I've been wondering if coffee tables are passé? We recently moved ours out of the living room as an experiment to see if we like it better without it.
I'm not sure if most people have a coffee table any more or not!
I have a couple of multi-purpose stools, 3 nesting side tables, an storage ottoman and a set of folding tables.
Most of these go away into a floor to ceiling hidden storage wall.
These devices can go away neatly when I don't want them and are flexible table function for when I do.
This creates a really spacious feeling in my small multi-function space (living room/dining room/entertainment/multi-media/ waiting and intake room).
If someone explains simply how to upload photos - I can show you how it works.
I have a coffee table. I don't think I could not have one. I put my feet up on it and I put my drinks on it.
Having said that, I've been looking for a new one. I'd love a leather automan type table or maybe two smaller automans placed beside each other that could be used for seating as well.
I don't have one at the moment but I need one! I am forever putting drinks on the floor and kicking themn over!!!
Come pick ours up - free!
I've been considering an ottoman for my feet.
We don't have one at the moment -- we can get along with just seat-side tables. But we have so little space for all our stuff in the new house that we will be using a 7' long cedar chest as our coffee table.
I love using storage ottomans.
You can tuck away clutter, use as a stool (for feet or extra seating), add a nice tray for a flexible table space and move it easily.
If you use two- it looks more spacious and can be moved around easily.
The extra bonus is finding one that can nest underneath a small side table.
Way more multi-functional!
We have a super plain, simple wooden coffee table and it's a remote/book/drink/dinner/foot holder for us. We're in an apartment and have limited space, so side tables wouldn't work at all. I would love to have a coffee table with storage at some point, but this table was free so I want to get as much time out of it as I can!
(06-21-2010 10:46 AM)Jo Wrote: [ -> ]I don't have one at the moment but I need one! I am forever putting drinks on the floor and kicking themn over!!!
LMAO Jo, That reminds me of the time not too long ago when I set the 64 oz jug of water on the floor for Boots to take a drink. Then of course I forgot it was still there and I kicked it over
All 64 oz of water all over my carpet
Boy was I mad at myself for the blunder.
As for the coffee table question.. We use to have a very nice one for the first 10 years of our marriage.
But when we moved into our first house ( where we are now)
We found we just had no room for it.
So I think I gave it away to one of my neices or nephews.
I can't remember who, it was so long ago.
But to answer the question NO we do not have a coffee table anymore. Just not enough room in the front room for one.
IF I had a BIG house, YES I would have one.
I don't think they are out of style.
I think, imho of course. that it should go by the size of the room you have. And of course your own personal taste in wanting one or not.
Btw CNK, I too have an ottoman for my feet. But I only use it when my bad leg acts up, lol.
Well at my old apartment, the living room was sooooooooooo tiny, it broke my heart that I had no space to walk around, spin around, dance. I used to say I would feel like I've died and gone to heaven if I had space to just hold out my arms and SPIN AROUND without hitting anything!! LOL
So when I moved into this place with the huge living room, I refused to put anything in the middle of it so that I would have room to dance.
Turns out I'm not doing too much dancing (HAHAHA) and I could probably use a coffee table at some point in the near future. I have lots of end tables and a footstool I rest my feet on... but yeah, I'll be hauting yard sales looking for one this summer.
Yes and no. In the family room. we have side tables, recliners, and wooden TV tables for meals. In the living room, we have a humongous thing that holds a few decorative items. We don't go in there much.
Since we move every few years, our furniture changes a lot, but right now we only have a leather ottoman instead. We don't have room for a coffee table in our current house, but maybe if we move to a larger place someday we will.
We do but was without for the longest time.
We tend to eat there, and I like to put drinks there, reading material, so I totally prefer to have one.
I got a cheapy from Ikea and after 3 years it's really junky now, falling apart. We are due to move soon so we'll toss it and hopefully get a new one when we move.
I have a massive (weight-wise) one that mom bought in the 70s for her living room. It has storage shelves on either end and is about 4-5 feet long. I cannot imagine not having one - where do you put your drinks and ashtrays and stuff?!
Yes, but not in the conventional sense.
I have my sitting chair, coffee table, and entertainment center in a direct line of sight. My television and computer monitor are directly in line and all I have to do is flick my eyes up or down to look at one or the other.
(06-21-2010 07:36 PM)ozarkmoon Wrote: [ -> ]I cannot imagine not having one - where do you put your drinks and ashtrays and stuff?!
I really really like the newest uncluttered decor to my multi-purpose living room.
The key was to have multiple small "tables" that tuck away.
As I said- I put the clutter away in a covered storage wall with shelves.
I also use furniture with storage.
When I am getting a drink, it goes on a nesting table, or the storage ottoman or a stool.
The keyboard, mouse and remotes are on a handy table or stool when in use and tucked into the storage wall when not being used.
Any paperwork, books, etc get used on any of the options ( folding tables, nesting tables, storage ottoman, stools) that works best and is put away when not being used.
There are no ashtrays in this non-smoking household.
I have had a lot of people coming into the house the past 3-4 months and half of them want to buy the whole living room, so I must be doing something right.
We have side tables for drinks and newspaper, etc. I've been using a TV-tray style folding table for food, etc. I can just take it down when I want it out of the way.
I
use to have a coffee table, but my DH complained about it so fucking much that I finally put it my parking spot next to the garage and then someone ripped it off.
We have an ottoman, but
I want a coffee table.....one that will fit over it. That way, DH can use the ottoman for his feet and the remotes and I can use the coffee table for my water or tea. I hate balancing drinks on my beautiful couch.
My DH is going through this phase of getting rid of my furniture. I guess it is o.k., but some of MY things I WANT! I don't tell him to get rid of the crap he accumulates and he accumulates a lot more junk and useless crap than I do.
(06-23-2010 04:43 AM)beachbum Wrote: [ -> ]My DH is going through this phase of getting rid of my furniture. I guess it is o.k., but some of MY things I WANT! I don't tell him to get rid of the crap he accumulates and he accumulates a lot more junk and useless crap than I do.
Start telling him to get rid of his crap. It's quid-pro-quo! So long as you "let him" get rid of your stuff, without penalty, he has no reason to stop wanting to get rid of your stuff.
We somehow managed to live without a coffee table for about a year and a half before we found the 'right one'. Now, I truly don't know how we'd survive. It's one of those things we use constantly throughout the day. It's where we put our laptops when not in use, our smaller digital camera, mobile phones and it's where we put our drinks. All those things would have to go on the floor if we didn't have a coffee table!