When many people are in the market for a new coffee table, they tend to think of wood or glass as their main options.  An alternative to the more commonly found wooden or glass coffee tables is a wrought iron version.

Wrought iron furniture is furniture made by bending, shaping, and welding wrought iron. You may think of wrought iron in terms of patio furniture, but there is no reason why you shouldn’t incorporate this beautiful material into your home.  Strong and sturdy, while simultaneously delicate and beautiful, wrought iron can be a fabulous addition to the interior of your  home.  You don’t have to worry about chipping like you do with wood or the breakability factor you have with glass.  Also,  wrought iron is not as traditional as a mission-style or other typical wooden tables but neither is it as contemporary as many of the glass tables available in the marketplace. It can look great and fit in well wit with a number of different types of decor.  You will also find a number of other home decor items made from wrought iron including bakers racks and planters.  These items may be a good complement to your wrought iron coffee table and tie the room together.

A beautiful wrought iron coffee table can really accent your living room while giving you the perfect spot to rest your beverage of choice,  a good novel, or even your tired, aching feet? There are a lot of varieties out there within the wrought iron category, and finding the right size and shape is the most important factor for you to be satisfied with your selection.

Size plays an important role when it comes to coffee tables. You certainly don’t want your wrought iron coffee table to be too large for your room. The length of the table should be long enough to allow anyone seated on your couch to be able to reach the table.  A good general rule of thumb is that you should look for a table that is about 2/3 times the length of your sofa. Width is also a factor, and you should allow about 18 inches around each side of the table and also between the sofa and table. When you consider height, a general, yet good rule is that you should look for a table that is about the same height as your sofa or even one or two inches below than your sofa. Each of these are all important factors to consider when you  are looking for your perfect wrought iron coffee table.

Another great idea is slate coffee tables.

So you have decided to buy a coffee table.

First consideration is size. Before even going to a store, think about proportion: You don’t want a table that completely dwarfs its surroundings or the other way around. Whatever shape you choose, look for a table that is close to the same height as your sofa’s seat. That will create a nice horizontal line that helps pull the room together.

As the saying goes, form follows function — or at least that’s how it should be.  So when you decide which table to purchase,  ask yourself how it will be used.  Will it contain your magazine collection? Will it be your central serving spot at gatherings? Will it be a showcase for your favorite collectibles? If you love to entertain, consider a round or elliptical piece, where guests will naturally gather around.  If you need storage, think  about lift tops, Mission tables, or tables with drawers.  Some glass models even make sleek showcases for decorative items, protecting them from dust.

If you’re looking for a bargain, you might be tempted to buy a table made of particleboard covered in a veneer. But with regular to heavy use, that kind of table will probably scratch and stain or the veneer may peel. Better choices would be treated wicker, reed, or bamboo. Solid wood is also recommended for its versatility and durability. There are a million styles to choose from ranging from $60 for unfinished birch to upwards of $2,000 for a white oak beauty that will last for ages.  Also long lasting and good purchases, although not as warm looking, would be glass or molded acrylic (e.g., Lucite, Plexiglas) tables. These help create the illusion of space and run anywhere from $150 to thousands of dollars for more contemporary collectors’ items.  When it comes right down to it, a coffee table can be made of almost anything — copper, cork, driftwood, aluminum  or even a recycled antique door. The most important factor is that it suits your taste.

Notes:   Although the table is named after coffee,  a coffee table should not be exposed to moisture. Unsealed wood, especially, is particularly vulnerable, but almost any surface may develop water rings if a cup is left sitting out on it for too long.  Coasters are important for keeping your table in good condition.

To make your table even more versatile, try to find one that has extra leaves that pull up on the sides.  That way, each one can add to the center square by holding a book,  collectible item, TV remote, etc.  Your  guests can also use the leaves to rest their plates.

If you’re in the market for a new coffee table, you may have noticed that they come in a large variety of shapes, sizes, quality, texture, designs, and colors.  Regardless of your particular style or home design, there is a coffee table that will be perfect for your home or individual room.  Because these tables are both practical, decorative, and stylish, there’s no reason not to have one or more of them.

Since there are so many different types of coffee tables out there to select from, it can become a bit overwhelming trying to pick which one is the perfect fit for your individual room or house.  In particular, one question you may be faced with is “Which is better: wood or glass”.

The most simple answer is: How about both? You may have 2 living areas that could use a coffee table and there’s no reason why a glass coffee table  and a wooden coffee table can’t coexist in the same house.  However, I do recognize that space and budget are concerns and you may only be in the market for 1 table. So you’re faced with a decision.

