A coffee table is one of the essential pieces of living room furniture. It allows you to showcase your collection of artworks, books, use it as a temporary desk, as well as to offer a place to respite your feet. A coffee table is ideal for the living room because of its versatility in terms of design and style.
There are many types and styles of coffee tables, and it is up to you to choose the one that will perfectly accentuate the objects you place on it – books, flowers, artworks, sculptures, and so on.
Besides just deciding the type of coffee table for your home, you also need to understand the measurement. So please take out your measuring tape and record the measurements of your sofa and compare it with the coffee table of your choice.
What is the average size of a coffee table?
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Coffee tables are perhaps the most versatile pieces of living room furniture, and with all the uses that they can be put into, it may be tricky to figure out the perfect height for your home.
Ideally, the average height of a coffee table should be between 16 and 18 inches. This way, an average-size person can place an object on it without having to bend their back or overstretching their arms to access the tabletop.
But the style, aesthetic treatment, material, and design of the coffee table will most likely determine its height as well as length and width.
Can a coffee table be higher than a sofa?
The harmony of the room is one of the best determining factors when getting new furniture. The latest piece should match seamlessly with the style of the existing piece- and height-wise.
Most often, the coffee table will be shorter than the sofa. However, sometimes you may have a small sofa.
It is usual for a coffee table to be higher than the sofa sometimes.
When the coffee table should be taller than the sofa
We have already seen the first instance when the coffee table should be taller than the sofa – when your sofa is short. Generally, it will be impossible to find a coffee table that is shorter than the sofa.
Another instance when you should have a taller coffee table than your sofa is if you intend to entertain more often. When you have a taller coffee table, it becomes easier for people in your gathering to reach the surface to place drinks and food. You can also have a taller coffee table if you intend to use it to eat as it allows easy access to your food.
You should also have a taller coffee table if you have tiny, opportunistic pets that can snatch things off the table and create a mess.
What is the best height of the coffee table to the sofa?
Ideally, you should have a coffee table that is the same height as your sofa cushions or if not, at least within a few inches of that height.
When choosing a taller coffee table than your sofa, make sure it is within at least four inches of the height of the cushions. A taller coffee table than the seat cushions will make it look like you have a dining table in your living room.
How to position a coffee table to the sofa
Make sure you leave at least 12 inches of floor space between the surrounding seating arrangement and the coffee table. This will enable everyone using the room to hop off quickly and on the sofa as well as bounce their legs while seated.