Living Room Tables for the Bits Your Sofa Can't Hold
Coffee cups, remotes, books you're pretending to read, the odd glass of whatever you're not admitting to that didn't quite make it back to the kitchen. Living room tables do a lot of quiet work. Getting the right one, or the right combination, makes the difference between a room that functions and one that just looks like it might.
Coffee tables sit in front of your sofa and take the most attention. Side tables work around you, next to an armchair, at the end of a sofa, wherever you need a surface within arm's reach. Console tables add a surface without bulk, useful behind a sofa or against a wall when floor space is tight.
If storage is the priority, storage coffee tables sit within the coffee tables range. Lift up tops, hidden compartments, same footprint as a standard table.
All three can work together or independently. No pressure to buy everything at once, start with what you're actually missing for your requirements.
Living Room Tables
Living Room Tables for the Bits Your Sofa Can't Hold
Coffee cups, remotes, books you're pretending to read, the odd glass of whatever you're not admitting to that didn't quite make it back to the kitchen. Living room tables do a lot of quiet work. Getting the right one, or the right combination, makes the difference between a room that functions and one that just looks like it might.
Coffee tables sit in front of your sofa and take the most attention. Side tables work around you, next to an armchair, at the end of a sofa, wherever you need a surface within arm's reach. Console tables add a surface without bulk, useful behind a sofa or against a wall when floor space is tight.
If storage is the priority, storage coffee tables sit within the coffee tables range. Lift up tops, hidden compartments, same footprint as a standard table.
All three can work together or independently. No pressure to buy everything at once, start with what you're actually missing for your requirements.
Sort
×
Sort
Previous
Living Room Table Questions
What's the difference between a coffee table, side table and console table?
Coffee tables sit in front of your sofa. They're the lowest, widest, and most visible of the three. Built for central use: drinks, remotes, books, feet (occasionally).
Side tables are smaller and taller, designed to sit beside a chair or at the end of a sofa. Height matters here, you want the surface level with or just below your sofa armrest so drinks and phones are within reach without leaning.
Console tables are narrow and tall, designed to sit against a wall or behind a sofa without jutting into the room. More surface than storage, though many have drawers. Useful when you need a surface but can't spare the floor space a coffee table would take.
Do I need a coffee table, or will a side table do?
Depends on your setup. If your sofa faces a TV with open floor space in front, a coffee table makes sense as it gives you a central surface for the whole room. If you have an L shaped sofa or a smaller room where a central table would block movement, side tables at each end can do the same job without getting in the way.
Some people use both: coffee table in front of the sofa, side table next to a reading chair. Worth thinking about how you actually use the space rather than what looks right in photos.
What size living room table do I need?
For coffee tables, roughly two thirds the length of your sofa tends to look balanced—a 180cm sofa works well with a 110-120cm table. Leave 40-45cm between sofa and table so you can reach it comfortably without it blocking movement.
For side tables, height is more important than width. Aim for level with or just below your sofa armrest, typically 55-65cm. Width just needs to be practical: enough surface for a drink, a lamp, and a book.
Console tables: measure your wall space first. Most run 100-140cm wide. Depth is usually 30-40cm, so they sit flush without eating into the room.
When in doubt, measure twice and mark the floor with tape before buying.
Can I mix different table styles in the same living room?
Yes, and it usually looks better than matching everything perfectly. A round coffee table with square side tables, or rattan with oak, tends to feel more considered than a three piece set from the same range.
The thing that ties mismatched tables together is a consistent thread: similar finish tones (oak throughout, or all black bases), complementary heights, or a shared material detail. Keep one element consistent and you can vary everything else.
What doesn't work: completely different styles with nothing connecting them. Intentionally mixed reads as curated. Accidentally mixed reads as unfinished.
Do living room tables come with storage?
Some do. Storage coffee tables with lift-up tops are the most common, useful if your living room lacks built in storage and you need somewhere for blankets, remotes, or things you don't want on display. Nesting tables give you flexible surface area that tucks away when not needed.
Side tables and console tables often come with drawers, handy for smaller items without the visual bulk of a full storage unit.
Worth being honest: storage tables add some height and mechanism weight versus non storage versions. If you've got storage elsewhere, a simpler surface often looks cleaner.
Are living room tables difficult to assemble?
Most take one to two hours with basic DIY confidence. Everything arrives flat packed with instructions and tools included. Simpler designs i.e., glass tops, side tables, are very straightforward. Tables with storage mechanisms or rotating bases take a little longer but nothing that requires specialist skills.
One honest note: some pieces with multiple components benefit from two pairs of hands during assembly, particularly larger console tables or nesting sets. Not essential, but easier.