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How-to Choose the Right Coffee Table (Plus 46 Options Under $300)

The best coffee tables for every type of space – even a small living room. Plus 46 budget friendly options under $300!

As you look for a new coffee table it can be overwhelming! They come in so many shapes and finishes it’s hard to know how to choose the right coffee table.

Here I’ll teach you the basics for finding the best choice for your decor and decide if round, square, or a rectangle coffee table is right for your room.

Plus look at the how you maximize your square footage to choose the right sized coffee table even in a small apartment.

I’ve linked all types of coffee tables. Find the perfect coffee table on a $300 or under budget. Have fun shopping!

Coffee Table Styles

When you look at your living or family room, what do you think will complement the space the best.

Do you want a modern clean look, industrial, farmhouse, or traditional.

Really look at your current or planned style to see what will work best.

There are a ton of different styles of coffee tables in a variety of materials. 

Different types of Materials:

  • Wood
  • Marble or stone 
  • Mirrored 
  • Glass or acrylic
  • Upholstered
  • Woven
  • Natural materials (like cork)

Think through how durable you need the top to be?

Do you need it to be cleanable or do you want to put your feet up on the table.

A nice coffee table alternative is an upholstered ottoman styled coffee table.

They can be covered in fabric or leather and look amazing, but aren’t the most practical since they are hard to clean.

You also have to use a tray for drinks, so they are limited in their use.

Or maybe you need extra storage space and want to consider a storage ottoman.

Can the top of the table handle people who don’t or won’t use a coaster?

A glass top might be the better choice, if you need to be able to wipe spills.

Qualities to look for in a coffee table:

  1. Will the top be durable?
  2. Is it cleanable?
  3. Does it fit with my decor? 

This time I chose not only a beautiful coffee table, but one that was WAY more durable.

The white lacquered top completely changed the space and I can spray it down to clean – perfect!

If you are putting the coffee table in a room that doesn’t get a ton of use, then you have unlimited options and can focus just on the style.

Post contains hand selected products, with affiliate marketing links throughout {full disclosure here} 

Shop the Room

Types of Living Room Coffee Table Finishes

Next, think about what kind of finish you want the coffee table to have.

Does the finish coordinate with the rest of your furniture?

I’m a BIG fan of mixing a variety of finishes in a room.

You can mix painted and stained or stained and metallic easily for a visually interesting look.

Or think about mixing in woven or natural material coffee tables. 

Typical Furniture finishes:

  • Stained
  • Painted
  • Metallic
  • Weathered

There are so many options, so you need to narrow down your choice by deciding what look you want to achieve.

Do you want it to be a statement piece that anchors the room?

Should the finish add some interest or do you want the coffee table to match the rest of the accent furniture?

For instance, if everything is paint get a painted coffee table or if everything is stained look for a coffee table that is predominately stained. 

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right-size-shape-coffee-tables-under-300

Function of the Coffee Table

Now you need to think about how you are going to use the coffee table for your seating arrangement.

Do you need additional storage for the room?

There are new styles of coffee tables that store things like your favorite books and remote controls.

If you need a coffee table with the added benefit of a computer desk, there are lift-top coffee tables.

Or like the look of a lower shelf to display decor or a large table where you can play board games?

Should the coffee table be a focal point in front of your sofa and take up a lot of space?

In my mom’s large open living room a coffee table is THE focus of the room and can be in smaller spaces.

These are all things to think about before you make your final choice.

How-to Choose the Right Shape Coffee Table

Last, but not least you will need to think about your living space, the size of the coffee table, and the shape.

In particular, you should make sure everyone sitting around the coffee table has easy access and there is plenty of surface area.

That way they can easily reach the table and set down a drink or plate.

How-to determine Coffee Table Dimensions

  • A rule of thumb is coffee tables should be no longer than 2/3 the length of your sofa
  • Leg room should be no less than 1.5 feet to 18 inches of space between the coffee table and your seating.
  • You should be able to easily walk between furniture pieces and also be able to sit and reach the table.
  • Coffee table height should be in relation to your sofa cushion height. Standard height is around 18 inches.
  • The top of the seat cushion should be your guide to the height of the coffee table.

Let’s look at some layouts get an idea of how the furniture can be arranged with the various shapes of coffee tables.

My main reason in showing you these layouts is to show you scale and the distance between furniture.

These layouts can been used even in a tiny living room or studio apartments – just smaller size furniture or limit the number of pieces.

