How to choose a table for the living room - the best combinations and rules for choosing a dining or coffee table (115 photos and videos)


In a small apartment it is difficult to find a place for a dining room; it is worth combining it with the living room and kitchen.
A small living room can be cozy and comfortable at the same time, even if you want a table in it. It is enough to choose the right furniture and arrange it in accordance with the best rules of interior design , choose colors, accessories and decorations, and you can create an interior that the owners of large, spacious living rooms will envy.

Below are many practical ideas on how to arrange a living room with a table. Here you will find tips on how to functionally arrange a table in a small living room, what furniture, colors and accessories to choose to optically enlarge the interior, and... how not to be deceived by the thought “surely everything will fit on this table.” Let our tips and ideas inspire you to design your living room in the best possible way.

What will you read about in the article?

  • How to properly place a table in the living room?
  • How to arrange a small living room with a table?
  • Furniture for a small living room
  • Modern small living room
  • Small salons - colors, patterns and accessories

What is important to consider when choosing a table for the living room

When choosing the design of tables for the living room, photos of which can inspire the implementation of different ideas, it is important to decide on the main types of designs.

Due to the wide variety of models offered, this choice can be difficult; it is important to focus on a number of factors, these include:

  • overall dimensions and the possibility of transforming tables;
  • geometric shape and materials used, fittings;
  • stylistic design and table design for the living room;
  • color scheme, presence of moving elements and parts;
  • main and additional functionality, intended purpose.

Dining and coffee tables, work and serving tables look differently in the interiors of living rooms furnished in a certain style.

They should fit perfectly into the created composition and be combined with the decor of the ceiling and walls, floor and textiles, and match the overall presentability of other furniture in the room.

Design options for a living room with a table

With proper organization of space, it is comfortable to be in it.


The style depends on how you place accents in the living room.

To create comfort in a small living room, designers offer several solutions:

  1. Replace bulky armchairs with compact chairs, complemented by decorative pillows.
  2. Place a corner sofa in a light color, and it will not visually clutter the room, but it can easily accommodate a large company.
  3. Install a transforming dining table that can also serve as a coffee table.
  4. Use ottomans for seating - the size of the furniture elements allows you to slide them under the dining table, which will save space.
  5. Equip corner shelves that add coziness and solve the problem of placing flowers and small items.
  6. Buy round woven carpets for the floor, which naturally attract attention and distract it from the size of the room.
  7. Use decorative elements with horizontal stripes in interior design - geometric patterns, herringbones and diamonds visually expand the room.
  8. Place rectangular posters on the wall, which will visually raise the ceilings.
  9. Hang a large mirror on one of the walls, which will create the illusion of additional space.


The design of a small living room with a dining table is formed through special approaches to zoning the room. They are focused on visually expanding space due to the special placement of furniture and decor elements that change human perception.


Before you go shopping for a table, you should measure the space you are willing to allocate for the dining area.

Furniture dimensions

Large and massive dining tables for the living room are suitable for a spacious room, but for small rooms it is better to stick to compact furniture.

When choosing sizes, it is important to consider the number of seats at the table, which will allow you to seat family members and invited guests and relatives.

Layout of all the furniture in a small living room

Proper zoning of a room will give it versatility and comfort. To do this, you need to separate the place of eating and rest. A table and chairs should be placed in the first zone, and a sofa and TV in the second.


When choosing a dining table, it is important to take into account the features of the overall interior of the room.

Additional Information! To save space, you can eliminate the sofa and replace it with chairs with ottomans.


The place where the whole family will gather to eat and have a pleasant time together should be well lit.
In some cases, the architectural features of the room allow you to organize zoning without additional effort. For example, if there is a bay window, you can place a dining table in it to designate the dining area.


It is acceptable to arrange the location near the windows. There is always enough light and you can admire the view from the window.

In its absence, the zones are allocated:

  • color and texture of finishing materials;
  • floor covering;
  • pieces of furniture;
  • multi-level ceiling or floor - if the height of the room allows;
  • lighting - chandeliers, sconces, point light sources.

Important! You should not place large chandeliers in small rooms. It is better to focus on natural light, and in the dark use ceiling lamps or small chandeliers, which provide functionality for changing the placement height.


Furniture stores provide a wide range of products made from different materials and designs.

Table shape

When designing a room, you can choose the ideal shape for the table, which differ in variability and possible design:

The rectangular table is perfect for daily use and formal serving for a holiday or before receiving guests.

Square models are compact and portable, easy to move and use for corner placement in a room.

The classic round table in the living room stands out among other models with its smooth silhouette, which is ideal for a romantic style.

Oval designs, without sharp corners, such elegant designs due to their oblong shape provide maximum capacity.


