Coffee end table: Innovative design, extraordinary function

Decorating or revamping a living room entails the use of pieces of furniture that are appealing in looks, utilize the available space and will serve the intended purpose. Coffee end tables are one such design element that serves to enhance the elegance of your living room while simultaneously accenting the other furnishings. These tables are designed for providing both functionality and aesthetics. As the name explicitly suggests these tables are meant for placing at the end of a couch or sofa thus providing a convenient place for the resting of things like coffee mugs, books or any item you might bring into the living room. These tables can also be used as accent pieces wherein you can decorate them with different kinds of accessories.

What are the types of coffee end tables?

Coffee end tables are classified according to the materials that have been used in crafting them. At vitalwares.ca, these end tables are available in varieties that appeal to individual stylistic sensibilities.

• Wood tables: The kind of wood that is used in the constructing of coffee end tables is either hardwood or softwood. Wooden tables are great for exuding the classical look and usually go with homes decorated around a rustic theme. Wood tables also have the advantage of blending in with most styles. At vitalwares.ca, these tables come constructed from woods like birch, pine, walnut, maple and cherry.

• Glass tables:Contemporary decors are usually centered on elements like steel and glass because of the sleek and smooth looks associated with them. Coffee end tables with a glass top and a wooden or metal finish are the perfect additions to contemporary settings. Some models of coffee tables on offer at vital wares are made entirely of glass thus lending them a dainty yet sophisticated look. The benefit of glass coffee tables are that they are fairly easy to clean. The occasional spill can be taken care of simply with the aid of a damp sponge or cloth. It would be worthwhile to buy glass coffee tables that are made of treated, tapered or oxidized glass.

• Stone coffee end tables: These types of tables generally have a top that is made of stones like granite, marble or slate. The base of the table is made of metal.

• Metal end tables: Some end tables are made entirely of metal while some others are part metal in construction. The metals used are usually brass or iron. The element of metal can be incorporated into all the types of coffee end tables whether it is wood, stone or glass.

• Themed tables: At vital wares, coffee end tables are also available with varied themes etched into them. These could be artistic designs, animal designs or even oriental or African themes.

• Shaped end tables: These end tables are available in shapes other than the conventional squared ones. You can choose from among rectangular, oval and round shaped tables when you come shopping at vital wares.

• Coffee end tables with storage options: Some versions of these end tables on offer at vital wares come with space allocated to storage of various items. This could be in the form of a pull-out drawer or a space that is built beneath the end table. This space can be used for the storage of magazines, books and newspapers.

How do I choose the right coffee end tables?

The right end table has a major impact on the factors of design and utility. Your living room should essentially be a place that is steeped in aesthetics as well as functionality. Choosing the right end table thus becomes one of your chief concerns. A few important factors will help in guiding you and making a choice that confirms to the above mentioned notions. Consequently you will have a living room that looks striking and functions well.

• Style: When you are choosing a coffee end table at vital wares, it is vital to consider the kind of style that you want to make use of. Are you going for a modern and contemporary look that would promote a minimalist design? Minimalism is the mantra of the contemporary decorator. This essentially means avoiding the use of unnecessary pieces of furniture thus cutting out on mindless clutter. In a minimalist design you must seek to place coffee end tables into the smallest space possible. The end table itself will need to be decorated in a minimal style. In a contemporary setting these end tables serve as an accent piece. In case you want to go for an indulgent style rather than the minimalistic version, go for coffee end tables that are designs per se. You could go for models that have elaborate carvings or the ones that are themed. This way these end tables maintain a conspicuous presence in the overall design of the living room.

• Purpose:These tables are usually used for the purpose of completing a seating arrangement and to provide a place for the resting of a glass or book. Consider if you want to use the table as an accent piece or a functional piece. For functionality you need to place them within easy reach of the main pieces of furniture like a sofa or couch. Such end tables need to have a fair amount of counter space. A coffee end table that serves as an accent piece need not be too large in size since a little lamp or a vase will occupy only a limited amount of space.

• Proportion of the coffee end tables: The purpose of an end table is not to engulf the furniture that it flanks. Conversely it should also not be suffocated by the accompanying piece of furniture. If you are grouping the coffee tables with chief furniture like an expansive couch or sofa, the depth of the end table should be relative to the depth of the arm of the sofa or couch. Thus the factor of proportionality is maintained in your living room. For instance if your seating option is large, go for coffee end tables that are proportionately sized. Similarly if the chair of sofa is petite in nature, go for end tables with small yet pronounced and delicate lines.

• Height of the end table: Though there is no rule that dictates a rigid scale of height for the end table, you will still need to take the height of the sofa arm into account. The bottom line is that your guest should not have to stretch to set down or retrieve something from the end table.

• Shape: You can deviate from conventional norms and choose to go for oval or round shaped coffee end tables. This will serve to give a novel look to your interior space. The shape of the furnishings should also play a role in determining the shape of the end table. For example if the sofa or couch is rounded or curved in shape, go for round shaped end tables. On the other hand chairs or sofas with straight geometric lines will call for the use of square or rectangular end tables. These uniquely shaped end tables are great attention seekers and your guests are certain to be impressed by your decorating efforts.

• Color: The color of coffee end tables need not essentially be in complete harmony with each other. But ensure that you choose different hues of the same color. A color that stands out too much will only create a jarring impact. So if one of the coffee end tables is in a shade of purple cherry, choose the next side table in a lesser or more pronounced shade of cherry.

• Match the decor: The end table that you choose must serve to be a part of the unified design element without creating a rift in the pattern. For instance a glass end table will look out of place in a rustic setting. A wooden end table would look more appropriate in such a theme. Similarly use glass or metallic end tables to lay emphasis on a modern or contemporary theme.

What are the various uses of coffee end tables?

You can use your imagination and creativity to employ the end table in ways that defy the conventional approach. You can gloat over the way your interior space becomes an artistic expression of your unbridled talent.

• During the festive season you can put an end table at the front door and accessorize using holiday decorations or little figurines to depict the nativity scene. During other times you can decorate the side table using potted plants or artificial silk flowers. Alternately you can place a side table inside the front door to hold the things that you might require when you are heading out of the house. This could include keys, Sunglasses, outgoing mail etc.

• If you have a prominent piece of artwork or a mirror that is hanging in the foyer, place an end table beneath it. This will provide a certain focus to the hanging artwork and will prevent it from looking as if it is hanging in space.

• If there is a conversation area in some part of your home, use these end tables for the purpose of placing books, drinks or a bowl of finger food.

• In case you have coffee tables with storage space, it can double as a handy book case. If you are the owner of plenty of cookbooks use these tables in the kitchen to store the books. This will also help you in accessing the recipes in a jiffy. These types of end tables can also be used in the bathroom. Keep one next to the bathtub and stack it with latest issues of your favorite magazines or romantic paperbacks. Next time you are lounging in the tub just reach across for a great read. You could also use these end tables in the bathroom for storing towels and toiletries. Another use for storage equipped end tables would be in an outdoor area like the patio. In case you have an outdoor bar, use the storage space for placing bar equipment while the counter space can be used to display the varieties of drinks that you possess. Another possible use could be in the laundry room where the storage space can be utilized to hold detergent, stain removers and dryer sheets.

• In case if you have a coffee end table that is past its prime and does not really do justice to the elegance of your living room, simply move it into the garage. The additional space can be used for placing gardening tools and the things that will have to eventually make their way into your car.

• If you have a walk in closet that requires a bit of ordered arrangement, consider the use of a coffee end table. This will provide a space for the organized placing of things like jewelry, wallets and the other things that accompany you on a routine basis.