Here are the right measurements to know to choose a coffee table suitable for your living room, without making a mistake about the ideal height or dimensions.
We’re talking about a coffee table, but also an end table, a pedestal table, a side table… what’s the difference? What are the different heights that a coffee table can take? We can distinguish three main categories of coffee tables:
- less than 25 cm: these are really low tables, even… very low
- between 25 and 45 cm; you will find these tables under the name coffee table but also “small table”, even “side table”. This height is the most common, you will find many coffee tables in this range. These are the simplest when you have mixed use.
- beyond 40 cm, we are talking about a pedestal table, console or end table; vintage, you will also find “plant holders” which can also be used as a coffee table.
Determine the height of your coffee table in relation to your living room
The choice of the coffee table, and in particular its height, is not trivial; it must respect the way you live in your living room. To avoid taking risksthink about the height of the coffee table in relation to:
- the height of the sofa : there is a rule that the coffee table should never be higher than the sofa. The ideal is for the table to be at the same height as the sofa or slightly lower.
- the aesthetics of the living room area : what style will the height of your coffee table give to your living room?
- your comfort of use: what are the main uses of your coffee table? If it’s for snacking on a TV set, you’ll prefer it rather high; if it is to put glasses out of reach of small children who are starting to walk, even higher. On the other hand, if your coffee table is just there to discreetly display your favorite magazines, a really low side table will be more appropriate and will obstruct the view less.
How to choose the height of your coffee table according to your style
Like any element in your living room, the coffee table is also an integral part of a decoration; it can even become a central point, so choose it carefully and also think about the fact that its height contributes to the overall impression:
- Very low tables (less than 25 cm) offer a contemporary style to your decoration. It is preferable to have a sofa with a rather low seat to avoid bending in half whenever you have to take something from the table.
- Intermediate tables (between 25 and 40 cm) are the most versatile, you will find all the styles and all the shapes to meet your desires.
- Side tables or end tables (over 40 cm) are visually very present in the living room and give a less conventional style. They must therefore be chosen carefully and combined with high sofas for a question of harmony and balance.
