Small, large, wide, high... the coffee table comes in all sizes to complete the layout of the living room. Often positioned in the center of it, it attracts attention and asserts itself as central furniture in furnishing an interior. Choosing a coffee table is of course choosing the shape (round, square, rectangular) but also the dimensions . These must correspond to your everyday needs, but above all be proportionate in relation to the sofa and the TV stand. In this little guide, we help you see more clearly about the ideal dimensions of a coffee table.
Take into account the configuration of the living room
If you want to make your coffee table yourself or buy a new one to replace the current one in the living room, the first thing to do is to assess the surface available in the living room. Movement in the room must be easy, with no obstacles preventing movement from one corner to another. We therefore provide a sufficiently wide empty space between the sofa and the coffee table (at least 30 cm). The same goes for the space between the TV cabinet and the coffee table so that you can move freely around the cabinet. What can be done before the purchase of the table is to measure the distance between the sofa and the edge of the TV cabinet, then subtract these necessary empty spaces afterwards (minimum 60 cm). This will give an idea of the maximum width of the table.
For the most spacious living rooms, a large coffee table with a length of more than 100 cm will be adequate. If the size is too small, it could create a visual imbalance in this large room and a disproportionate layout.
What size of coffee table to choose?
Height
The height of a coffee table varies slightly from one model to another. Different options possible, even if the use wants it to be approximately at the same height as the seat of the sofa or lounge chair . Why ? First from a design point of view, to offer perfect symmetry, then also from a user comfort point of view. Sitting at the end of the sofa, you will have easy access to the objects placed on the tray without bending down too much.
The height of the tables often varies between 25 and 40 cm. For side tables, pedestal tables or side tables, the height is deliberately higher, beyond 40 cm, because its function is not the same. It is mainly used as decorative furniture or as a support at the right height. Very low tables exist, approaching 20 cm high. It is not necessarily the most practical piece of furniture to use, especially when you receive guests around an aperitif for example, but the aesthetic result is minimalist and airy.
Note also that there are low tables with variable and adjustable height . This is the coffee table with lift top. Its tray has the possibility of rising thanks to an ingenious mechanism. Thus, the evenings television sets are more pleasant and the coffee table becomes almost a dining table. Go for more coffee table on https://www.homary.com/category/coffee-tables-16.html.
Length
The length of the table or its diameter for a round coffee table, is chosen according to the space available on the floor in the center of the living room. Harmonizing the table with the rest of the decoration is essential. You must also try to maintain reasonable proportions between the different elements that make up the room. Coffee table lengths often range from 60 cm for the smallest models up to 160 cm for the larger ones .
For rectangular tables, a layout rule is that the length of the coffee table is equal to 2/3 of the length of the sofa. But this formula is not necessarily to be taken literally and everything will depend on your stay.
Lenght
The width of the table is also important. First to allow good circulation, as we saw above, between the table and the other pieces of furniture such as the sofa and the television cabinet. If the table is square, you benefit from a user-friendly top, but this does not necessarily suit all rooms. Just note that the greater the depth of the table, the more you benefit from a table that is pleasant to use. Whether for placing flowers, decorations or other objects, but also for moments of sharing with friends or family, during an aperitif or a game of board game.
Coffee table storage dimensions
Some coffee tables are simply provided with a tray, mounted on legs, and nothing else. These refined versions do not accommodate storage spaces. Others, on the contrary, are a little more functional, by equipping themselves with compartments. Knowing the interior dimensions of niches, drawers and possibly doors can be important if you have specific objects to store in this furniture. Similarly, if the coffee table has two superimposed tops, it may be useful to know the height between the two tops.