Home furnishing decisions boil down to personal style and space: what kind of design do you like, and do you have enough room in your place for the furniture? If you’re choosing a coffee table or an end table, which do you need? Here are some factors to consider.
Large and Low
If this is your first time at the furniture fair, your only knowledge of coffee or end tables may be your parents telling you to keep your feet off one and use a coaster on the other. But the two types of tables serve different purposes.
A coffee table is usually larger and lower than an end table. It takes a prominent position in front of the sofa, and you might flank it with easy chairs perpendicular to the couch. A coffee table is there as a place to park a cup or glass during a conversation among multiple guests.
It also serves as a display surface for decorative items, such as an oversized ceramic bowl you picked up at an art fair. A coffee table is often large enough for homeowners to present hors d’oeuvres and munchies on trays, making this piece the perfect choice for homeowners who love to host.
Taller and Smaller
An end table, also referred to as a side table, goes next to or at the end of something, usually an accent chair or on either end of the couch. End tables are taller and smaller than coffee tables. They’re usually there to be a platform for a lamp, drink, snacks, or books.
Style
The style you choose for your coffee table or end tables is a matter of personal taste. But the size is important. The wrong coffee table can overwhelm a room, and one that’s too small will look lost.
Coffee and end tables often come in matching sets, but if that’s a little too structured for your tastes, it’s OK to mix and match. Just choose complementary materials (such as glass and metal or wood and stone) that won’t look out of place around your seating.
Do You Need a Coffee Table or End Tables?
It’s beneficial to have both options in your living space. It’s not so much a matter of coffee tables or end tables as it is whether you have room for both. If your space is very tight, which is often the case for small studio apartments, you can choose to use two end tables in place of a coffee table in front of the couch. You could also forgo a coffee table surface and opt for end tables that sit between the couch and side chairs instead.
Keep in mind that end or side tables are deliberately taller to be close to level with the arms of a couch, so they can be awkward as coffee tables. Low-slung coffee tables in sleek styles, when properly sized and positioned, are an excellent compromise when you must choose between either option. Have fun finding your next pieces of home furniture!
