The other day I was at a friend's house when I noticed their new coffee table. I also noticed their place looked a lot less cluttered; the usual cluttery-collection of remotes and Wii/Playstation controls were no longer visible. Later, when it was game time, I discovered where everything had gone: inside the lift-top coffee table!
I liked the lift-top coffee table a lot and began browsing the web for some nice options. Here is what I found.
Rustic Storage Coffee Table (shown above the jump): This option from West Elm mixes the functionality with great, warm industrial style. Thanks to its clean lines, warm wood and steel base, it would be an easy fit in many types of decor.
Lucca (shown above): The Lucca table doesn't provide additional storage, but I like the warm spice finish and feel the lift-top is at a perfect height for placing a laptop on and doing some work in the living room.
Turner (shown above): The Turner table is good for smaller spaces and is well designed with a nice black finish. Because it is a smaller table, the storage space is more limited, but can still hold small items like remote controls, cards and small knick knacks you want to keep out of sight but pull out when you have company.
Herschell: If you want something more sleek and don't want to go for wood, the Herschell has a white piano painted finish and steel legs. There's ample storage space beneath, and it's versatile enough to fit in pretty much any room.
Aurora (shown above): The Aurora coffee table could work equally well in a home office or in the living room because of its modern and minimal design. It comes fully assembled and is available in a sleek gray or white.
Country Vista: This one is an option for those who have furniture in a more classic style and need a coffee table to match. It also has more storage compared to some of the other options. We like the heavy turned and tapered legs and the contrast between the oak veneer and the black finish on the legs.
(Images: as credited above)
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"Have you watched (hip new show)?"
"No, but I've heard it's great. Do you have it?"
"Yeah, it's on Netflix! Want to watch it? Everyone lift your plates and drinks, we need to get the remote!"
why not drawers?
You don't have to lift your plates and drinks, they'll stay on the table as it lifts. It's also a nice alternative to a TV tray if you want to eat in front of the TV.
I have a coffee table similar to these designs but it has drawers on the side & front to hide the remote etc. I have never used the middle part to hold anything and wont start.
I have a recliner with a built in refrigerator that will go great with this remote control table.
Remotes and such are easily and handsomely corralled in baskets, bowls, or as others have commented, drawers. If you want a lift-top for easier nibbling, I can see the appeal. To me, for clutter control, it's a no.
All jokes aside, Ligne Roset has a cool coffee table that turns into a dining table - great for a small apartment.
http://lignerosetny.com/ligneRatingSystem/productDetailHandler.ashx?img=crescendo_coffeelarge.jpg&filepath=coffeetables/crescendo_table.htm
i come to AT to see innovative, dyi design & decor.
not a $500 over-engineered coffee table.
One person's innovative is someone else's over-engineered. I have a small place and am seirously considering this as an alternative to a dining room table.
I considered this as an alternative to TV trays (much classier!) I would store paperwork and stuff in it. Heck, I have all sorts of weird stuff in the drawers of the tv stand!
west elm carries one http://www.westelm.com/products/rustic-storage-coffee-table-g569/?pkey=ccoffee-side-tables
Ahhh, how timely, i just visited my grandma, and was jealous of her neat-but-ugly lift top table, and how useful it was to keep the dog's nose out of our snacks- lo and behold that West Elm table is actually something I'd own :D thanks!
Funny I never even thought of these tables as ways to hide things from sight, but rather as a way to turn your living room table into a desk if you didn't have an office. It is perfect for sitting on the sofa or a chair and having your laptop while working from home.
Of course I am the type of person who loses things if I "put them away" so maybe that is why.
caseyinto - thanks! added your find to the post.
I'm surprised to see people dissing lift top coffee tables. My fiance has one, and it is so functional to be able to lift the table up and eat dinner while watching a movie etc, that we haven't gotten rid of it even though it no longer matches anything in the apartment. It is really the most useful piece of furniture we own. Also, we don't store anything that we need frequently inside it.
Get a universal remote that works for everything and you won't have to corral anything.
I still think the West Elm table is pretty neat. It looks nice and you can use it to hide all of your clutter (laptops, books, magazines, newspapers) in the time it takes the in-laws to walk up the driveway to the front door. What's not to like?
Ya I also have a universal remote- best purchase I ever made! I still keep my old remotes in a drawer because sometimes something screws up and you need the original remote.
Just saw this on Reddit this morning. How handy.
Just wanted to say that we have that West Elm coffee table and while it is super convenient and nice looking and all that, the craftmanship was REALLY poor. You can see even in the catalog picture that the top doesn't really shut completely, which is kind of annoying. Our's also had a lot of dings that they had filled in with wood putty that was a totally different color. We kept it because we were too lazy to disassemble and return it, but I just wanted to throw that out there for anyone considering purchasing it!
Finally a place for my bowl of buttons! Hah. But seriously, this thing looks quite convenient.
I think part of the point is to bring the food up to a higher level than a standard low coffee table height so you can eat comfortably. It helps to raise your eye level to watch the TV while you eat too.
I have one of these from Bo Designs and I love it. Helps me to keep my remotes, Bluetooth keyboard, power cords, etc organized. Also great as a little table for snacks, etc.
I must be the biggest uptight snob, or something. But no way do I want something that makes it *easier* to eat whole meals in front of the tv.
My cousin works at a furniture store that sells them. But they are a bit out of my budget, even with the "discount". As soon as she can cut me a better deal, I will be buying one! Perfect for small spaces
My father , who is wheel chair bound, has this table... and it enables him to have the table come to his height...and because it is difficult for him to pick things up he can keep the remote and his books right inside...it has changed his days dramatically...