The rule is simple: your coffee table should be two-thirds the length of your sofa. If you have a 9-foot couch, you need a 6-foot table to anchor the room properly. Anything smaller gets lost; anything larger suffocates the space. Stick to a 14 to 18-inch gap for legroom. You want enough space to move freely, but your drink should always be within easy reach without you having to lean out of your seat.

It comes down to the statement you want to make. Wood is the go-to for warmth and longevity, though it appreciates a little care. Glass and acrylic are essential for smaller layouts where you want to keep the visual flow open, but they do require a quick wipe-down now and then. For a modern, industrial edge, metal is practically indestructible. If you want high-end drama, stone or marble is the clear winner—just know they require a bit of maintenance to stay pristine. To avoid a sterile showroom look, go with mixed materials; it’s the most sophisticated way to add texture and personality to your space.

Right now, marble is everywhere — loud veins, soft veins, it doesn’t matter. Ovals are having a moment because they steer traffic flow, while chunky square and round tables feel like sculpture pieces now, not just furniture. Layered materials like wood with metal, stone with glass that are huge, and rounded edges are showing up because they soften the space and keep small rooms from feeling like obstacle courses

The height of your coffee table can make or break the comfort of your living room. The standard is simple: keep the tabletop level with your sofa’s seat cushions or just an inch or two lower—typically between 16 and 18 inches. Anything higher or significantly lower disrupts the visual line and makes reaching for a drink feel awkward. Keeping these heights aligned ensures a seamless flow and a clean, curated look that feels natural in the space.

If your living room is where you hang out, eat, work, game, whatever — yeah, they’re kind of amazing. You can pull the top up, use it like a desk, and then hide everything when you’re done. But, sure, if you rarely do anything besides set a cup on it, then it might feel like overkill. Some people swear by them because they add functionality without making the room look cluttered.

Absolutely, storage coffee tables do help cut down clutter, but only if you actually use the storage and not as a dumping ground. They’re great for hiding everyday chaos: remotes, chargers, old magazines. The room looks cleaner faster. Just, you know, don’t make it a messy drawer graveyard, or you’re just relocating clutter, not fixing it.

Round or oval — they play nicer in tight rooms. No corners to run into, no sharp edges trapping the flow. Rectangles and squares can still work, but if they’re too boxy or oversized, they’ll swallow the space. Smaller room? Round/oval is usually the safer bet.