Nontraditional piece may serve as coffee table
: We have a very small family room. Along with a fireplace and sliding glass doors, we have a sofa, chair, ottoman and TV entertainment unit. There is not enough room for any coffee table that we have found and we could use a table for the extra chairs that we pull into the room when guests visit. What else can we use?
A: Seating areas need tables for you and your guests to put drinks on so that you are not trying to balance them on your laps. If you entertain regularly, table space is a priority.
Every seat should have a convenient and properly sized table. For a three-seat sofa or sectional, the coffee table would serve the middle seats. Then, you need side tables for the end seats, occasional chair and extra chairs.
Along with having enough room to place a drink and dessert plate, end tables need to have enough surface to accommodate a lamp and any accessories. The tables also need to be the correct height for the furniture piece they are sitting next to; a proper height is no more than 3 inches lower than the arm or higher than the arm.
With the limited space that you have, my first suggestion is to use nesting tables as either a coffee table or one of the side tables. I consider nesting tables to be one of the most versatile pieces of furniture as they can be stacked when you have limited space and separated for that extra space when it is needed.
Using them as a coffee table is different and unique. They can be stacked as one or expanded, either stepping down or placing the taller table in the middle with one pulled out on each side. They would meet your need for a coffee table and take into consideration your limited space.
You mentioned an ottoman; this could serve as additional table space when entertaining. Purchase a sturdy serving tray a little smaller than the ottoman. The heavier the tray the better, as it needs to be a stable base for your drinks.
Since you do not have a lot of room for a standard size coffee table, you can have a piece of glass cut any size. Then, you are unlimited with what you can use for the base. Depending upon your theme, some things you can use are plaster columns, books, clay pots, urns, a steamer trunk and, for a modern look, glass blocks.
For an extra narrow table, shorten the legs on a sofa table. Most sofa or console tables range in width from 12-21 inches, which is narrower than coffee tables, which usually range from 24-42 inches. A wooden bench also is a good choice for a narrow, low table.
Another option is to use two end tables as a coffee table. You will be able to find a variety of them in smaller sizes and it is OK for the coffee table to be at a taller height.
Although they are not as popular as they were years ago, decorative tray tables function wonderfully as end tables as they can be stored away until your guests arrive. The Internet and mail order catalogs will be your best source for them.
If you still can’t find what you’re looking for in traditional furniture stores, remember to check out unfinished furniture stores. Don’t be afraid to build exactly what you want and finish it to match your décor.
Gail Mayhugh, owner of GMJ Interiors, is a professional interior designer and author of a book on the subject. Questions may be sent by e-mail to: gail@gmjinteriors.com. Or, mail to: 7380 S. Eastern Ave., No. 124-272, Las Vegas, NV 89123. Her Web address is: www.GMJinteriors.com.