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Different furniture have undergone changes over time, they have evolved from simple, utilitarian objects to more aesthetic, multifunctional pieces of the modern times. Why is this so? Well, it is because of the influence of society, technology, and culture originating from ancient times to the present time. Today’s coffee side tables are an offshoot of the traditional coffee tables. Both coffee and side tables serve the same purpose, but they also manifest diversity in terms of functions, styles, and placements.
Let’s Take a Look at a Coffee Side Table
It is the smaller, low table, and true to its name it is placed usually beside the sofa, often in a more informal setting. This coffee side table complements the main coffee table and its surface serves as an additional layer for drinks, books, or decors. Yes, it is very flexible because it can also be used as an accent item, adding color, texture, and interest to the living room.
Turning Our Attention to a Traditional Coffee Table
This table, on the other hand, is larger and positioned in front of the seating arrangement and becomes a focal point in the living room. It can accommodate everything from drinks and snacks to decorative items like vases, books, or trays, whether big or small, few or many.
What are the Key Differences between the Coffee Side Table and the Traditional Coffee Table?
Size and Placement
A very obvious difference between these two tables is their sizes and placements. The traditional table takes up more space due to its longer length and wider surface. They do not look overwhelmed when placed at the center of a more extensive seating arrangement.
Meanwhile, the coffee side table has a compact size which is suitable to be found just beside the sofa or armchair. Aside from that, they can be placed in smaller rooms, tight spaces, minimalist nooks, and for those who don’t need a large table but still want extra surfaces nearby.
Functionality and Convenience
Both tables let you put food and beverages on top of it but the traditional one provides a wider surface where you can also place the documents you’re working on or you can spread out items for group activities. It also has bigger drawers or shelves to accommodate more things in its more spacious storage area.
Coffee side table, on the other hand, also offers accessibility and convenience in smaller doses. You can put your cup of coffee, a book, a remote control, or a lamp on it and the furniture itself can be moved around more easily to different areas of the room.
Design and Style
A traditional coffee table is a statement piece, it can actually demand the style of the room, whether classic, modern, industrial, or eclectic. It becomes the focus of the living room with various significant design elements like symmetry, larger proportions, carved wood, glass tops, or metal frames.
In contrast, the coffee side table is not the main attraction, it focuses more on complementing the other pieces of furniture around the living room. It may come in various shapes, sizes, and materials but always comes smaller than the center table. You can make use of it as an accent item to introduce contrast or a pop of personality without overwhelming the space.
Room Layout and Flow
The traditional table is placed at the center as an anchor of the room also to facilitate easy access from all seats in the area. Only a larger space can accommodate this kind of layout where everybody shares a single large table.
On the other hand, it is different with the small and flexible nature of the side table, it can be moved near any side of the sofa or chair and serves the user intimately, so the layout becomes more dynamic.
Versatility and Mobility
When it comes to mobility, side table has the edge due to their lightweight and smaller size which would fit even in limited space. It is an ideal piece of furniture for people who like to change the arrangement of their living room more often.
On the contrary, the larger traditional table which is heavier tends to stay in one spot to become the main focus of the receiving area of the house.
Final Thoughts
Having come across the differences between these two tables, have you decided which one to purchase? But if you’re still undecided, you can actually have them both, a central coffee table surrounded by side tables, enjoying their combined benefits.