Coffee Tables

A coffee table brings the seating area together and gives everyday items a natural place to land. It can hold your morning coffee, keep the remote within reach, provide space for snacks when friends visit or display a few favourite books and decorative pieces.

At Mimo, you can explore coffee tables in different shapes, sizes and finishes to suit your room. Whether you need a compact table for a small living room, extra storage for a busy home or a statement design to sit at the centre of the space, the right choice should feel both useful and well proportioned.

How to Choose a Coffee Table

Start with the size and layout of your living room. Your coffee table should be easy to reach from the sofa without taking over the floor or making it difficult to move around.

Think about how you will use it as well. If it will mainly hold drinks and remote controls, a simple design may be all you need. For working, eating or storing everyday clutter, a lift-top coffee table or a model with drawers and shelves may be more practical.

The main points to consider are:

• The size of your sofa and available floor space

• The height and length of the table

• The best shape for your seating arrangement

• Whether you need built-in storage

• The materials and colours already used in the room

Measuring carefully before you order will help you find a table that feels like it belongs in the space.

Which Type of Coffee Table Is Right for You?

Different designs solve different problems, so it helps to decide what you need from the table before choosing its style.

Coffee Tables with Storage

A coffee table with storage can make a living room much easier to keep tidy. Drawers provide a discreet home for remote controls, chargers and other smaller items, while open shelves are useful for books, magazines and storage baskets.

Some designs include hidden compartments beneath the tabletop. These work particularly well when you want generous storage without adding another cabinet to the room.

Nesting Coffee Tables

Nesting coffee tables usually come as a set of two or more tables that fit neatly together. They take up relatively little room when stacked but can be separated whenever you need additional surface space.

They are a useful choice for smaller homes or rooms that need to adapt throughout the day. Keep the tables together for everyday use, then spread them around the seating area when family or friends visit.

Lift-Top Coffee Tables

A lift-top coffee table has a surface that rises towards you. This creates a more comfortable height for using a laptop, writing or enjoying a casual meal from the sofa.

Many lift-top designs also include storage beneath the top, making them especially useful in compact rooms. Check the maximum height and lifting mechanism before buying to make sure the table will suit how you plan to use it.

Small Coffee Tables

A small coffee table can provide a practical surface without making a compact living room feel crowded. Round tables, nesting sets and open-frame designs are all worth considering when space is limited.

For very narrow layouts, a side table placed beside the sofa may be more useful than a traditional table in the centre of the room.

Choosing the Best Coffee Table Shape

The shape of your coffee table affects both the look of the room and how easily you can move around it.

Round Coffee Tables

A round coffee table can soften a room filled with straight furniture and sharp corners. Its curved edge also makes it easier to walk around, particularly in a smaller living room or a seating area with several access points.

Round designs work well with compact sofas, armchairs and curved seating arrangements. They can also be a practical option in homes with young children because there are no pointed corners.

Rectangular Coffee Tables

Rectangular coffee tables are a natural match for longer sofas. Their shape provides plenty of usable surface area and helps define the centre of a larger seating arrangement.

When choosing the width, make sure there is still enough room to pass comfortably between the table and surrounding furniture.

Square Coffee Tables

A square coffee table creates a balanced, structured look. It works particularly well with corner sofas or seating arranged around several sides of the table.

Square designs can occupy more floor space than they first appear to, so checking the full dimensions is important in a smaller room.

Oval Coffee Tables

An oval coffee table combines the useful surface of a rectangular design with softer, curved edges. It can suit a long sofa while allowing easier movement around each end.

This shape is a good choice when you want something less formal than a traditional rectangular table but still need a generous tabletop.

Coffee Table Materials and Finishes

The material you choose can change the whole character of your living room. It will also affect how the table needs to be cleaned and cared for.

Wooden Coffee Tables

Wooden coffee tables bring warmth and natural character into a room. They can work with modern, Scandinavian, traditional and rustic interiors, depending on their colour and design.

Different grains, knots and tonal variations give wood its individual appearance. Check the care instructions for your chosen table and use coasters to help protect its surface from heat and moisture.

Glass Coffee Tables

Glass coffee tables have a light, open appearance and can help a smaller room feel less crowded. They work especially well in contemporary interiors or anywhere you want the floor and surrounding furniture to remain visible.

Although glass is easy to wipe clean, marks and fingerprints may show more quickly. Check whether the model uses tempered glass and always follow the product’s care and safety guidance.

Metal Coffee Tables

Metal can give a coffee table a clean, modern or industrial look. It is often paired with wood or glass to add contrast and create a more distinctive design.

Black metal frames work well with many colour schemes, while warmer metallic finishes can introduce a softer decorative detail.

Stone-Effect and Marble-Effect Coffee Tables

Stone-effect and marble-effect surfaces add pattern and a more polished finish to the room. They can act as a focal point without requiring much decoration on top.

Because materials and care requirements vary between products, always check the individual description rather than assuming that an effect finish should be treated like natural stone.

What Size Coffee Table Do You Need?

As a useful starting point, choose a coffee table that is around two-thirds the length of your sofa. It does not have to follow this measurement exactly, but this proportion often creates a balanced appearance.

The tabletop should usually sit level with the sofa seat or slightly lower. A table that is much higher may feel awkward to use, while one that is very low can be difficult to reach.

Try to leave approximately 40–50 cm between the coffee table and sofa. This keeps drinks and other items within reach while giving you enough space to sit down and move around comfortably. You may need a wider walkway on the side used as the main route through the room.

Remember to check the table’s complete measurements, including its height and depth. Product photographs can make furniture look larger or smaller than it really is.

Styling Your Coffee Table

You do not need to fill every part of the surface. Leaving some open space makes the table easier to use and helps the arrangement feel more relaxed.

A small stack of books, a tray or a vase can be enough. Try mixing objects of different heights, but avoid anything that blocks the view across the room or makes it difficult to put down a drink.

A tray is particularly useful because it groups smaller items together and can be moved quickly when you need more space.

Find Your New Coffee Table at Mimo

The best coffee table is one that suits your room and makes everyday life a little easier. It might provide hidden storage, extra space when guests arrive or simply complete the area around your sofa.

Browse the Mimo coffee table collection to compare round, rectangular, nesting, lift-top and storage designs in a choice of materials and finishes.

Coffee Table FAQs

How high should a coffee table be?

A coffee table will usually feel most comfortable when its top is level with or slightly below the sofa seat. Check the height of both pieces before ordering.

How far should a coffee table be from the sofa?

Leaving around 40–50 cm between the sofa and coffee table generally provides a comfortable balance between reach and walking space.

What coffee table is best for a small living room?

Round coffee tables, nesting sets and compact designs with storage work well in smaller rooms. A glass top or open frame can also make the table feel visually lighter.

Are round or rectangular coffee tables better?

Neither shape is better for every room. Round tables suit compact spaces and help soften angular furniture. Rectangular tables pair naturally with longer sofas and provide more surface area.

Should my coffee table match my TV unit?

The two pieces do not need to match exactly. Choosing a shared colour, material or design detail can help them look connected while still allowing the room to feel individual.