That same advice is true for larger living rooms, where the scale of the furniture is bigger.

Look for large coffee tables.

Sofas with a Rectangular Coffee Table

Furniture Layout 2 Sofas Rectangular Coffee Table

Having a rectangular table that is a little larger is perfect for this furniture layout with sofas directly across from each other and a chair at the end. 

Or in a seating area with a sofa on one side and two chairs on the other.

Best Coffee Table for a Small Room or a Narrow Living Room

  • Oval coffee tables or narrow rectangular coffee tables are best in smaller rooms.
  • In general, a good choice is a smaller table that are more narrow.

Everyone in the room has access to using the coffee table, so they can prop up their feet or set down a drink. 

You can add a small side table for drinks as well.

Sectional Sofa and a Round Coffee Table

Furniture layout round coffee table sectional sofa and 2 chairs

Many people have sectional sofas and get confused by what shape table will look best.

The best approach with a sectional sofa is to focus on tucking the coffee table into the L shaped area.

Great Coffee tables for Sectional Sofas

  • Square coffee tables or round are a good option for sectional sofas.
  • For a 3-seat sofa a rectangular coffee table is the best choice to fit within the space.

Both a round or square table fit nicely in that space, if you have a shorter sectional like I show above. 

If the “sofa” part of the sectional has 3 cushions and is longer, then an oversized rectangular coffee table may be best. 

Deep Sofa and a Large Square Coffee Table

Furniture layout large square coffee table sofa and 2 chairs

In this layout, both the sofa and chairs are really deep at 44 inches.

Oversized furniture in larger rooms coffee tables have to be dealt with differently.

When furniture is deep and large filling up the room, the coffee table will have to match the other pieces.

An oversized square coffee table looks amazing in a space like this!

Note that the larger the table the higher the price!

Shopping tip!

BEFORE looking for a coffee table, make sure to write down the measurements of the room. Get a general idea of the maximize size that will fit in your living room. Draw a basic furniture plan online or graph paper to refer to as you shop…especially online!

Before You buy a coffee table: 

  • Use painters tape on the floor to map out the measurements of the coffee table to make sure it fits.
  • Measure and make sure you have 1.5 ft of space around the coffee table and other furniture
  • Hold up a tape measure to see the height of the table…is it around the same height as your furniture seats?

You will then see if you have enough or too little space between the furniture and the coffee table. 

  • Choose a coffee table that fits with the scale of the room and furniture leaving enough space to walk between the furniture. 
  • Don’t push all of your furniture against the walls, but instead pull pieces together leaving about 1.5ft between the table and seating pieces. 

Is this all starting to make sense now? Hopefully the answer is yes!

Coffee Tables for $300 or Less

Now that you now how to choose a coffee table that will look like a designer found it for you it’s time to go shopping!

There are coffee tables for each shape to make this as easy as possible with a variety of styles from modern, transitional, and traditional design.

Plus a variety of finishes so you can find something that works in your existing space. 

Hover over each option to see the price.

Prices have been rising and furniture manufacturing delayed (pandemic effect), so I am sorry if they are more then $300 now or out of stock!

What do you think of all of these choices?

Isn’t it amazing what gorgeous design can be purchased for under $300 and sometimes half of that?

Good luck in your decorating adventures and I hope you find something you love!

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Until next time…

Porch Daydreamer

Tracey

8 Comments

  1. Mary Evans says:

    Tracey, thanks for the most knowledgeable post on coffee tables. Everything I wanted to know and even beautiful coffee tables to view. Found several I really like and using your guidelines they will work in my space. Thanks again for giving me information I needed and will use.

  2. I have a z Gallerie deep sofa beige color and across from it a white lacquer floating Tv stand. Was thinking to do a round nesting coffee tables in a wood reddish brown wood tone To change up the straightness if that make any sense. It it’s been difficult

  3. I love the diagram you have with the two chairs, deep sofa, and square coffee table. It looks so balanced and symmetrical. My husband and I are wanting to remodel our home and we’re looking at furniture. We’ll have to figure if a setup like that will work with our home. I love the idea of a square coffee table, though.

    1. Mindy, I’m SO glad this was helpful! Symmetry is my jam 🙂 That’s always my preference, when I can make it happen.

  4. Theresa Southerland says:

    Incredible as always! LOVE ALL of these coffee tables! You make decorating easy 🙂

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