apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Chrome and glass or all glass. Or all white.

But yes, a living room without any sort of coffee table looks unfinished (imho).

You want a clear one, so my first thought was lucite. If glass, keep the frame unobtrusive.

Speaking as someone who doesn't have a coffee table due to space and not finding anything I like... yes, you need a coffee table. Trying to serve after-dinner coffee in the living room without one confuses and alarms guests, who tie themselves in knots trying to figure out where to set their cups.

a glass table would help show off that great rug and help keep the room looking light. something like this perhaps:

http://www.boconcept.us/default.aspx?id=75253&ImageID=41

i love what you have going in your new place. keep it up and do a house tour when you're done!

I'd recommend either a coffee table or ottoman. A friend bought this curved acrylic coffee table for her place, and it looks good:

http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=114&f=699

My favorite coffee table of all time (when you have the space for a square) is the Mies Barcelona table.

But there is also no rule you need to settle for one large table, or even one "coffee table height". Consider two cubes, or something a little taller.

Your room doesn't read as mostly red and black to me - more like beige, cream, black and turquoise (maybe it's the photo though). I think you have a few options for a coffee table - creamy white, clear (lucite/glass), black, maybe a very dark brown wood, or even a darker teal/turquoise if you wanted colour.

I think it's handy to have some kind of table in a living room, but instead of a big coffee table, you could get two smaller end tables, or something that works as both a table or a stool - like this or this or this - and put them in front of the sofa.

Because your area is smaller, I'd also suggest a clear table. You didn't mention budget but how about this clear table from CB2 for $249?

http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=114&f=699&viewall=1

I don't believe a coffee table per se is necessary. But you need something on which to place drinks, magazines, snacks, remotes, etc. You can get a few stools to group together as an ottoman/table, or scatter around the room, depending on the need. Or one large ottoman.

If you want to keep it visually open, I'm a fan of the CB2 plexiglass table. It's a great price for a good look.

One thing is bothering me about your photo - I like the rug, but it's way too small for that space. I would like to see something that goes under the front legs of the seating and reaches within a foot of the tv cabinet.

no, you don't need one; choose round glass if you do, though

even one "coffee table height"

Indeed -- sit on your sofa and measure where you want your table top to be. This is how you know what height you really want.

If CB2 is still doing the lucite nesting tables, that'd give you some flexibility. But DO NOT buy knock-offs on eBay without looking closely at the measurements -- some sets are several inches smaller on all dimensions.

But once you get the coffee table, pull the rug back toward the sofa. Don't center it in the negative space between sofa and TV.

I have a lot of the same color in my living room and I absolutely love your rug although it seems a tad small in the space... I vote for a med-large chocolate brown ottoman, you can always buy a colorful serving tray to place on top and utilize as a coffee table

Ditto on the clear glass or lucite. Great space!

I think that if you want to keep the space open in the middle of the room, you could buy some end tables instead. I do like the idea of a clear table in the middle of the room, as others have suggested.

Clear glass is the way to go for sure. Also, I love the rug! Where did you get it?

I agree that you need a larger rug. I like the rug that is there for style, but it seems to small... Can you buy the same rug and line them next to one another? Or, you could buy Flor carpet tiles to create a border for the rug to make it bigger...

I like the CB2 coffee table suggested above.

ZAshti, I'm not the OP, but the rug looks similar to one that I have seen at IKEA. I just looked online, though, and don't see it on their webpage.

But once you get the coffee table, pull the rug back toward the sofa.

He said it! He said it! I was starting to wonder if was time to send p(too) some virtual Advil and maybe a stiff drink, if he'd missed the need to move a rug...

Instead of getting one (bulkier?) coffee table, you could get two smaller, glass/clear tables. Something like this?

http://dwr.com/productdetail.cfm?id=0144

The advantage is that you can also move them around when company comes, etc.

Thanks Molly! I'll keep a look out at Ikea and other places.

