Coffee Tables

The Perfect Hosts’ Guide To Buying Coffee Tables Online

Entertaining family and guests is an Indian tradition. Having neighbours drop by often or having friends and family come over regularly is part of the tapestry of our daily lives. And as soon as everyone saunters in, they head straight for our living rooms. Then comes the parade of chai and samosas. So finding the perfect coffee table that works for your space is of prime importance.

Ever wondered about the origins of the coffee table? It made its first appearance circa 1650s when coffee houses became popular in London. It was meant to be a place where one could place their hot cups of beverage between sips. Only in the 1938 was a formal definition of a coffee table available, as a “low wide table used before a sofa or couch.” The modern coffee table serves the same purpose as the ones used in the early days. However, today there are more designs available and it has become an extension of one’s personality. From quirky foosballs coffee tables to more practical ones, buying a coffee table online is not to be taken lightly.

At Urban Ladder, we have an eclectic range for those who want to buy a coffee table online. Whether you want a multitasking table or a simple, sleek one, the coffee table price will vary based on what you choose. Buying a coffee table online in India, requires careful scrutiny. We guarantee durability, high quality and modern finishing. See also our range of teapoy.

Getting the theme right for the perfect coffee table

The coffee table design you select depends on your living room décor. If it is modern, your coffee table ideally should have a modern finishing. You can also mix and match your furniture, by putting an extremely modern coffee table in a traditional-designed living room. Coffee table designs for the living room are highly individualistic and can be used to represent a quirky side of you. Sofas are more functional and don’t often make a statement. However, designer coffee tables in India give you a plethora of choices to find one that could become a topic of conversation when friends come over.

At Urban Ladder we have the latest coffee table designs. For example, we have one that contains a display feature beneath glass. You could easily use this coffee table to arrange all those fabulous shells you picked up from the beach at Bali. Quirky and a topic of conversation. Speaking of quirky, our coffee tables perfectly complement our accent chairs.

Modern coffee table designs are ones with clean precise lines. They may come in multiple shapes and sizes but overall the design will be light and clean. They may also incorporate other materials like glass, stainless steel and more. Modern coffee table designs may also include storage options or additional features.

Simple coffee table designs are usually single-layered and don’t offer additional features, such as storage options. They usually contain clean lines and have a regular shape. Simple coffee tables are easily adaptable to any décor and highly versatile.

Do you need a wooden coffee table?

While coffee tables can be of any material, most often they are made of wood or a combination of wood, steel, and/or glass. What material you select for your coffee table depends entirely on what the rest of your furniture is made from. If you have mostly wood furniture, it is likely that you need a solid wood coffee table.

A wooden coffee table carries a certain elegant style irrespective of the design. Wood tends to elevate the look at any room, especially wood that is treated with a dark walnut or mahogany finish. A wooden coffee table is durable, sophisticated, rich in appearance, and yet understated. Wooden coffee table designs are regal and universal in appeal. Some of our wooden coffee tables even come with their own side tables in the same designs.

No less regal is the combination of wood and metal. Metal adds a sense of ‘lightness’ to wooden coffee table designs. Most of these modern wooden coffee tables have their base in metal and with the top made of wood. Glass and wood is also extremely charming and elegant. Here, most often the base is made of wood while glass forms the top. Avoid buying glass if there are children or pets in the family.

What coffee table shape should you buy?

Purists define coffee tables as having a round or circular shape while cocktail tables are square or rectangular. But in modern parlance, the terms are used interchangeably and coffee tables have become the more popular word.

The shape you choose for a coffee table is determined by the amount of space you have in the room and the layout of your furniture. Ideally coffee tables need a little less than two feet gap around the entire table for people to navigate. The purpose of a coffee table is for its contents to be within reach of the occupants of the sofas and chairs around it.

A round coffee table makes sense if there are children in the house as it has no sharp edges. Depending on the size, a round wood coffee table also makes sense if the seating arrangement is more intimate as it enables the contents of the coffee table to be within everyone’s reach.
A square coffee table is great for large seating configurations with long sectionals or sofas. Square coffee table designs are aesthetically pleasing to the eye because of its shape but rarely do rooms allow for a large square space. Most often the seating arrangement will allow for a round or rectangular shaped coffee table.
A rectangle coffee table works well in small spaces. The contents of the coffee table are easily accessible to all occupants and it is easy to manoeuvre around it. Modern rectangular coffee tables make good use of space and even allow for additional furniture to be placed in the room, such as computer tables and chairs.

What is the perfect sized coffee table you should buy?

Ideally, a coffee table size should not exceed two-thirds of your sofa’s total length and should be the same height as your sofa or lower. However, low coffee tables are not ideal for the elderly or the injured. In fact, low seating is extremely difficult for older people and those with knee trouble. It may be difficult for an elderly person to reach too far with a cup and saucer as they may misjudge the table location. It makes sense to keep a few side tables for them to have easier access.

Small coffee tables are great when the seating arrangement is intimate or if there is not enough space. It is also great for families with kids because kids need space to play. Large coffee tables are worthwhile because of the convenience it offers, if there is adequate space available. Rooms look cramped when there is too many furniture elements in a single space. There needs to be ‘blank space’ or empty space for the room to breathe. Be careful when buying a coffee table for small spaces because you don’t want to overcrowd the room by a table that is much too large for the available space.

Do you need a coffee table with storage features?

To multitask or not to multitask, that is the question. Modern homes have limited space and you need smart furniture that does a little more than what it was made for. For example, a dining table that is made for four people but can extend out to fit eight, is a boon for modern families. Similarly, coffee tables with storage are a great find.

There are multiple varieties of coffee table designs with storage. There’s one with a simple rack for newspapers or magazines below the top surface. There are others that are designer coffee tables with storage that have a little drawer that pulls out where you can display cute mementos and curio items. Then there are others with compartmentalized shelving for books and mementos. Whatever you choose to go with, make sure you buy a coffee table with storage that is easy to keep dust-free. Being part of the living room furniture, the coffee table is in a high visibility zone. It is not easy keeping a wooden coffee table with storage clean.

Keep these top factors in mind when you buy a coffee table with storage online and you should be fun. Happy shopping!