Figured models, embodying practicality and bright originality, fit perfectly into spacious rooms and emphasize the exclusivity of their design.

For small rooms, you can choose corner or triangular tables that fit perfectly into the interior and help to effectively use the free space.

How to make a computer desk?

After spending countless hours putting together an amazing workstation, you have a fancy desktop computer, multiple monitors, amazing speakers and... a surface that's too small to hold it all. Here's how to create your own ergonomic, personalized desk that displays all your tech, looks amazing, and doesn't break the bank.

There are an endless number of ways to build a modern computer desk. But for this particular project, there are four criteria that a computer workstation must meet:

  1. Large Table: The vast majority of tables you find in the store are not long enough.
  2. Cheap: Making something yourself instead of buying it almost always saves money—in this case, it cuts the price by hundreds of dollars. New, our materials cost about half the price of most store-bought tables of this size.
  3. Easy: You can make an entire table from a single sheet of plywood, but it requires a lot of tools. It is accessible to everyone, including those who do not have much experience working with wood.
  4. Ergonomics: Too many people ignore the difference between a “computer desk” and a “desk.” Over time, these differences can cause serious damage to your body. In this project I'm going to mix the sleek look of the latter with the ergonomics of the former to get the best of both worlds.

For such a large piece of furniture you will need a spacious work desk. And there are several slabs you can try.

You need to buy a ready-made countertop (made of veneer). Its large size and relative affordability made it incredibly popular. You can use the large door as a countertop.

The doors are very reasonably priced. The door will not be as polished around the edges and may require additional work to stain or paint. This is suitable for those who prefer an industrial look.

Look for a door with a solid core (not hollow) and a width that matches the ideal desk depth. If you have a circular saw, you can cut a large slab to size, but for the patient buyer this is not necessary.

We recommend reading:

  • Coffee table in the interior: review of beautiful models and new designs (115 photos)

  • Dressing table: 120 photos of design ideas and placement in the interior (new models)

  • Changing table for newborns - photos of the best models and examples of placement in the interior

You'll need four or five supports, the total number depending on whether you want to add a set of drawers to your workspace.

While most people would recommend standard table legs or industrial tube, you can choose Ikea OLOV legs. They're a little more expensive than regular Ikea table legs, but they're adjustable, meaning you can find the perfect height for you. This is very important for good ergonomics and is worth the extra cost.

No workspace is complete without storage space. You can buy a ready-made filing cabinet or a set of drawers that fit the ideal height of your desk. You can use the cabinet as one of the legs.

Turn the tabletop upside down and plan the design starting with the legs: one leg at each of the four corners and a fifth at the center of the back edge for support. If you plan to install this filing cabinet, it will replace one of those front legs.

Mark and drill several pilot holes for the legs. This is very important: if you just start screwing into the surface, you can split the wood. Attach everything, including the leg brackets, except the legs themselves. Attach the legs when the table is not in its final position.

Transformation abilities

To provide additional seating at the table, you can use a transformable model in your living room arrangement.

Folding and sliding structures have become widespread due to their compact size and ability to save free space when folded.

Material of manufacture

A regular or transformable table for a living room can be made from a variety of materials, among which wood is especially popular.

Natural and environmentally friendly wood and its high-quality derivatives, such as MDF, chipboard and veneered boards, retain the warmth and texture of solid wood.

Table models that are made from several materials deserve special attention.

This can be a combination of a wooden or metal frame with countertops made of natural or artificial stone, tempered glass and specially treated metal.

Model design

A writing or coffee table for a living room can differ in different designs and correspond to certain styles.

When choosing a suitable model, it is important to consider its compliance with the concept of decorating the room and compatibility with other furniture, decoration and accessories.

Color and legs, wheels

The color scheme of the table can be varied, but on the advice of the designers it is better to choose it in accordance with the design idea.

Functional tables should maximally emphasize the style and concept of the room, models on wheels can be easily moved around the room, and stationary tables should be as stable as possible.

To make a living room with a computer desk look presentable and stylish, you must first zone the space of the room.

To highlight a dining or work area, different lighting systems, a combination of colors, or structures such as partitions and shelving are used.

Briefly about the main thing

The table is an underrated kitchen detail. In everyday worries, no attention is paid to its appearance, which is why the tabletop looks boring. The situation can be corrected in different ways. A simple way is to decorate the table with decorative elements. Flowers, candles, fruits, and exclusive combinations of items are used.

Dramatic changes await those who decide to restore an old table and give it a new sound. The easiest way is to paint the furniture in a suitable color; it won’t take much time and will help refresh the interior with minimal investment. The technique of craquelure and decoupage, hand painting or stenciling will help to update the table. If there are tiles or mosaics left in the house after renovation, they can also be used to decorate the countertops.

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