A coffee table pulls a living room together, giving you somewhere to put down a drink, a book or the remote. The trick is choosing one that is in proportion with your sofa and leaves room to move.
Size: aim for about two-thirds
A good rule of thumb is a coffee table about two-thirds the length of your sofa. For a corner or L-shaped sofa, base it on the main seating section and consider a round table, which is easier to walk around.
Height: match the seat
A coffee table usually looks and works best when it is about the same height as the sofa seat, or slightly lower. Most coffee tables are around 40 to 45cm high.
Placement: leave a comfortable gap
Leave about 40 to 45cm between the edge of the sofa and the coffee table. That is close enough to reach a drink, with enough room for legs. Keep main walkways around the table at least 75cm wide.
Choosing a shape
- Rectangular: suits long, straight sofas and gives the most surface area.
- Round: softens a room, works well with corner sofas and has no sharp corners for small children.
- Oval: the length of a rectangle with the easy flow of a round table.
- Nesting tables: flexible for small spaces and entertaining.
Storage and materials
A coffee table with storage helps keep remotes, magazines and chargers out of sight. Timber and timber-look finishes add warmth, black finishes create contrast, and glass tops keep small rooms feeling open.
Finish the look with side tables
If there is no room for a coffee table, or you want more surface space, add a side table at the end of the sofa. Browse our clearance coffee tables and side tables.
Shop clearance furniture in Melbourne
Mentone Furniture Clearance Centre sells brand-new excess stock and discontinued lines from high-end brands at up to 80% off RRP. Visit our Cheltenham showroom (Opposite Moorabbin DFO on Grange Road), open 7 days: Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 11am to 5pm. Prefer to shop online? We deliver from $40 Australia-wide, and you can pay with Afterpay or Zip. Questions? Call us on 03 8522 2115.
