Two-tier tables or tables with drawers?
When choosing a coffee table, you need to focus not only on individual preferences. It is also important to consider the purpose.
The two-tier product has a lower compartment in which you can store various things. All items stored there are clearly visible, so they can be quickly retrieved at any time. Elegance and lightness of design are the main advantages of this model compared to a table with drawers. However, the latter has its merits. Drawers help hide individual items from prying eyes. Some manufacturers may be equipped with a lock, which is especially important if there is a small child in the family. In other words, models with a closed storage system allow you to place the necessary items so that they are at hand and at the same time hidden.
A coffee table is an important part of the living room, one of the main accents in its interior. Its practicality and ease of further use will depend on how correctly its height is selected. We hope that the advice given in this article will help you choose the most suitable option.
Furniture Table
Description of coffee tables
Today, furniture stores offer visitors a huge assortment of coffee tables. The presented models differ in size, shape, design and design. Therefore, before going to the store, it is advisable to carefully study the information about the available types of these products. This will help you choose the most convenient option.
There are several types of coffee tables:
- Serving. It is distinguished by the presence of a removable tabletop, which can be used to display dishes in the kitchen for subsequent transfer to the living room. Outwardly it resembles an unusual large-sized tray.
- Transformer. If necessary, it can be disassembled to the dimensions required by the situation.
- Additional. This product is equipped with wheels. A similar table is used to transport food from the kitchen to the dining room. Its purchase is justified if you intend to frequently serve dinners for a large number of people.
- Decorative. This variety has a decorative function; as a result, this type of table is designed to play the role of one of the central interior elements.
Beautiful examples in the interior
After considering the standard sizes of a coffee table, it is worth talking about beautiful models. A fully transparent table on wheels will not seem massive even in a very cramped room. Due to its non-standard shape, it is equipped with two levels, which makes it possible to place a lot of things on it. To add an atmosphere of warmth and comfort to the room, you can purchase a model of a coffee table with an imitation of a burning flame. In addition, in the absence of a main source of lighting, this table can create a slightly mysterious and romantic atmosphere. But the real decoration for the living room will be a vintage table, which has a base made of solid wood, and the table top is transparent, and metallic ornate patterns can be seen through it. For true connoisseurs of classic style, you will definitely like a long and low table with carved legs. Massive pieces of furniture made from valuable wood species add respectability to the room. To learn how to make a coffee table with your own hands according to the established dimensions, watch the following video.
Benefits and Features
The main advantage of such furniture is functionality. It is ideal for a variety of activities - a festive dinner, a snack, working on a laptop, looking at magazines, solving crosswords. You can use it to write business letters, draw, sketch, and also hold a TV remote control, souvenirs, photo frames, books, etc. Its wide range of possibilities makes its presence in the apartment a must for most people.
Another advantage of such a product is maneuverability. If necessary, the coffee table can be easily moved to another place.
This piece of furniture must be in harmony with the design of the living room. Often this is what the emphasis is placed on in its design. Nowadays, transforming models with complex designs are most in demand. They are practical and easy to use. At the first request, it is easy to modify them, turning them into a full-fledged place for work, and move them to another room.
Classification by type
Currently, with the development of design ideas, you can see not only primitive tables, but also tables made of modern and sophisticated materials with an unusual design.
By type, coffee tables are divided into several types:
Practical: they have a fairly large, comfortable tabletop and various shelves to ensure maximum functionality.
Transformable: involve transforming a coffee table into an alternative furniture attribute - chairs, a sofa with wooden armrests, or a sleeping place.
Decorative: created mainly for interior decoration, therefore they are very rarely used directly for their intended purpose.
Tabletop materials
Various materials are suitable for making countertops: wood, glass, wood boards, plastic.
- Natural wood is distinguished by its high strength, durability, unique pattern and pleasant texture. The wooden surface is usually covered with several layers of varnish, which provides reliable protection from moisture and dirt. However, wood has an impressive price, is heavy, and requires maintaining certain indoor conditions.
- MDF exhibits similar performance characteristics and is cheaper. Fiberboards have a dense structure, are resistant to stress, and do not pose a danger to human health. Exterior finishing is done by lamination or veneering. The second method allows you to reliably imitate wood.
- Chipboard is used in the production of furniture products belonging to the budget segment. Fiberboards are less reliable, prone to deformation, and emit formaldehyde. For residential premises, you should choose models made from chipboard of class E0 or E. A protective coating made of laminate or veneer, a special edge at the end sections will prevent the evaporation of harmful components.
- Glass is completely harmless, has the ability to make space more free, and provides enormous opportunities in terms of decorative design. It can be colored, matte, tinted, decorated with sandblasting patterns or artistic painting. The material is easy to clean, but gets dirty quickly. The glass tabletop, despite its apparent weightlessness, is quite durable. However, it should be protected from impacts and contact with sharp objects.
- Due to its low weight, plastic will significantly facilitate the design. It is easy to care for and comes in a wide color palette. The disadvantages of the material are fragility, sensitivity to temperature and mechanical stress, and a tendency to burn out.
You can choose a product with a solid tabletop or give preference to a folding version.
The first option is considered the easiest to use. It is reliable and durable, but its dimensions are always the same.
Models of the second type are more functional and are available in several versions.
