Each furniture piece is designed for a specific purpose. Some of them may seem similar in terms of how they look, but they actually have different functions. An example of this is the center table and coffee table – who would’ve thought they’d be two different furniture items, right? But they are. These two furniture pieces are often used interchangeably. And to be honest, we were so used to buying furniture without completely knowing what they are for and how one differs from another. That’s why knowing their differences will be beneficial since this will help you determine which one is more suitable for your needs. So let’s get to know more about the differences between a center table and a coffee table.

What is a Center Table?

A center table is placed at the center of the room, typically the living room. It’s often used to fill the gap and avoid dull, blank spaces in the room and can also be treated as a focal point, depending on its style and design. As the years went by, the center table wasn’t just bound to a rectangular or circular shaped design because today, varying shapes are also made available to fit many interior themes. 

What is a Coffee Table?

A coffee table is a furniture piece that was initially designed to hold beverages, books, magazines, and entertainment devices. Other than the aesthetics it adds to any room, this low table is focused on providing convenience where it is placed. Coffee tables are commonly found in living rooms, sitting rooms, and some lounges. 

Know Their Differences

Function / Use

The function or use of furniture evolves through time. Say, for example, a sofa that used to be only for seating can now be used as a bed. Given the existence of multifunctional and space-saving furniture today, we are given added storage and at the same time provided with style and comfort. 

With the center table and coffee table, there’s not much of a difference when it comes to their function. We would say that in this aspect, these two furniture pieces would agree and are quite similar at that because they both were designed to fill the gaps or blank spaces in a room and complement either the sofa or couch. But now, it has changed. They are both used as accent furniture, a table where you can place your drinks and snacks, and extra storage space for items such as books, magazines, board games, and more. 

Material 

Considering the material of the furniture piece of your choice is very important as this will not only determine how it will complement other furniture pieces in the room, but it will also help you know whether or not it’s durable enough and how you’ll be able to maintain it — since every material used to make furniture requires a different way of maintaining it.

Now, with center tables; materials such as wood, tempered glass, and marble are the most common ones used to make this furniture piece. While with coffee tables, the most common materials are wood, metal, clear or smoked glass, rattan, leather, acrylic, and more. Wood and glass are two of the materials that are similar for both as they fit most interiors and are considered timeless, not to mention, easy to maintain and durable. A combination of two or three materials in a center table or coffee table is also often seen such as wood, metal, glass, marble, metal, etc. 

Design and Style

As the years went by, furniture designs have also changed and it’s seen in the various designs made available for both the center table and coffee table. Take note as well that there’s no one design and style for each one of them as they vary depending on what trends are present and what’s likely to attract or reflect the preferences of the majority of the demographics in different places.  

Size and Height

Ultimately, center tables and coffee tables should complement the height of your sofa or couch, and shouldn’t take up too much space or overpower other furniture items in the living room either. But in terms of size and height, coffee tables are shorter than center tables. A coffee table’s size is usually 120cm in length and 60cm in width, but this may still vary depending on the style and shape of the coffee table. While a center table doesn’t exactly have a standard or fixed measurement as its optimal size usually depends on the seating piece it is paired with. So when buying a center table, it should at least be smaller than two-thirds of the largest piece in the room — which is highly likely to be the sofa. Its height should also be the same or a couple of inches lower than the sofa. 

Shape

In terms of shape, coffee tables often come in round, oval, and square shapes. This is because they are most ideal for smaller rooms. The round and square-shaped coffee tables are best paired with large sectional sofas or loveseats. Essentially, they should fit the space available so they don’t end up cramping up the space. While with center tables, circular-shaped ones are also available, but rectangular ones are what you’ll mostly see. And unlike coffee tables, center tables are more well-suited for large spaces. 

The thing with furniture is that many of them, especially those that belong to the same category, almost look the same. And at times, we think that maybe they function the same way. However, when you look closely, they do have their differences. Furniture pieces like the center table and coffee table are products of furniture evolution over the years that came about when people saw the need for one, thus leading them to create furniture that serves not only aesthetics but also convenience and functionality. Given their differences, it’s still certain that both the center table and coffee table are essential furniture pieces that complete any interior look, particularly the living room. 

We hope that this article has helped you know more about the differences between a center table and a coffee table.

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