The Simple Hack You Should Always Use To Pick Out The Best Coffee Table

Picking out furniture is never easy. Not only do you have to choose one that is functional and comfortable to use, but it needs to fit the space in your home, match the rest of your furniture, and look good. There's a lot to keep in mind when shopping around. If you're feeling overwhelmed trying to make sure you get the perfect coffee table, there is a nice and easy method to keep track of the most important parts of fitting it into your home. There are three particular things you should keep in mind whenever looking to buy a coffee table. They are called the three S's: size, space, and shape. If you can remember these things, then you can easily find a coffee table to match your home. 

First is space, and this is more about ensuring you have enough room in your home to fit your coffee table. To make sure you don't bump anything, you want it to be placed around 16 inches from any seats, including couches and chairs. This gives everyone enough space to get up without any uncomfortable or awkward scooching. You have a bit of wiggle room with the space, but try to stay within 14 to 18 inches. This gives you that area to move around, but you can still reach the table while sitting comfortably.

For size, you want something that fits in your living room well. Generally, the rule of thumb is to stay somewhere between a 1/2 to 2/3 the length of your sofa. That way, it's large enough for everyone to reach it without it dominating the space. This tip is easy to follow for a basic sofa, but it's slightly different with chaises and L-shaped couches. Thankfully, those rules are pretty simple as well. 

When sizing your coffee table, ignore the chaise entirely and focus on just the length of the horizontal seats. For L-shaped sectionals, measure only one side. If the two sides are drastically different in length, try to find a table that fits within the 1/2- to 2/3-window for both, if possible. These rules apply to any shape of coffee table you're looking to buy. This may leave you using a pretty small piece of furniture, but thankfully, you can add some dimension with these tips on how to decorate a coffee table.

In addition to the width and length of your coffee table, you should also think about the height. There are a few guidelines about this as well. It should be around the same level as the seat of your couch. In general, you don't want to go more than 3 inches below the top of the seat, or 1 inch above.

The last S is shape. While you can go with any shape, there are some guidelines to help you pick something that really fits. If you only have a little space in your living room between your walls and couch, a circular coffee table prevents the area from feeling too cramped. If you have a lot of space that otherwise feels kind of empty, a big square coffee table can help you to make the most of the dead area. For a longer or narrower room, a rectangular coffee table is a great choice. These are just basic shapes, though. If you're trying to find creative ideas for a unique coffee table, then you can play around with the design and see what works best in your home.

While not apart of the three S's, you can also consider the table's style. Decide on the pattern, color, and material. There are a lot of choices, including stone, glass, metal, wood, marble, and upholstered designs. You can even use a coffee table to make a statement. This is done by choosing materials and colors that contrast with the rest of your room. Further, once you buy your coffee table, the next step is to decorate it. The rules for that can be just as much of a headache as picking out the furniture in the first place, but there are ways to add decor to a coffee table without it looking cluttered – even if it's small.