It's all about scale

  In recent weeks I've spent quite a bit of time looking for coffee and end tables for clients.  Getting the style and size right to work with the rest of the furniture in the space takes quite a bit of juggling and an  understanding of standard  furniture sizes.<br /><br />The standard height of a coffee table is between 16 - 18 inches, but some can be as high as 21 inches. How do you know which height to choose?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFV4y56gRd6QrUa_nbcLHU_05LBPpgBFZkKkFVW6zNS6jOvaMQ3XUcKcwzhd5HxcZnR3LDfVtVY6EEmhaZFkPCsSF0SM1_INVc1nqnJ8XY-FMfoGP0fccs2yz08hjArJEkaoMbwHbEfHgl/s1600/coffee-tables-MAIN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFV4y56gRd6QrUa_nbcLHU_05LBPpgBFZkKkFVW6zNS6jOvaMQ3XUcKcwzhd5HxcZnR3LDfVtVY6EEmhaZFkPCsSF0SM1_INVc1nqnJ8XY-FMfoGP0fccs2yz08hjArJEkaoMbwHbEfHgl/s400/coffee-tables-MAIN.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://style%20at%20home/"> Style at Home</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qFPTtYSim1McPvyMHLhyVzXQcJlMOpaLfDBPVCh0-mXL1r4CeBDeMpTEPBopysLljbYtLKFpXOIi8VCRYzTeqeA9lz6XwmCwmMs_U8FqtSnASOaCPB7r17qnlF9UwpnrjsgqLee_-del/s1600/decor+pad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>The answer relates to the height of the sofa/ chair. I prefer to see the coffee table about the same height as the top of the chair cushion or one or two inches lower.  The length of a coffee table is usually about 2/3 the length of the sofa not including the arms. Don't forget that you need at least 18 inches (24 is optimal) of space for your legs between a coffee table and the sofa.<br /><br /> The size  of your coffee table should work with your sofa and other furniture in your room. It should also work with the size of the room overall. Let's check this out. <br />  <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiY1TbZJkCI2ZN3BSwMu-9pC1QGA1lOdauqkzg5bPZ70To243ypxxGhUQvKusMKuvrlMpyJozp8ZHLs9ppAMOdI5CdyJ7aWdGEjcmMjfrUCthNPgHM1ieSwSTjRQOXCb1N5zFZ83tGrqga/s1600/decorpad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiY1TbZJkCI2ZN3BSwMu-9pC1QGA1lOdauqkzg5bPZ70To243ypxxGhUQvKusMKuvrlMpyJozp8ZHLs9ppAMOdI5CdyJ7aWdGEjcmMjfrUCthNPgHM1ieSwSTjRQOXCb1N5zFZ83tGrqga/s400/decorpad.jpg" width="382" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.decorpad.com/nextPhoto.htm?index=9&relatedPhotoId=298"> DecorPad</a></div><br />How do you feel about the coffee table choice in this lovely room?  I would like to see something longer (remember the 2/3 the length of the sofa rule). This little beauty is having a difficult time holding her own with this sofa. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qFPTtYSim1McPvyMHLhyVzXQcJlMOpaLfDBPVCh0-mXL1r4CeBDeMpTEPBopysLljbYtLKFpXOIi8VCRYzTeqeA9lz6XwmCwmMs_U8FqtSnASOaCPB7r17qnlF9UwpnrjsgqLee_-del/s1600/decor+pad.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qFPTtYSim1McPvyMHLhyVzXQcJlMOpaLfDBPVCh0-mXL1r4CeBDeMpTEPBopysLljbYtLKFpXOIi8VCRYzTeqeA9lz6XwmCwmMs_U8FqtSnASOaCPB7r17qnlF9UwpnrjsgqLee_-del/s400/decor+pad.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.decorpad.com/nextPhoto.htm?index=18&relatedPhotoId=10089"> DecorPad</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The soft colour scheme and small scale furnishings  in this room  appear overwhelmed by this large, dark, and tall coffee table, but I really like the table.  Sometimes the weight of a table is influenced by the colour and material choice not just the overall dimensions.  Darker colours and solid woods tend to look more visually weighted.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/75543/Grisell-Navas-contemporary-living-room-other-metros"><img alt="Grisell Navas contemporary living room" border="0" height="267" src="http://st.houzz.com/simages/75543_0_8-2801-contemporary-living-room.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><small><a href="http://www.houzz.com/professional/10230/Grisell-Navas" style="color: #444444; text-decoration: none;">Grisell Navas</a></small><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Don’t forget the size of the room when thinking about scale. Glass tables work well in smaller rooms because they give the impression of lightness -  space is not blocked out.</div><br /><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/133872/dakota-contemporary-living-room-san-francisco"><img alt="dakota contemporary living room" border="0" height="300" src="http://st.houzz.com/simages/133872_0_8-4065-contemporary-living-room.jpg" width="400" /></a><small> </small></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/133872/dakota-contemporary-living-room-san-francisco">Klang North West</a></div><br /> Even with two tables this room does not look over furnished. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/125762/Great-Room-traditional-family-room-miami"><img alt="Great Room traditional family room" border="0" height="267" src="http://st.houzz.com/simages/125762_0_8-8270-traditional-family-room.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><small><a href="http://www.houzz.com/professional/6004/Diana-Rodriguez" style="color: #444444; text-decoration: none;">Diana Rodriguez</a></small></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />If your room is spacious and/or the furniture is large in scale, choose heavier wood tables or ones with lots of  tiers or drawers.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/140440/Willowgrove-Living-Room-contemporary-living-room-other-metros"><img alt="Willowgrove Living Room contemporary living room" border="0" height="249" src="http://st.houzz.com/simages/140440_0_8-5495-contemporary-living-room.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="color: #444444;"><div style="text-align: center;"><small><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary/living-room" style="color: #444444; text-decoration: none;"></a> <a href="http://www.houzz.com/professional/17825/Atmosphere-Interior-Design-Inc" style="color: #444444; text-decoration: none;">Atmosphere Interior Design Inc.</a></small></div></div><br /><div><span style="font-size: small;">This is </span>a beautiful room with a colour scheme I'm partial to. Does the coffee table work for you?  I wouldn't want to try to place something on the table while sitting.  I'm such a stickler for function!</div><div style="color: #444444;"><small><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional/family-room" style="color: #444444; text-decoration: none;"></a></small></div>

It's all about scale

  In recent weeks I've spent quite a bit of time looking for coffee and end tables for clients.  Getting the style and size right to wor...

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