We've all been conditioned to think a living room isn't complete without a coffee table. Sure, coffee tables are handy; I've eaten many dinners off of mine. But sometimes coffee tables just get in the way, and you wish for the open floor space to play a board game, let the kids or pets frolic, play the Wii or Kinect, or do a workout video or any number of things an open floor plan is nice for. Enter… the coffee table on wheels.
In addition to the sheer enjoyment and versatility a coffee table on wheels can give, it's also extremely practical. Effortlessly move it out of the way to vacuum, mop or sweep underneath. Move it to the side for an instant low profile buffet or bar. Here are five attractive coffee tables on wheels to fit the bill: industrial, contemporary or traditional.
Shown above from left to right:
1. French Industrial Coffee Table, $649.00 from Wisteria
2. Go-Cart Camo Two-Shelf Table-Media Cart, $159.00 from CB2
3. Boksel Coffee Table, $169.00 from Ikea
4. Montrose Cocktail Table, $249.00 from Bring It Home Furniture
5. Glass Top Furniture Factory Cart, $1,395 from Restoration Hardware
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Ours isn't on wheels, but it's from IKEA so it's lightweight instead of solid wood... super easy to move out of the way if we want to play kinect.
It's fairly easy to add casters to many coffee tables in styles suited to them. Nice also to have the kind that lock for those times you and guests want to put your feet up, to the table (and your drink) doesn't get away from you. :)
Ours is a long metal bench just the right height for eating in front of the flatscreen when we want to. And move for additional seating when we need it.
So many things can be enhanced by a nice set of casters -- esp. the vintage, or vintage-looking, kind. Anyone have any good sources for these? I've found some at tag sales but it would be nice to be able to order them.
I vote for no coffee table. Use a C-shaped end table and if you want to eat in on the sofa, you can slide it over and bring it right over your lap. Or just use a lap desk, like we do.
Our coffee-table-free living room:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/spiffariffic/6089042618/in/photostream
It opens up SO much space (esp for the portable beanbag ottomans so we can put our feet up)!
i love having a big coffee table for board games and puzzles. i'm not a big fan of sitting in chairs while doing that sort stuff. i feel more intimacy and fun sitting on the floor with some snacks and playing ticket to ride or mexican bingo while listening to music with my boyfriend and some friends. this could also be due to the fact i do not own a television.
i do, however, occasionally play a ps2 game, but we have a projector and a projection screen we can pull down when we need it.