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Is my coffee table too small?

8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago

Hi fellow Houzzers! I finally bought the Heriz rug based on everyone's input. And I ordered this mid-century marble coffee table from West Elm which has a 30" diameter. I'm wondering if it looks too small? Should I send it back and go bigger? Someone suggested a noguchi glass top but my kitchen table (behind the sofa) has a similar look. Would love your input. (blue tape on wall indicates tv location)






Would a noguchi glass top table be too similar to my kitchen table?



Comments (35)

  • 8 years ago

    I'm no pro but it doesn't look like it can serve both sofas. Love your furniture, though!

  • PRO
    8 years ago

    First off, love the rug and the cabinet! Second, yes, the coffee table is too small. I'm also not taken with the white marble--there's too much contrast between the stark white and the muted colors of the rug, wood furniture and upholstery.

    This one is 24" x 47" which would fit better and be more useful for guests:

    Simplicity Cocktail Table · More Info

    This beauty combines walnut and glass:
    Noguchi Table by Herman Miller, Walnut · More Info

    Glass inset into the wood frame:

    Midcentury Modern G-Plan Plywood Coffee Table, Walnut · More Info

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    I probably wouldn't do glass, as your dining set is so close to this area. I like Diana's idea of a wood oblong table.

  • 8 years ago

    Wow great work so far. I do think it is too small and the wrong shape. I think your instinct about glass is spot on. Nothing you get will work for the chairs and sofa: one or the other, so I would do rectangle/oval/kidney unless you want a very large circle or square.. End tables for the seating not accommodated by the coffee table

    midcenturyvibes thanked greenfish1234
  • 8 years ago

    Yes.

  • 8 years ago

    Yes it's too small and too white. Return it and we can help you find a better look. Other than the coffee table, your place looks fantastic. I love it.

    midcenturyvibes thanked Yayagal
  • 8 years ago

    Love the rug & artwork.

    midcenturyvibes thanked K Laurence
  • 8 years ago

    I see you have several end tables.

    I would skip the coffee table because it's not fulfilling much of a function. Ottomans for feet would be nice.

    midcenturyvibes thanked User
  • 8 years ago

    I'm sorry but yes, I think it looks too small. And although I like the table itself and love marble in general, I agree with the comments that the marble isn't working well in the space. It's so white when most of the other light colors in the room look ivory. Sorry. But I do love the space and I think the rug is perfect!

    Here are a couple other ideas of larger coffee tables.

    West Elm.com geometric coffee table


    Room and Board Dunn coffee table


    Room and board Gibson coffee table

    I rather like the idea of a glass top in your space just so you can easily see your pretty rug.

    midcenturyvibes thanked pricklypearcactus
  • midcenturyvibes thanked User
  • 8 years ago

    Coffee table suggestions are great. Just one other suggestion: move your dining chairs 1/8 turn around the table so the back of one isn't smack up against the sofa. I think you'll like the difference in the way they look and fit at the table.

    midcenturyvibes thanked Olychick
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Terrible when a bunch of beautiful stuff doesn’t quite work together despite their beauty.

    the first thing I noticed was the medallion design in the middle of the rug and the fact that coffee table is not centered to the medallion. That immediately makes the setup “not right visually” to me.

    second thing I noticed is the stark white of table vs upholstery colors.

    i like all the elements but I can’t say which has to go. But one has to go b/c it makes the rest off. Maybe put the rug elsewhere and get one that w/o center design to give you more furniture placement flexibility. Don’t know that table is too small, it could be a matter of clustering pieces closer together.

  • 8 years ago

    Thank you all! I think the answer is to get a larger glass coffee table so that you can see the rug like some suggested. I love the Room and Board Dunn table above. (unless it's too similar to the glass kitchen table, but I don't think so.) And thanks Olychick on the suggestion to shift the chairs! I can't believe I didn't think of that!

  • 8 years ago

    Wow, you are doing a great job so far.

    I actually really like the table in your space, but I would get 2

  • 8 years ago

    Honestly as long as the table is leggy you will see the rug. You don't need glass for that reason and did I see a small child in your profile picture? You will not enjoy the effect they have on glass coffee tables!!

    midcenturyvibes thanked greenfish1234
  • PRO
    8 years ago

    Yes the coffee table is too small. If you want round, try nesting tables.

