The Stylish Coffee Table Alternative Nate Berkus Recommends For A Kid-Friendly Space

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Parents often take the time to make their home kid-friendly so that the space is safe for their little ones. This is necessary because certain home decor pieces are a safety hazard to children. From sharp corners to choking hazards, there's a lot to be mindful of. Coffee tables are one major area of concern when it comes to designing a kid-friendly space. Little ones just learning how to walk or crawl can easily bump into the table's sharp corners. Luckily, HGTV star Nate Berkus took to Instagram to reveal a genius coffee table alternative that's a whole lot safer.

"Soft corners make all the difference," Berkus wrote as part of a carousel post. "When our kids were really young, we used an ottoman as a coffee table for when they were just learning to walk. Even a rectangular table can work, as long as the edges are rounded." An ottoman with soft corners is the perfect kid-friendly alternative to a coffee table because it can serve the safe purpose of the hard furniture piece without you having to sacrifice visual appeal. You should be able to find an ottoman that spruces up your living space beautifully. You can then stack decor on it or set a cup down, just as you would with a table. However, you don't have to stress over sharp edges that could harm a child.

If you plan to use an ottoman as a kid-friendly alternative to replace a coffee table, there are a few design features to avoid. A fluffy, plush ottoman is not ideal because you will not be able to place items on top of it as you would with a coffee table. Instead, consider opting for an ottoman with a flat top, such as the SONGMICS MAZIE Ottoman. Alternatively, if you already have a fluffy ottoman on hand, you can create a flat surface by placing a chic serving tray on top. The XIMISISE Round Wood Tray is a great pick that comes in a few different size options, which will allow you to select the right size for your ottoman. It's also round and doesn't feature sharp edges, so it's super kid-friendly.

As Nate Berkus mentioned, you could also opt for a coffee table with rounded corners as a safe alternative to the traditional design. This is the perfect option if you just aren't a fan of the ottoman coffee table recommendation. The ORRD Fluted Coffee Table is a great example of this design. It features an oval shape free of sharp corners that could harm a child. If you aren't a fan of the aforementioned options and would prefer to make use of a coffee table with sharp corners you already own, you do have to option to simply install a product like the Osareny Table Corner Protectors so that they are no longer a safety hazard.