We have nearly the same tv stand (i think you have the cb2 one and i have the ikea version) and the same color sofa. I recently bought the Slim line cocktail table from Room and Board. I like it because its pretty basic and has an industrial feel. Also, its only 36x12, so it doesn't take up much room.

Check it out here:
http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/product.do?method=get&id=341312&coll=377458&cat=91552828

I'm on board with the acrylic coffee table from cb2.

I love small, movable tables. Spool tables are good.

I have had a glass coffee table for ages. I like the way it looks but I am over having to Windex it constantly.

tam here,

thanks for the suggestions, and yes...the rug should be bigger than it is - i bought it at the urban outfitters store on lower broadway and not ikea - however i think i will get the next one there. small lucite or glass tables will definitely work - i agree and would never have thought of it on my own!

regarding the tv cabinet - it IS ikea with a slight modification - i bought and sanded a slab of wood from lowes and painted it matte black and added felt bumpers on the bottom so as not to scratch the top. this keeps the tv straight (it was crooked on the cabinet without it) and looks better.

more photos can be seen here so you can see the entire space...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cakelike/sets/72157603870599774/

Oh this room is crying out for one of those clear acrylic numbers.

I'm a fan of the classics. I have the Bertoia Bench in white, which is multifunctional (can be extra seating). It appears though it might be too long for your space. Many people are suggesting glass or acrylic. Another all time favorite and classic is the Fontana Table by Pietro Chiesa - one piece of clean glass - no other distractions, can go with any style. And as runner-ups may I suggest (1) a Saarinen coffee table with a wood top to match some of your furniture or classic white laminate or (2) Platner Coffee table by Knoll. All of these have a lightness about them. Good luck!

I also think the CB2 table is great for your room, but oooo, if you can swing the extra $$$ for the Bo concept table, (plus fixing the rug as above) that would really take the space into the wow zone.

Go for clear glass or lucite. You wouldn't want to hide that cool rug under a big hunk of wood.

I would suggest something woven ottoman/stool-type thing. It would add some texture. You could put a tray on top and use it as a table or take the tray off and use it as extra seating. Something like this:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20033919

Or something similar but darker, since you have darker colors.

Yup, I agree with all the glass/lucite/acrylic/plexiglass suggestions. The room needs a coffee table, but I think anything non-transparent would make the space look cluttered.

i agree with the other comments in terms of larger rug & lucite table and i think the space is looking great. however there are just a couple of things i would change around to see if it would work better: move the plant to the floor and put the magazine basket on the tray, ditch the lights on the tray, switch the mirrors to add more interest to the right wall, or find some art work to put up, buy a larger similar patterned rug from ikea {that beige carpet needs to be covered up!} and then the cb2 table. good luck & thanks for sharing!

i 2nd-- err...12th the lucite coffee table idea and was going to recommend the same one that Chin linked to...

If you don't mind spending a little more for glass.
http://www.surrounding.com/Products/FONTANAARTE/Fontana_Table.asp

Tamara, can I make a suggestion that has nothing to do with the coffee table issue? Your drapes don't go to the floor. If you don't want to replace them I would add a band of fabric to the bottom to bring them to the floor. Hanging a few inches above the floor is not a good look.

I agree that you need a much larger rug and I also agree that a lucite table would be a great look. Also, small storage ottomans with casters would work.

anne, i hear you...i was really disappointed when i realized that i had high water drapes...i will lower the curtain rods this week once i find the drill (its been missing).

Tamara, i agree with the clear table and a bigger version of the great rug. i love your pieces, and the room almost works, but the things on your wall bother me. the mirrors and shelf are very high in and aren't really interacting with the rest of your things. i would pull things down lower and/or add tall elements to bridge the gap (plants, standing screens, sculptures). i think a panel of patterned fabric or wall paper running up the middle of the wall behind the black chairs , with the mirror hung on top, would look great.