    Leeward Renovation · More Info


    Leeward Renovation · More Info

    midcenturyvibes thanked Nicola Interiors
  • PRO
    8 years ago

    I agree the table is too small for the area. The proper height for a coffee table is the same height as the cushions on your sofa or 1-2" lower. A coffee table should be approximately two-thirds the length of your sofa and there should be between 12-18 inches of space between a coffee table and the seating surrounding it. I would continue to look for a table that is better scaled to your area.

    midcenturyvibes thanked LampsUSA.com
  • PRO
    8 years ago

    I agree that it is too small, if you want to keep it and add to the coffee table space you can find a similar table to nest it with. This way you can move the pieces around as needed. If that does not seem like something you would use a rectangular table might take up the space a little better. Room and board has some good/customizable options!

    midcenturyvibes thanked Soeur Interiors
  • PRO
    8 years ago
    Here are some additional ideas. You could use one of these in front of each grouping. Then each seating area would have a place to set a beverage or book or tablet down.
  • 8 years ago

    So do you guys think it is too much wood if I already have a teak console, teak dining table, and those pecan wood nesting side tables? (You can see the nesting wood side tables in pic #3) Also wondering if the wood needs to match the teak console? Walnut has so much more gray in it, a bit worried about woods clashing. Based on the comment about finger prints on the glass (totally true) it's a toss up between the glass and a solid wood boomerang shape. I like both ideas!

  • PRO
    8 years ago

    Pretty much a personal choice. I like glass tops because they allow more interest to show through such as beautiful rugs, and keep spaces feeling more open. Since you have a lot of straight lines going, the kidney shape is quite nice, and there is also a coffee table with a glass top at West Elm, that has a very interesting base too. I will post it shortly. If you really want to shake up the elements, then you might look for an acrylic type table too.

  • 8 years ago

    Love the kidney/boomerang shape and think that is definitely the answer in terms of shape. What to folks think of this one?

    https://www.houzz.com/products/palliser-furniture-stacey-cocktail-table-large-ivory-prvw-vr~96188187

  • 8 years ago

    Do you think this walnut will clash with all of the warmer teaks in the room?

    https://www.houzz.com/products/emerald-home-simplicity-cocktail-table-prvw-vr~81681511


  • 8 years ago

    And one last question - does the room look naked with no coffee table at all? Some one above suggested just going with out and using the side tables.

  • PRO
    8 years ago
    This one is interesting and different.
  • PRO
    8 years ago
    I think you have a large empty space in center so probably best to have one in front of sofa.
    midcenturyvibes thanked Flo Mangan
  • 8 years ago

    Yes, I saw that one on west elm. I like it too. Wondering if a noguchi might be a more interested shape.

  • PRO
    8 years ago
    You could test by making templates of the basic shapes and see what you like best.
    midcenturyvibes thanked Flo Mangan
  • PRO
    8 years ago

    After seeing all the options, I think that an oblong in walnut is the way to go, and the Noguchi and the Etsy ones would be my choice. However, you mentioned budget, so what is the budget? And definitely be wary of glass if you have children or like to prop your feet on the coffee table. Several of the reviews of the Dunn table (Room and Board) mentioned that the glass tips easily if pressure is put on it.

  • 8 years ago

    Have you considered having your sofa across from your tv...then future coffee table would be more centered with the medallion on the rug...

  • PRO
    8 years ago
    That etsy table is gorgeous but probably better in a room that is for polite conversation. Your room is functional family room as far as i can see. I would try moving the sofa to face the TV as suggested. Then move chairs around and test table in front of sofa. I think that would balance the room better and be more functional at the same time.
  • 8 years ago
    Ok yes I will try switching the couch! Good idea. I think any coffee table will be aligned with the sofa. However if I go with a triangle shape maybe it won’t matter as much. And yes, I saw that the Dunn coffee table tips over! No way I am getting that now.
    I have coffee table angst! Haha
  • PRO
    8 years ago
    It will all work out. Post pics when you finish rearranging.