How to Choose a Modern Cocktail Table

In almost every room or space in your house there is usually one item that is the natural visual ‘center.’  Consider the dining table in your dining room, for example.  Similarly, the desk is the center of most studies.  The items at the visual center aren’t always the most important; nevertheless due to design norms and typical room layouts they just always end up as the main focal point of the room.  It is sort of like gravity, for design.

Now consider that gravity-effect and its implications when it comes to selecting a coffee table for your living room.  More often than not it is, quite literally, the center of the room!  Therefore the overall impact of the table on the décor can be huge.  So, whether you are looking for a modern coffee table to compliment your modern furniture, or a looking to finally complete your classic French-inspired living room, here are some steps that may help:

Step one in your buying decision is the easiest: either you have young children or you don’t.  Feel free to move on to step number two if your family room is never littered with colorful toys and blankets.  If you need to plan for young children it is important to remember that they crawl, walk, run, fall, drool and poop.  On second thought, your kids probably keep you reminded of that fact on their own.  Really, your only concern is the falling, which you can plan for by reconsidering your typical coffee table.  Instead search for a large, family-sized ottoman!  Ottomans have several unique advantages: they are soft (remember the falling?) and functional.  Aside from a great place to kick up your feet, adding a tray to any large ottoman can still afford you the same functionality of a coffee table, just without the hard edges and bumped noggins.

Step two in selecting a coffee table is to evaluate potential focal points you already have in the room.  Do you have a sofa you spent a fortune on, or unique slate floors?  How about a designer rug?  These could all be examples of items you already have that, simply put, should not have attention drawn away from them.  If you are in this situation that’s good news:  your selection process actually gets easier.  Basic glass coffee tables can usually be incorporated into a living room without the visual ‘weight.’  To say it another way: adding a very basic glass coffee table will add the utility you need while minimizing the aforementioned design gravity-effect. 

Finally, if steps one and two weren’t applicable, you’ve got step three:  start shopping!  Frankly, if you don’t have children or a main focal point already in the room you should understand and embrace the fact that a new coffee table will change the visual dynamic of your room.  Therefore, it is terribly important that you spend the time shopping around for what you like!  Start by Googling ‘coffee tables’ and browse different web sites until you find a broad style you like.  Then narrow your search by style, for example ‘modern coffee tables.’  These days there are literally hundreds of websites and showrooms displaying thousands of different coffee tables to choose from.  Do your research on-line and then, if you are more comfortable, visit your local retailer.  The most important point is to find a table you like the look of. After all, it’s going to be the first thing anyone sees walking into the room.