Cheap Coffee Tables

A simple piece of furniture such as a coffee table can easily pull together a room without breaking the bank. They are often the last thing people think about when decorating, but an attractive or unique coffee table can become a focal point around which the family and company gather. While some coffee tables can run upwards of a $1000, there are many options for finding cheap coffee tables that look great and go easy on the wallet.

Some Assembly Required

Many companies sell cheap coffee tables that require their customers to assemble the finished product themselves. Companies like Ikea specialize in affordable minimalist furniture that has some assembly required. Other department and retail stores such as Target or Macy’s may offer small furniture departments with elegantly finished coffee tables. Their coffee tables come in a wide variety of styles and shapes and come with a pack of instructions and any screws, nails, or glue needed to put it together. By allowing their customers to build the furniture themselves, these stores save on labor costs of assembly, and they pass those savings onto the customer.

Online Discounters

Online retailers offer excellent opportunities to find great-looking cheap coffee tables. Because they don’t have to pay rent on brick and mortar locations or pay commission to salespeople, online discounters like Amazon and Overstock are able to offer popular styles without the popular price tag. Online stores can offer all styles and makes of coffee table for a fraction of the cost of traditional retailers. They provide an excellent option for those who prefer certain brands or unique styles, but would rather not assemble or paint their furniture themselves.

Antiques and Estate Sales

Though some antique stores and estate sales may sell only expensive one of a kind antiques, sometimes there are high quality furniture pieces for relatively cheap. Coffee tables are often overlooked in antique stores and estate sales, laden down with other items for sale or passed over for larger statement pieces. The trick to getting the right coffee table is to arrive early and shop often. Estate sales provide one time deals but happen all over town as companies look to clear out their property, and antique stores have constantly rotating stocks from a variety of sellers. What’s impossible to find one week may be available the next. Also, some estate sales will offer half off the second day, so always double check.

Affordable Materials

A great way to save money on coffee table purchases is to consider less expensive materials. While coffee tables can come in expensive woods like cherry, oak, or walnut, they’re also available in pine, poplar, and birch. Inexpensive woods can be painted, stained, or dyed to make them almost indistinguishable from the more expensive types. For instance, willow can be stained to look like walnut, poplar like cherry, and pine like oak with the right stain and a little elbow work. Any stains or paints should be tested on an unseen portion of the coffee table to arrive at just the right color. With just a bit of time and patience, cheap coffee tables can look expensive and sophisticated.

Thinking Outside the Box

The coffee table often sits at the center of the living room, providing a center around which all conversation revolves. A unique coffee table can even become the focus of conversation. Local artisans and designers create completely original art pieces that can transform a room. These can be everything from converted wine barrels to antique trunks to modern acrylic art with light installations to more traditional hand carved wood pieces. Designers can even work with home owners to construct the perfect piece that reflects their personalities; and they’ll work within budget parameters to keep costs down for everyone. The sky’s the limit when it comes to creatively furnishing a home with cheap coffee tables.

Buying a coffee table does not have to mean shelling out hundreds of dollars for a few pieces of wood. This may mean compromising on materials, putting in some elbow grease, or shopping around, but finding the right piece to tie a living room together is possible without throwing away money. The savvy homeowner may even come away with a valuable antique or a one of a kind art piece just by thinking creatively and shopping outside the traditional furniture store.