coffee tables are chosen for expensive interiors. Furniture finished with this material always looks very advantageous, especially in the office. True, cleaning it is not an easy task. Therefore, all dishes and items placed on a leather coffee table must be absolutely dry and clean.
Stone. Such products have a unique appearance and are highly valued. A stone countertop is durable and strong, but requires regular maintenance; stains appear on it very quickly.
When choosing the materials from which a coffee table is made, be sure to focus on the overall design of the room - after all, this piece of furniture should become a harmonious part of the interior, and not an eyesore.
Secrets of caring for a coffee table
Wooden table
- Make sure that no spilled liquid remains on the surface of wooden furniture. It must be wiped off in a timely manner, otherwise deformation of the wood is possible;
- Direct sunlight causes fading of the wooden surface. Therefore, it is not recommended to place a coffee table in places where such “contact” will be regular;
- A wooden coffee table should be cleaned with soft cloth napkins and warm soapy water. Rubberized or rough cloths can damage the surface. After all necessary manipulations, the furniture should be thoroughly wiped with dry material;
- For polished wooden tables, it is unacceptable to use detergents intended for cleaning glass and mirrors. These products contain ammonia, which can damage the varnish finish;
- Do not place hot objects on polished furniture;
- The humidity in the house must be maintained at an acceptable level, otherwise, due to sudden changes in this indicator, the wood may crack or delaminate.
Glass table
- Glass furniture can only be placed on a flat surface;
- the surface of the glass coffee table should not come into contact with hard, sharp and heavy objects - this is the best prevention of cracks and chips;
- for items whose temperature exceeds 45 degrees, it is necessary to use all kinds of thermal insulating linings;
- All dirt from such furniture must be removed using special detergents. It is not recommended to use compositions with abrasive substances, powdered products, or sponges with chips or metal fibers to clean stains.
If you follow these simple rules, your coffee table will “shine” for many years!