- The sliding tabletop turns from round to oval due to additional inserts.
- The folding version consists of two parts stacked on top of each other. It swings open like a book and is supported by legs. When assembled, it has a semicircular shape, and it can be moved with its flat side towards the wall.
- A structure containing several tabletops is transformed by rotation. However, the surfaces have different heights, so they are not as convenient to use.
Transformers
Separately, we can say about a special type of coffee tables - transformers. In an amazing and simple way, they turn into poufs or large tables for all guests. You can take them with you to the dacha or on long hikes. The popularity of transforming tables encouraged designers to make them foldable, of any materials and shapes.
Stylish transformable coffee table
Round white transformable coffee table
How to choose?
The choice of one or another model of this piece of furniture will be influenced by a huge number of factors.
Material of manufacture
Quite often, wood is used to make a table - a durable material of natural origin, which can be quite easily combined in color with other pieces of furniture in the room.
But wood models cannot be placed near a heating radiator or under the rays of the sun, as they can dry out or fade. The most budget-friendly option can be considered furniture with veneer cladding, and MDF or chipboard is used inside.
Glass models with beautiful legs, which are visible through a completely transparent tabletop, look stylish and original. But on these surfaces there will always be fingerprints and even traces of water, since glass tables will need to be wiped all the time. In addition, glass is a very fragile material that needs to be handled with care.
Stone models have a very unique and original color, for which they are highly valued. Such specimens can be considered as durable and strong as possible, but constantly moving them from place to place is very difficult. Not everyone likes the cold that the stone exudes, and accidentally spilled wine/coffee can leave unsightly stains. Tables made of genuine leather are perfect for richly furnished rooms. It is best to buy such models complete with other leather furniture so that there are no problems with choosing a color. Special care is important for such interior items, and it is important to place a mug of tea on a special hot stand. In addition to conventional materials, porcelain, non-traditional cork, palm fiber, ceramics and even paper are used to make such furniture.
Functionality
The role of the purchased coffee table for decorating the room will influence the choice of one model or another. If you plan to constantly move such a piece of furniture from one place to another, then it would be advisable to buy a model equipped with wheels. When using a table in accordance with its name, for storing books, magazines and other small items, you should pay attention to models with drawers or shelves. This makes it possible not to clutter the countertop and at the same time place all the necessary things at hand. The optimal size of a coffee table is different for everyone. If in the future a piece of furniture will be used for drawing by a child or as a footrest, then you should not choose tall models. When the table is placed between two armchairs or an armchair and a sofa, its height should not be greater than the height of the armrest of upholstered furniture.
When there is a light carpet in the living room or there are other easily soiled interior items, you can opt for a coffee table model with raised sides and edges. This solution helps to avoid the trouble of a spilled glass of wine or coffee, and also makes it possible to keep the room clean after lunchtime. For this, it will be convenient to use serving models equipped with a removable tabletop. When choosing a table for the hall, you should pay attention to ensure that the legs do not damage the floor covering. Rusty iron or old wood can ruin expensive parquet or carpet, and legs with soft tips are perfect for any floor covering.
Style direction
This parameter plays a significant role. The fact is that a table can not only harmoniously complement the room design, but also become its number one accent. For a classic design, you should choose solid models made of solid wood, which have a strict geometric shape, and they are also devoid of pretentious elements. The presence of this piece of furniture will put you in a business mood, as well as serious conversations. Living rooms in Art Nouveau style can be decorated with round tables that combine several materials, for example, glass and wood. As a stylish addition, it is worth decorating the table with openwork legs. For rooms furnished with the latest technology, you should choose weightless and sophisticated models with a thin metal frame and a transparent tabletop. The shape of this table should not be complicated in any way.
If during the process of arranging the hall the choice fell on one of the ethnic style trends, then the furniture items should be chosen to match steel. Thus, a coffee table in ethnic style is made from materials of natural origin. It can be untreated wood, fabric or bamboo. Catchy and bright decor in the form of a mosaic of shells or stones is also welcome. For the French style direction (Provence), specially aged models made of painted wood, soft pastel colors and legs with unusual patterns carved on them are perfect. Solid metal structures or models made from untreated wood are perfect for a rough and brutal loft. Sometimes it seems that this piece of furniture belongs outside, but this is the beauty of a loft. When you decide on the main parameters for the future furniture element, you can safely go shopping.
Please note that it is better not to save on purchases and opt for cheap options from no-name companies. It is best to buy pieces of furniture from popular furniture factories that have proven themselves over many years of existence.
If the table is too high
There are situations when parents realize that they made a mistake with the height, but they can no longer return the purchased product. What to do in this case? Should I decide something or leave everything as it is? Of course, the answer is the same - do something! If the table is too high, this can negatively affect the child’s posture and vision. You can also solve this problem in two ways:
- Footrest. Having determined how many centimeters the purchased table is higher than the required one, display the difference in the form of a footrest. You can buy it or make it yourself from any type of wood, cover it with fabric, insulate it with foam rubber, then the child’s feet will be warm even in severe winter.
- Shorten the legs. An effective way to help you get a table of the desired height. The only drawback is the irreversibility of the solution. Children grow quite quickly, and there is no guarantee that they will not have to return to their original height in a month or two.
