Black Coffee, Console, Sofa & End Tables

Most furniture experts agree that it's no longer necessary to decorate your room with a full set of matching tables. An eclectic assortment of tables allows you to express your personal design tastes and reflects a more casual lifestyle. For visual unity, consider staying within one general design style when selecting accent tables for your home. Also, think about selecting at least two tables with the same wood tone or paint color or constructed from the same material. Repeating the same color or material at least twice helps tie together your decor. Feel free to mix shapes for visual interest, keeping in mind how you plan to use each table. If you have limited storage, for example, you might consider a coffee table with integrated cubbies. So long as you keep these simple tips in mind, you can give your design skills free rein when selecting black coffee, console, sofa, and end tables.

Coffee tables should be no higher than the top of your sofa cushions, or even one to two inches lower. This height allows you to comfortably reach items on the table or set down a beverage. As a general guideline, coffee tables should measure about two-thirds of the length of your sofa. A coffee table should complement the overall dimensions of your room and the proportions of your existing furniture. An oversized coffee table might look out of place in a small room but be right at home in a large living area with vaulted ceilings. Many designers recommend leaving about 18 inches of space between a coffee table and the front of your sofa to provide sufficient legroom.

Although the terms are often used interchangeably, there are actually some distinct differences between console tables and sofa tables. Console tables are designed for use in a hallway or foyer. They are usually long and narrow, although they also come in a half-moon shape. Console tables are primarily decorative rather than practical. However, they may have a drawer, which provides a handy spot for stowing keys when you walk into the house. Many homeowners hang an impressive piece of artwork, a gallery of family photos, or a large mirror on the wall behind the table. This arrangement serves as the focal point of an entryway. Originally, console tables were very ornate. Today, many homeowners opt for simple, streamlined console tables in keeping with the clean lines of contemporary or transitional decor. Sofa tables are often a littler shorter than console tables. They are placed directly behind your sofa and should not project above the sofa back. They frequently have shelves for displaying books and decorative accessories. Placing a pair of lamps on each end of a sofa table not only provides light for your room, but it also creates visual balance.