A coffee table can become one of the key elements of a living room, serving not only as a great place to put your cup of coffee on but as an aesthetic piece as well. With different shapes, materials and styles available, it’s easy to get overwhelmed at the choices and find it actually difficult to pick the right coffee table for your space. One of the most important choices focuses on the material of which the coffee table is made. Glass top or wooden table? Which one will be better for you?
Why would you want a glass coffee table?
As far as elegance, minimalism and modern aesthetics go, glass coffee tables look much better than the traditional, often square or rectangular wooden tables. A transparent glass top fits perfectly into modern, stylish interiors and goes well with other furniture. It’s an effortless choice that doesn’t require you switching everything around and wondering if the table isn’t a little bit too much for the room. Big, chunky wooden tables can make your space seem smaller and more practical than elegant, while with glass coffee tables it’s the complete opposite.
Glass is a great material if you want to build the concept of open, airy space in your living room. With an interesting design of the base of the table, it draws attention without being too pretentious, chunky and plain. At the same time, glass is great at reflecting light and making the table seem bigger than it actually is. Another plus side is that a round glass table goes well with everything so actually you can find a lot of variety when deciding on a glass top – wooden or metal legs, colored or transparent glass, funky design or a simple, minimalistic base. The choice is yours.
When does a wooden coffee table make more sense?
Although glass coffee tables are quite functional and aesthetically pleasing, they may become unpractical in certain circumstances. The main problem here is that glass can shatter easily and even the best quality coffee tables are at a high risk of damage if something were to fall on them. On the contrary, wooden coffee tables are solid, stable and durable.
If you are looking for something that will stand the test of time, will be great around kids and can fit in almost any interior, wood is a good option. And, although they are a bit more clunky and heavy, they can still look quite delicate and elegant in a living room – it all depends on the color of the wood, the size of the table, its shape and the ability to mix with other materials. Some wooden tables have an additional glass shelf on the bottom or feature metal legs to give the entire piece a more modern, almost industrial look.
Which coffee table should you choose?
Generally, the choice is yours, but there are some guidelines that can help you pick the best option. A glass, round coffee table will definitely fit better in a smaller space and in a room that’s quite modern, stylish and elegant. On the other hand, a bigger and often lower wooden coffee table would be perfect in a larger living room near a sofa, where it can serve as both a coffee table and a place to play board games, set up snacks during a party or lay your feet on when watching tv. If you go for a wooden table, try to match the color of the wood to the color of other furniture in your house – lighter wood is now preferred, as it goes well with more interior styles.