A coffee table is a bit like the kitchen island, it's seen as the center of the room, the piece in which all other furniture sits around. It's an essential right? But what if you don't have the space for one, or it simply doesn't work with the layout you want to create for your living room. Well fear not, there are plenty of alternatives that can replace the coffee table in your space.
I know all too well the struggle with not being able to make a coffee table work in your living room. While in the title of this piece, I have already mentioned that my living room is small, that's not the only issue holding me back from adding in a coffee table. Because the room also has to double as a dining room, and it's semi-open plan with the kitchen too, so it's not really the dimensions holding me back, but more the effect that adding a bulky piece of furniture to the center of my open plan space would do for flow, both physically and visually.
So what are my options? What coffee table alternatives can I try? An ottoman? A small pouffe? Perhaps a vintage piece can be repurposed? I have ordered many a coffee table in the hopes of making it work and they are always returned, so I am hoping, with the help of interior designers to find something for my living room that will work and hopefully, there will be an option that works for your space here too.
The best coffee table alternatives
From beautiful vintage trunks to sleek side tables and oversized ottomans, there are so many fun and creative options to consider for coffee table alternatives for the home, so let us guide you through our top picks.
1. Opt for a versatile ottoman
An ottoman can be an incredibly versatile piece of furniture, and it is often the most popular coffee table alternative to embrace in the home. Serving as a footrest, additional seating, and providing a perfect platform to rest down books, drinks and decorative accessories and ornaments, there are many ottoman ideas you can consider for a coffee table alternative.
'Ottomans are a beautiful and functional alternative to a coffee table, offering unmatched versatility,' says designer Marie Flanigan. 'They can be effortlessly moved around, doubling as extra seating when needed and creating a more dynamic space. Their ability to introduce new textures or accent colors adds depth and interest to a room’s design. Perfect for both large and small spaces, ottomans are available in a variety of sizes and can even be customized to fit your unique style.'
I am drawn to this alternative because ottomans often have a lower profile than coffee tables so it won't visually interrupt the space as much as a coffee table would. And there's something about this being a softer option too, the clean lines and hard material of a traditional coffee table contrast the couch and rug making in an even more dominant piece, whereas an ottoman blends far more seamlessly.
'In more casual rooms like dens, I actually prefer a sturdy ottoman to a coffee table so that people can both relax and put up their feet and put down a book or a drink on a small tray,' suggested designer Bethany Adams. 'Small children are bound to clamber on top of whatever piece of furniture is between them and the television, so I find a good, durable upholstery in a dark color (for the inevitable spills), as long as it is firm and not too soft really works well.'
Available in a large selection of fabrics, colorways and sizes, this ottoman from Interior Define embraces a simple and relaxed style.
It's a brave decision to go bold with a couch, but an ottoman? That's the perfect place to inject some pattern. I love this tiger print by Sarah Sherman Samuel for Lulu & Georgia, it's playful but not so much it doesn't still feel classic and sophisticated.
Crafted from durable vegan leather, I do love the rounded silhouette of this ottoman, with the design finished with stylish diamond tufting and a brass color nailhead trim. You could add a tray too to give it a more solid surface.
2. Don't just go small with your coffee table alternative
And if like me you have a small space to make an ottoman work in, don't automatically think small. That was something I quickly realized when trying to add a coffee table to my living room. I kept ordering small designs I thought were right for my small living room but love the look of this oversized, square ottoman design in this living room, designed by Jessica Bennett of Alice Lane Interior Design. It fills the space nicely, rather than awkwardly floating in a sea of floor.
Jessica explains that in this living room, 'We blended warm and cool tones with cozy textures to create an inviting space for the family to entertain and hang out. It can easily seat a large group comfortably for all the parties they host.'
3. Use a vintage trunk
Using an unexpected piece of furniture as a coffee table is something I have experimented with – some alternatives were successful, some less so. But a vintage trunk sounds like a piece that's both aesthetically pleasing and practical too. I think I have made the mistake in the best of going for pieces that are form over function – something that's easy to do when decorating with vintage pieces.
There's plenty of trunk designs to choose from whether you pick one up at a thrift store or an online marketplace, so you can go with a size and style that best suits your space.
