Coffee Table

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?