This Super Simple, Budget-Friendly Coffee Table Is the Real Design Star of My Living Room

Written by

Sarah Lyon
Sarah Lyon
Sarah Lyon is a freelance writer based in New York City who covers interior design and lifestyle content. She is constantly on the hunt for eye-catching pieces to add to her space and believes that a home is never truly finished being styled.
published Oct 5, 2021
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Gold frame glass square coffee table styled with books and candles and trinkets
Credit: Sarah Lyon

I wish I could take total credit for discovering my gem of a coffee table, but really, I owe it all to my mother. They do say, “Mom knows best,” for a reason, and mine tends to know exactly what I’m looking for in a furniture item, which has been super helpful throughout the process of slowly getting settled into my New York City apartment. 

Before I dive into this incredible (yet somewhat basic) find, let me start with a bit of context. Upon moving from Washington, D.C., to New York City this summer, I decided to downgrade from a large sofa to a loveseat. My new living room is a bit smaller than my old one, and I found that even when I did host friends in my former space, they tended to sit on accent chairs rather than beside me on the sofa. So I didn’t really need an extra-large piece of furniture. I purchased a fabulous, under $500 loveseat from World Market, which couldn’t be comfier, making it a total win. Then I was stuck with the conundrum of sourcing a coffee table that would pair well with the loveseat’s size and still make a somewhat stylish statement. 

Credit: Wayfair

In came my mother, who knew I was looking and decided to take matters into her own hands. While searching online, she came across Wayfair’s Frida Coffee Table, which she forwarded my way. At first, I was a bit skeptical about the $177 price tag — it sounded like a dream come true, of course, but how great could the table actually be for under $200?

After reading the reviews and double checking the measurements, I decided the Frida would probably work, and the gold color would be my best bet for blending perfectly with my camel loveseat and other accents. The table’s super simple style — literally just a thin, square matte gold frame and legs with a clear glass top — meant that there would be plenty of room for me to add my own personal touches. In general, I love the concept of taking a big box store find and making it feel a little more custom in a space through the use of accessories.

This was an A+ furniture decision. This table has already garnered tons of compliments over the past few months, and in the words of my mom, it looks really “sharp” in my living room. I love how the plain silhouette truly leaves plenty of room for creative styling; I decided to have fun with various piles of colorful coffee table books and small trinkets like candles, and the result feels personal to me but still classic. Because it’s so simple and traditional, this table can evolve with my style rather than shape my aesthetic in the way a trendier piece might. As another perk, the table is extremely lightweight, which is always a plus for a serial redecorator like me. I previously owned a heavy marble coffee table, and when it came time to replace the area rug underneath it, I was in for quite the ordeal. Lastly, because the table is clear, it also doesn’t take up a lot of visual space, even when I pile it high with books and more. This makes it a great small space solution as well.

Credit: Sarah Lyon

If you are in the market for a coffee table that’s wallet-friendly, versatile, and easy to decorate with, trust me: The Frida is a winner. I’d love to see how you’d style this piece in your own home, and I’ll be restyling mine whenever the mood strikes, too.