Coffee Tables

Often located at the center of the living room, coffee tables occupy the center of most people’s home lives, and yet until the neighbor forgets to put a coaster under their drink, few spare the humble piece of furniture a single thought. Designed to serve as a support for beverages and other objects for the people sitting at a sofa, the coffee table is often dismissed as something merely utilitarian. However the right coffee table can pull a room together and even be considered art.

History of the Coffee Table

Derived from older style tea tables, coffee tables originated in the Victorian era. As sofas metamorphosed from high backed settles to lower backed sofas, tables likewise dropped from the high end tables and tea tables to lower tables that could be reached by those reclining in comfort. The tables were designed to hold the coffee or tea of those sitting at the sofa, allowing them easy access to their hot drinks. These early ancestors of the coffee table became popular in the early twentieth century, as casual visits replaced formal entertaining. Coffee and cocktails replaced high tea and fancy food spreads, and the coffee table of the living room replaced the elevated tea table of the formal sitting room.

Materials

Coffee tables are made with a number of different types of material. The most common of these is wood, with tables ranging from minimalist square leg posts and smooth tops of unfinished oak to ornately carved legs of mahogany with tops that shine with a good polish. Other tables may be topped with mirrors or marble, and some may even have tops made of granite, lending a greater weight and durability. Still other tables may be made of wrought iron with tops of wood, glass, or stone. Some families may even opt to use leather or cloth ottomans, allowing the table to double as place for more seating and using a tray to establish a firmer place on which to set things.

Types and Kinds

Because of their functionality, there are several different types and kinds of coffee tables. There are a variety of different shapes of table to fit each space, from rectangular to square to round. Some companies make coffee tables under which stools or ottomans may be stored, serving both as visual interest and practical space saving technique. Still other coffee tables may serve as storage unites with tops that can be lifted to reveal hidden trunk space or drawers that can store odds and ends. Soon, there may even be smart tables to introduce a technological element to a living space. Microsoft has developed tables with touch screen interfaces that may be available for homes and offices in a matter of years.

Design: Coffee Tables as Art Pieces

For the stylish home owner, the coffee table can surpass the level of functionality and move into the realm of pure aesthetics. Because of their central place in the most used room in the house, coffee tables can serve as conversation pieces themselves as architectural design and art permeate the furniture design business. Several companies such as Velocity Art and Design and The Foundary, as well as individual designers, market unique furniture for the original individual. Coffee tables can be large aquariums with clear glass tops or solid redwood trunks, lacquered to a shine. A coffee table can be made to reflect its owners’ personalities or interests and leave a personal touch on home decorating.

Coffee Table Art

Even if the coffee table is not itself an art piece, it can be a great showcase for displaying art. In fact, there is an entire realm of literature devoted to display on the table. Coffee table books are books filled with photographs and illustrations of things such as art, architecture, flowers, animals, and even food. These books are designed to be displayed at the social center of the house, to spark conversation among guests or distract bored visitors. These books are often superficial in nature, designed more to be looked at rather than read. Yet, thousands of coffee table books are sold each year with the explicit purpose of being set on a coffee table and being thumbed through casually while people visit.

There are so many different kinds and designs of coffee tables that it is possible for everyone to find one that suits their decor, their lifestyles, and their unique personalities. It is important to do a fair amount of research to discover just what sort of coffee table best fits into each person’s life. Whether a coffee table with legs that look like tree limbs or a practical mahogany table with drawers for the remote, a coffee table can pull a room together and make it a true living space.