Questions & Answers
Our trusted network of 1stDibs sellers answer common questions
Can a coffee table be too low?
1 Answer

Yes, a coffee table can be too low. Most experts recommend choosing a coffee table that is around one to two inches lower than the seat height of your sofa or loveseat. You may find it difficult to access items on the tabletop while seated if you choose a shorter table. In addition, an overly low coffee table can make a room feel cramped or unbalanced. However, there are exceptions to this rule. Sometimes, designers intentionally place ultra-low coffee tables in spaces to create a bold contrast in a large room. Feel free to break from convention when choosing a coffee table. What's most important is that the finished result appeals to you and allows you to enjoy your seating area to the fullest. Shop a wide range of antique, vintage and contemporary coffee tables on 1stDibs.
1stDibs ExpertAugust 8, 2024
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Shop for Coffee Tables and Cocktail Tables on 1stDibs
Jean Claude Dresse Mosaic Coffee Table in Brass
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Jean Claude Dresse, coffee table, brass and lacquered steel, Belgium, 1970s
Enchanting coffee table designed by Belgian artist Jean Claude Dresse in the 1970s. This round table is e...
Category
Vintage 1970s Belgian Post-Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Brass, Steel
Rare Jean Claude Dresse Mosaic Coffee Table in Hematite
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Jean Claude Dresse, coffee table, resin, hematite, lacquered steel, Belgium, 1970s
Jean Claude Dresse’s work is typically characterized by brass and resin; his use of hematite is un...
Category
Vintage 1970s Belgian Post-Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Steel
George Nakashima 'Slab' Coffee Table in English Walnut
Located in Waalwijk, NL
George Nakashima for George Nakashima Studio, 'Slab' coffee table, English walnut, United States, 1964
American woodworker and designer George Nakashima demonstrates his mastery of ...
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Walnut
Oldowan II — Sculptural Coffee Table
Located in NEW YORK, NY
The Oldowan II Coffee Table is conceived as a sculptural object defined by mass, balance, and elemental form. Its asymmetrical silhouette draws from early lithic structures, where fu...
Category
2010s Portuguese Primitive Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Cast Stone
$9,800 / item
1960s Roger Capron Style Brutalist Oak Coffee Table, Red Ceramic Tiles
By Roger Capron
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Oak frame construction supports a grid of red-glazed ceramic tiles in varying hues. Chunky rectangular legs provide architectural support beneath the low-profile form. The tile surfa...
Category
Vintage 1970s Dutch Brutalist Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Ceramic, Oak
Hollywood Palm Regency Giltwood and Glass Cocktail Table Maison Charles Style
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Hollywood Regency carved giltwood and biomorphic glass coffee table, in the manner of P.E. Guerin. This elegant cocktail table features a 3/4 thick curved glass top held aloft by fo...
Category
Vintage 1950s Hollywood Regency Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Glass, Giltwood