Tips for Choosing a Wood Coffee Table: Give Your Living Room More Surface Area to Hold Your Drinks and Decor

By Maria Rogerson

December 2, 2021Home & Decor

If you feel like it’s time to make some changes in your living space, you may consider a few simple tips to upgrade your home interior. And for some reason, the living room is usually the first place that comes to mind when we think about decorating. It’s one of the most important rooms in a home, where family and friends gather, but also the place where you may be hanging alone and recuperating.

When it comes to decorating the living room, many people feel pressure since it’s the room your guests will spend some time in. But relax, because decorating the living room can actually be a lot of fun. Sometimes all it takes is choosing the right piece that will provoke conversation and set the vibe of the space. If you want something chic and powerful, don’t look further than a designer wood coffee table.

How to Choose the Perfect Coffee Table

Many interior designers agree that the coffee table is often the anchor in the room, in both small and large living spaces. However, one of the main ideas behind the modern style is that form follows function and every decorative object should reflect its intended purpose. If you try to describe the concept of modern design in one word, that would certainly be simplicity.

wooden coffee table
source: wayfair.com

The modern design celebrates natural materials, neutral and earthy colours and focuses on the elimination of unnecessary detailing. You can find a designer wood coffee table and place it in front of or next to a sofa or upholstered chairs to support beverages, books, magazines and decorative objects. If chosen carefully, it can easily tie the entire space together and become the centrepiece of your living room.

While it serves the purpose of display and storage, a few attributes such as style, size, material, finish and colour can make your modern wood coffee table stand out. Depending on your taste and personal preferences, you can even combine two or more coffee tables to achieve the unique appearance of your living room.

Why Choose Wood?

Even though considered a traditional material, wood is successfully adapted to modern designs. It is the most common material for modern coffee tables and for a good reason. Wood is a great choice for creating original and versatile pieces of furniture, chic, stable and comfortable. 

Modern furniture fashion brings together artistry and functionality and can instantly bring a natural and unique touch to your home interior. With a basic understanding of how to use it effectively, you can create an ultra-sleek look in your living room by choosing a wooden coffee table that meets your needs and taste.

wooden side table
source: homedepot.com

Consider the type of wood and the colour you want to add to the room. Also, if your living room is small, you can opt for a coffee table made of oak or elm wood in a lighter shade. Using a light shade will allow you to easily match your coffee table with the rest of the décor and if you let some natural light in, you can keep the atmosphere fresh and bright and make your living room look more spacious.

There are other types of wood you can from, including walnut, cherry, pine, bamboo, birch and more. They all come in different colours and textures and each one of them offers high quality and durability. In the end, whatever type of wood you choose, a designer wooden coffee table is a great solution for decorating your living room in a balanced and fashionable way.

Choose the Right Height and Width

The easiest way to determine the right size of your coffee table is to compare it to your sofa. It should be around two thirds the width of the sofa and the height should be 5 to 10cm below the height of your sofa’s seat. And don’t forget to leave around 45cm of space between the sofa and the coffee table to ensure enough room for moving around.

Consider the Shape of Your Coffee Table

Once you have the exact height and width of your coffee table, you should look for the shape that will perfectly fit your living space. Designer wooden coffee tables are available in a variety of shapes, so make sure to choose one that matches your seating configuration. If you have a large seating configuration, you may consider a round or square coffee table, while for a smaller seating configuration, a rectangular or oval coffee table may be a great solution. 

Ideas on How to Style Your Coffee Table

decorating table
source: mydeal.com

You’ve picked out your coffee table and now it’s time to think about accessories. If you are mainly using your living room for watching TV, you will probably need a coffee table with a lot of space for placing snacks and drinks. A coffee table with a lower shelf may work perfectly well as it allows you to place many items underneath, such as trays, books and magazines and leave plenty of room available on the top.
Some of the most common accessories people place on their coffee tables are reading materials, coasters, a box of remotes, candles, matchbooks, and in these pandemic times antiseptic gels, antibacterial wipes and a tissue box, so your guests can clean their hands and feel safe.