Wood coffee tables like an oak coffee table are great pieces to own.  Frequently they have a more rustic look and go well with décor that has a neutral or earthy tone. You will have to concern yourself with messing up the stain or paint on these and from time to time they may chip.  One downside to a wooden coffee table is that if you break it you have to buy a whole new table. With a glass table, you can just get a new piece of  glass for the top.

Glass coffee tables are also excellent pieces of furniture. They have a more clean and refined look and because you can clean the glass with a glass cleaner,  you don’t have to worry about messing up the table by forgetting to use a coaster with your drink.  But even though they look great,  they aren’t the sturdiest.  A glass coffee table can break  if you hit it too hard,  place your drink down too heavily, or set down a plate that is too hot. That’s definitely a risk you take for the clean, streamlined look of a glass coffee table.

In the end, both coffee tables are great and have their place in the home.   I rarely meet a coffee table I don’t like. THe most important thing is to choose the one that will best complements the look and feel of the room you plan to put it in and your home as a whole.

What is a coffee table?

It is the obvious place for someone to put their drinks (coffee or otherwise).  If you have been in a living room without a coffee table, you have probably realized the importance of the coffee table.

A coffee table may be placed  in front of a sofa. A smaller coffee table, which some refer to as an end table, is often found next to chairs or on either end of a sofa.

A coffee table will typically indicate an individual’s style of decor.  The most traditional coffee table is rectangular, features four legs and is about two feet off of the ground.  Traditional end tables are square,  although you will find lower cost end tables that are round and covered in a cloth.

Many coffee tables are made from wood.  You will find these traditional tables in many homes.  Some of them have variations and may include decoration either on the legs or the corners.  Some may have drawers for storage, while others may have a shelf underneath to store magazines or books  or toys.

Other coffee tables are more “art deco” in style.  These tables are frequently made of other materials like metal and can be different shapes like round or oval. Some may have a glass plate inside the structure. One type is made entirely of glass.

Some craftsmen make coffee tables in their shops from metal or wood. Arts and crafts shows across the nation feature these types of hand-crafted items.

While many homes feature the traditional style tables, there are many more unusual types versions. I’ve seen an inflatable Dallas Cowboys coffee table. And another one was an actual aquarium, with fish swimming in the tank and a top perfect for holding drinks.

A coffee table can be bought in a set or by itself.  A coffee table set will include the traditional coffee table that sits in front of a couch along with two matching end tables.

Coffee tables can be purchased at a variety of prices.  Traditional furniture stores carry an assortment of coffee tables, and many discount retailers also sell coffee tables. Some of these may require assembly and may not be made of a quality, durable wood or metal.  These coffee tables are great for people on a budget or college kids,  however.

Regardless of your personal style, budget or taste, a local craftsman, online auction or retail furniture store will likely have a coffee table to meet your needs, whether it be exotic, more, traditional or strictly ornamental. The centerpiece to your living room is the coffee table so make sure you pick the right one for you!

Most everyone is familiar with the term “coffee table books”.  These are books that are placed on a coffee table for decor or to inspire conversation.  How many pieces of furniture inspire a whole category of books?

Coffee table books tend to be oversized and heavy since the books primarily remain in their position, there is no great need for them to be easily portable.  Generally, their subject matter is confined to nonfiction, and often the subject matter is visual or related to art.  Pages often consist mostly of illustrations and photographs, often accompanied by  small blocks of text, or captions versus long sections of prose.  Since these types of books are targeted to those who might peruse the book up for a light read (or just a look), often the accompanying analysis within is of a more simplistic nature than some other books on the subject may be.   Because of this connotation, the term “coffee table book” may be used negatively to indicate a book that takes a more casual, laymans approach to the subject.

David R. Brower is often given credit for inventing the modern “coffee table book”. While David served as the executive director of the Sierra Club, he came up with an idea for a series of books combining photographs of nature and writings about nature, with, in his words, “a page size big enough to carry a given image’s dynamic. The eye must be required to move about within the boundaries of the image, not encompass it all in one glance.”  The first of these coffee table books was  “This is the American Earth”, containing photographs by Ansel Adams among others with text by Nancy Newhall. This book was published in 1960 and the series became known as the “Exhibit Format” series.  Twenty titles were published eventually.

Coffee table books have their place in many areas of popular culture.  In the 1980s, the British comedy duo of Smith and Jones came out with The lavishly-tooled Smith and Jones Coffee Table Book^, the cover being designed to appear as if it could double as a coffee table. The fifth season of the Seinfeld included a story involving Kramer wanting to write a coffee table book actually about coffee tables. His idea was for the book to have legs built into the back,and coasters built into the front, so the book itself could become a coffee table.

Looking for a new table for your coffee table book?