Shopping for furniture can be tiring and frustrating. Typical furniture showrooms are large, and give a false idea of the size of the furniture you're looking at. Be careful to understand the terminology and measure your room and existing furniture carefully before you go shopping. If possible make a plan of your room and how you want to lay it out, then buy furniture to fit the plan, don't change the plan to fit the furniture. There are several different types of table, and some have more than one name.
A sofa table is tall and thin, and typically used behind a sofa, hence the name. On average, they are 30-32 inches high, 14-18 inches deep and 48-55 inches long. This table type is most useful in a large room where the seating area is divided from the rest, and can be used in several configurations. The classic English country house interior centers around a seating area, usually around a fireplace; two sofas are placed facing each other and at right angles to the fire; behind each sofa is a sofa table. A coffee table, or large ottoman, sits between the sofas.
Cocktail Storage Ottoman
The sofa table carries most of the accessories which define this style, a pair of elegant lamps, a vase filled with flowers and one or two ornaments.
The height of the table is crucial as it should not be higher than the back of the sofa, so check this carefully before you buy. The depth of the table is also important. Many are made in the style of console tables and will be no more than 18 inches wide. Rounded (sometimes known as demi-lune) sofa tables are charming in the right place, but the center width can prove to be a problem. If possible, plan to have a gap of at least 30 inches between your sofa table and the nearest piece of furniture. On no account should the table be wider or higher than the sofa.
In modern homes, this sort of table is especially useful in open plan spaces; they add style and can sometimes perform a double function. Sofa tables with shelves can display books and ornaments, while those with drawers can be a useful place to store the usual mass of remote controls.
If your room is in a feminine style, a curved or ornate table could well be ideal. If your style is more masculine, simple shapes are more appropriate.
Sofa tables are extremely versatile, so if your room doesn't suit the paired, facing sofas arrangement, why not try an 'L' shape? In this arrangement one sofa is typically placed against a wall, while a another sits at right angles to the first with a sofa table behind it. The corner of the 'L' can be occupied by an end table.
Sofa tables are elegant pieces of furniture designed to occupy a small space and yet carry the ornament for a room. Sofa and table should be in harmony; together they bring a sense of refinement to any interior.