Pull Off This Classic Come-back Living Room Trend: Ultra Low Coffee Tables

Written by

Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director at AT Media

published Dec 2, 2015

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A Tour of AphroChic’s Stylish Show Home at Helms Bakery (Image credit: Jessica Isaac)

You might not think about coffee table heights as the sort of thing that fluctuates throughout the years, but like any design element, the ideal coffee table height not only changes from room style to room style, but also according to what’s in vogue in living rooms that are being lived in, in the current moment.

Low coffee tables are just what they sound like: coffee tables with a top surface that sits a fair bit lower than your usual coffee table find. Sometimes a thin top material sitting on super low legs, other times a solid piece of material that just doesn’t sit very high, low coffee tables come in a wide variety of shapes colors, materials and textures. There’s no official “you must be this tall or under” to be considered a low coffee table; they’re usually categorized by a close-to-the-floor, squatty vibe.

Christopher & Sara’s Dream Home House Call (Image credit: Submitted by Sara / Fern and Roby)

Why you might want one

If you’re looking to create a casual, laid-back feel in your living room, a low coffee table might be just the look you’re going for.
If your sofa or side chairs happen to be incredibly low themselves, a low coffee table might be the right solution for you.

Why a low coffee table might not be a good fit for your living room

You need extra storage (and therefore won’t be able to store as much stuff in a lower-than-usual coffee table).
All your existing furniture sits high or of normal seat height.
Your living area shares a large room with other room functions. (A low living room coffee table and floor cushion arrangement might look odd if it’s sitting next to a dining room area with a particularly tall table or chairs, for instance.)