7 Types of Coffee Tables to Consider for Your Living Room

Modern living room with exposed brick walls, large windows, a dark green velvet sofa, a dark wood coffee table, and a tall potted plant.

The name ‘coffee table’ doesn’t mean it’s just for coffee. It can also be used as storage, a workstation, a footrest, or simply as a stylish centerpiece. 

With so many options available, choosing the right one can be tricky. This article will help you find the perfect coffee table for your living room.

Before choosing a coffee table for your living room, choose the material that works best for your space:

  • Glass (e.g., clear or frosted): Great for small living rooms, but can be fragile and requires careful handling.
  • Wood (e.g., oak, walnut, or pine): Durable and versatile, it suits any style and comes in many finishes.
  • Metal (e.g., steel or brass): Ideal for industrial, modern, or minimalist living room designs.
  • Stone (e.g., marble or granite): Adds elegance and pairs well with hardwood floors or neutral rugs in your living room.
  • Fabric (e.g., upholstery or leather): Offers a softer, warmer look for your living room, but requires regular maintenance like spot cleaning or oiling leather to keep it in good condition.

Rectangular Coffee Table

Rectangular coffee tables are perfect for large living rooms. These tables look better, especially when paired with long couches. You can use their larger surface area to display books, plants, or flowers to further enhance your living room’s aesthetics. However, if your living room is small, this type of table might feel overwhelming and make the space look cramped. 

Square Coffee Table

As the name suggests, square coffee tables are ideal for square-shaped living rooms. Square coffee tables are perfect for square-shaped rooms. The matching shapes create a balanced and symmetrical look, which makes your living room look more organized and stylish.

If you have a U-shaped sectional sofa, a square coffee table pairs perfectly with it. This pairing makes it easier for everyone sitting around it to access drinks, snacks, or other items from the table.

Round Coffee Table

Round white coffee table with a thin metal frame, holding a white teapot, a green teacup and saucer, a tea infuser, and loose leaf tea on a wooden cutting board. A white chair with a beige cushion is in the background.
Photo Credit: Freepik

A round coffee table is the perfect fit if your living room is small and you often host intimate gatherings. The round shape allows for easy movement around the table and helps create a more spacious feel. Plus, round tables take up less space and are easy to move from one place to another.

With no sharp corners, round coffee tables also provide a safer environment for kids and pets. This makes them a great option for families. Round coffee tables are versatile for seating. They can be used with circular seating or mixed with other styles for different layouts.

Oval Coffee Table

Oval coffee tables elongate your room’s aesthetics and pair well with longer sofas, while being easier to move around than a large rectangle.

There are two types of oval coffee tables: racetrack and ellipse. A racetrack table has curved ends and straight sides, like a rounded rectangle. An ellipse table is all curved, like an egg. The racetrack shape is more boxy, while the ellipse is smoother.

Storage Coffee Table

Coffee table with built-in storage drawers and silver handles, featuring a bottle of wine, a book, and glasses. The table is made of wood and sits on a textured rug.
Photo Credit: Bonsoni.com / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

A storage coffee table keeps your living room neat by hiding essentials while keeping them easy to reach. Storage coffee tables come in various shapes, including rectangular, circular, and round. Choose one that fits your living room style and space.

These tables come in different styles, such as:

  • Tables with open space between two layers of wood.
  • Designs featuring drawers with open space on both sides.
  • Multiple drawers that provide more organized storage.

Home Gnome Staff Writer Olivia Solomon uses a table with two lower shelves to keep books, magazines, and old photo albums organized. Olivia finds it much more practical than a regular coffee table, as it helps reduce clutter while keeping important items easy to access. She loves how multi-purpose furniture like this keeps the living room tidy and functional.

Lift-Top Coffee Table

Lift-top coffee table with a raised top, showing storage space with remote controls. The table is made of light wood and sits in front of a red couch with pillows.
Photo Credit: Tom Lianza / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

As the name suggests, a lift-top coffee table has a top that can be lifted. It’s perfect for those who like to work or eat while relaxing on the couch. You can lift the top to create a flat surface that’s at a comfortable height. Lift-top coffee tables often have hidden storage underneath, adding both function and extra space.

A market report says that the Lift-Top Coffee Table market was valued at USD 1.2 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 2.1 billion by 2030, growing at a 7.4% annual rate. This growth is driven by the demand for space-saving and ergonomic furniture.

Nesting Coffee Table

Set of three dark wood coffee tables with a nesting design, showing the different sizes and stacked arrangement. A lamp with a pink shade and a brown leather couch are visible in the background.
Photo Credit: Bonsoni.com / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

A nesting coffee table is a set of smaller tables that can be stacked when not in use. They have different heights, so you can spread them out as needed.

These tables are great if you have more gaps between sectionals and don’t want your tables always in the same spot. You can also give each person their own table while sitting, then easily stack them back together to save space. Circular nesting tables are the most space-saving choice.

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Rahul Sattineni

Rahul holds a bachelor's degree in Electronics Engineering and is a passionate writer. He loves to help people make informed decisions regarding home improvement services. When Rahul isn't writing, he enjoys listening to music, spending time with his family, and partaking in outdoor activities.