A coffee table sits at the centre of the room, so its height and footprint have to suit the sofa. Material comes next, then the shape.
Size it to the sofa
Keep the top level with or slightly below the seat cushion, usually 38 to 43 cm. The table should span about two-thirds of the sofa's width. For a 210 cm three-seater, that means a table between 120 and 140 cm if you choose an oblong, or a round of about 80 to 100 cm. Leave 40 to 50 cm between the table and the sofa, and 70 to 90 cm of walkway around the rest.
Low sofas want low tables. The Earth Coffee Table is a metre across and 30 cm high, so it suits rooms built around low sofas. Higher sofas can take a taller table.
Round
A round table softens angular rooms and improves flow. The Luna Coffee Table is an 80 cm round in travertine on a solid cylindrical base, low enough for a relaxed room. The Earth is in hand-applied microskin, in Cloudy Latte or Black.
Oblong
For a long sofa, an oblong covers more of the length and leaves fewer seats without a surface. The Piazza Oblong Coffee Table pairs a brown and caramel marble top with a slim black steel frame, so the stone feels lighter.
Nesting and modular
Several small tables reconfigure for different uses, and a piece can move to a sofa arm as a side table. The Masso tables are solid travertine blocks with softly rounded edges. They come in three sizes and can nest as a layered group or stand alone. The Orlo Coffee Table is a 60 cm round that pairs with the Orlo side table.
Materials
Travertine is natural limestone and porous. Use coasters, wipe spills promptly, and consider a stone sealer. Marble is softer than it looks and marks with acids such as vinegar. Microskin is a hand-applied, concrete-look plaster. It is seamless and waterproof, and each piece varies slightly. Stone adds mass and a cool surface. Microskin handles cups without coasters.
Legs and base
A solid base, such as the Luna cylinder, gives mass and is easy to clean around. Slim steel legs keep the room lighter. Straight legs are simpler to vacuum under than angled ones, and a centre pedestal gives the most legroom.
Traffic and layout
In a narrow room, a shallower table of about 45 cm leaves legroom if the sofa sits close. In an open-plan room, a deeper table of up to 80 cm can float away from walls. If children are in the house, choose rounded edges. A footstool with a tray works as a soft alternative: see our ottoman guide.
Matching the sofa
For how table height works with each sofa range, read our guide to sofas and coffee tables.
See them in person
Browse the coffee tables collection, or visit our Parnell or Grey Lynn showroom to see the stone and finishes. Travertine and marble vary from piece to piece, so seeing them in daylight helps.