Designer Emily Henderson agrees a vintage trunk could make for a great coffee table alternative. She explains, 'I have always been a big fan of real vintage trunks for a coffee or even a side table. They're more unique and can act as storage too which is great when you're tight on space. Otherwise, a bench is a great alt to a traditional coffee table. They're slender, perfect for a tight living room, and they still provide a nice hard surface to place things on.'
Kathy Kuo agrees, "I love the idea of using a statement-making trunk as a coffee table. Trunks often make a really distinctive visual statement, and they have the added bonus of offering additional storage space within. Try an antiqued trunk for a rustic or farmhouse look, or a wicker one coastal beach motif."
4. Add more pattern and interest than a coffee table
While there are some beautiful coffee table designs out there, you don't get the opportunity to add a load of color and pattern as you do with an alternative like an ottoman. Going for an upholstered piece to be a focal point of your living room means you can get really creative with adding in prints and patterns – even if you love a neutral living room, a statement ottoman in a really stunning print is only going to elevate the space (for more so that a standard coffee table).
This living room designed by SPACES by Hollie Velten makes the perfect case for choosing an upholstered ottoman as a coffee table alternative. As the studio's founder, Hollie Velten, explains, 'Our firm favors custom oversized ottomans to replace coffee tables for their expressive opportunity to use print, pattern, and color and to offer a modular, flexible soft-landing for both people and things!'
5. Switch a coffee table for something more creative
A coffee table alternative needn't be all about furniture, stacks of books with a tray or even just a coaster to perch your coffee can be all your space needs – plus this approach will add so much character to a space. I have actually created a bedside table with stacks of books before and got plenty of compliments on it and the surface is surprisingly sturdy if you use hardbacks.
'Decor can be anything you want it to be, so you can take risks in unconventional items you choose to use throughout your home to make it your own work of art,' says designer Jennifer Walters. 'For things like side tables and coffee tables, you might opt for stacks of books or magazines as small tables in lieu of something larger.'
'Of course, poufs and upholstered ottomans of all sizes are great options to serve as both table and footstool,' Jennifer adds. 'They are also easily moved to other areas when space is needed. In my own home, I swapped a smaller glass table with one very large white oak two-level table that serves as an accessory centerpiece, a small meal table, and of course a place to rest one's feet if needed.'
6. Use a side table instead of a coffee table
This is a great coffee table alternative if you are tackling a small space and just after a small surface to pop down a drink and add a little decor. Switching a side table for a coffee table gives you the flexibility to move it around, and it feels less visually bulky and doesn't break up the space as much as a full-sized coffee table.
'In lieu of coffee tables, we love using side tables in front of sofas in more compact spaces like this office that also serves as a guest bedroom with the help of a sleeper sofa,' explains designer Melanie Love of Love and Interiors.
7. Incorporate a pouf (or two)
Very similar to an ottoman, a petite pouf is a good coffee table alternative if you are after flexibility. Unlike a larger ottoman, a pouf can easily be moved around the space where it's needed and tucked out of the way when it's not in use.
'Poufs and ottomans make for great alternatives to the traditional coffee table, and are often more functional, offering a few different uses,' says Patricia Gibbons from the design team at sofa.com. 'Providing a place to rest books and trinkets, and an extra spot to sit if need be, many come with multifunctional storage options, so they can also be used to tidy away clutter. They are easy to move around and are versatile without compromising on style.'
As shown in this living room, designed by Marie Flanigan, you could double up and go for two poufs for even more flexibility. Personally, I like this idea better than a single pouf if you are planning to have your coffee table alternative sit in the center of the room. There's something about a tiny pouf in the middle of a living room that looks awkward to me. If you do want just one, place it closer to the sofa so it feels more like part of the space.
8. Cluster together tables for flexibility
Instead of choosing one large coffee table for your space, a cluster of smaller tables can be a more flexible alternative – and they can look beautiful, too.
Whether you choose a matching nest of tables, or mix and match through different styles and shapes, a cluster of tables can be a highly adaptable and more unique coffee table alternative – and they still provide the perfect place to embrace coffee table styling ideas.
Sometimes a coffee table just isn't right for your space. Whether that be because of the size or shape of the room, or the aesthetic you are going for. There are plenty of coffee table alternatives to try that will work in your space, providing the perfect amount of surface space to perch your drinks and adding character, as well as practicality to a room.
