Aesthetics.
One of the most important criteria has got to be aesthetics, right? It’s one of the main reasons for purchasing any furniture for one’s environment.
Some users want clean, neat and regimented lines. Whilst others required something a bit more ‘natural’ and ‘characterful’. This look usually can only be achieved through the use of solid, quality materials such as hardwoods (oak, ash, walnut, etc.).
The great thing about designing a coffee table is that they are so adaptable to their environment and they are usually highly used in a space where they get lots of visual attention.
Size and usability.
Sizing varies for each environment. A sweet spot for the height of a coffee table is usually around 450mm but the shape, length and width can vary massively depending on the user’s needs.
Choosing the right size and shape for your coffee table is key to achieving a nice balance against other pieces of furniture in the space.
Usability and functionality play a big part (or at least they should do) in all furniture design. Coffee tables are no exception. They are a piece of furniture that should be used regularly. They therefore need to be appropriate for their level of usage. And this leads onto our next point.
Materials.
Choosing the right materials depends on the culmination of our previous topics of aesthetics, size, and usability.
The timber used in a coffee table will need to match the overall aesthetic of the intended space and any other furniture that it may interact with. Pairing different timber hues is always an option, but thought needs to go into this during the designing stage of your new coffee table.
The sizing and shape of the coffee table may also have an influence on material choice. Certain timbers work well at different sizes. You might want a full ‘slab’ of wood (see the examples above) or something that is formed by joining boards together. Both styles have their own unique outcome.
The materials used have an impact on the usability and the longevity of a coffee table. Hardwoods such as oak, ash and walnut are much more user friendly and hard-wearing (and repairable) than cheaper materials and veneers. Mass produced coffee tables often use cheaper, less hard-wearing materials that once chipped or scratched cannot be repaired.
Fit and finish.
To increase the life-span of a coffee table, we would always recommend finishing any surfaces in a hard-wearing product such as Rubio Monocoat. Coffee tables will take some abuse of the years from spillages, heat, cold, and impact. So protecting them the best we can is always the goal.
And don’t forget to always use a coaster for your drinks. This simple invention will drastically increase the life of any coffee table.
We have produced a few coffee tables in our time. Each of them were different and met the customer’s needs. If you’re looking for a hard wearing, bespoke and aesthetically pleasing coffee table then reach out to us to discuss your furniture project.
