Live Edge Black Walnut Burl Coffee Table
21st Century and Contemporary Rustic Nautical Objects
Wood, Burl, Walnut
Vintage 1950s American American Craftsman Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Walnut
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Minimalist Side Tables
Marble, Travertine
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Table Lamps
Plaster
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Flush Mount
Steel, Brass
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Baroque Commodes and Chests of ...
Walnut
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Chandeliers and Pendants
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Table Lamps
Wood, Parchment Paper, Hide
21st Century and Contemporary American Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights a...
Nickel, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Night Stands
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and...
Metal, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Chairs
Steel
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Glass, Fiberglass
2010s Austrian Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas
Upholstery, Wood
2010s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Oak
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Chrome
Recent Sales
Vintage 1960s American Rustic Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Wood, Walnut, Burl
20th Century North American Organic Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Maple, Oak, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary American Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Finding the Right coffee-tables-cocktail-tables for You
As a practical focal point in your living area, antique and vintage coffee tables and cocktail tables are an invaluable addition to any interior.
Low tables that were initially used as tea tables or coffee tables have been around since at least the mid- to late-1800s. Early coffee tables surfaced in Victorian-era England, likely influenced by the use of tea tables in Japanese tea gardens. In the United States, furniture makers worked to introduce low, long tables into their offerings as the popularity of coffee and “coffee breaks” took hold during the late 19th century and early 20th century.
It didn’t take long for coffee tables and cocktail tables to become a design staple and for consumers to recognize their role in entertaining no matter what beverages were being served. Originally, these tables were as simple as they are practical — as high as your sofa and made primarily of wood. In recent years, however, metal, glass and plastics have become popular in coffee tables and cocktail tables, and design hasn’t been restricted to the conventional low profile, either.
Visionary craftspeople such as Paul Evans introduced bold, geometric designs that challenge the traditional idea of what a coffee table can be. The elongated rectangles and wide boxy forms of Evans’s desirable Cityscape coffee table, for example, will meet your needs but undoubtedly prove imposing in your living space.
If you’re shopping for an older coffee table to bring into your home — be it an antique Georgian-style coffee table made of mahogany or walnut with decorative inlays or a classic square mid-century modern piece comprised of rosewood designed by the likes of Ettore Sottsass — there are a few things you should keep in mind.
Both the table itself and what you put on it should align with the overall design of the room, not just by what you think looks fashionable in isolation. According to interior designer Tamara Eaton, the material of your vintage coffee table is something you need to consider. “With a glass coffee table, you also have to think about the surface underneath, like the rug or floor,” she says. “With wood and stone tables, you think about what’s on top.”
Find the perfect centerpiece for any room, no matter what your personal furniture style on 1stDibs. Browse a vast selection of antique, new and vintage coffee table and cocktail tables today.
Read More
The Ultimate Guide to Types of Tables for the Home
Whether you’re just moving in or ready to give your home a makeover, our guide will give you pointers on tables that are fitting for every room, nook and hallway.
Riotous Shapes and Colors Have Made Uchronia’s Designs the Toast of Paris
Julien Sebban’s energetic design collective is radically reshaping the look of 21st-century European furniture and interiors.
Is Lionel Jadot the Willy Wonka of Upcycled Belgian Design?
From his massive collaborative workshop in a former paper factory, the designer concocts funky furniture from disused materials, as well as luxe hotel interiors like the new Mix Brussels.
Inspired by the Cosmos, Sandra Nunnerley’s Nova Table Has a Futuristic Feel
The designer’s innovative use of an unexpected material gives this console a lift.
This 19th-Century Gilded Desk Displays a Fanciful Kingdom in Marquetry
The stately piece brings both gravitas and whimsy to any work space.
In Guadalajara, These Luscious Side Tables Are Chiseled from Volcanic Rock
Use them as tables or stools, indoors or out.
How to Arrange Furniture + Layout Ideas
Here, we give design advice and show layout examples to help you create the perfect living room setup.
Why Hollywood A-Listers Can’t Get Enough of James De Wulf’s Concrete Furniture
Starting with a 900-pound Ping-Pong table, the Los Angeles designer has built a sturdy furniture-making career out of concrete.