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How to Use an Ottoman as a Coffee Table





Coffee tables don’t often drive the design of a room, but they can be a statement piece instead of an afterthought. Equally important as the style you choose, the shape and proportion of your coffee table will make sure it’s a functional team player in your living or sitting room. Here are 23 Ottoman Coffee Tables to help start your search.

1) HomCom 40” Mid Century Modern Coffee Table | 2) HomCom 43″ Modern Lift-Top Coffee Table | 3) Ashley Furniture Signature Design – Kelton Coffee Table with 2 Stools | 4) Tucson Black Leather Tufted Top Coffee Table | 5) Ashley Furniture Signature Design – Merihill Coffee Table | 6) Kardiel 1956 Arch Mid-century Modern Coffee Table | 7) Furinno 11158DBR/BK Coffee Table with Bins | 8) Furniture of America Julius Round Coffee Table | 9) Homelegance Rowley 5-Piece Gas Lift Dining Table Set | 10) Furinno 11173 Just 3-Tier No Tools Coffee Table | 11) Emerald Home Chandler Rustic Industrial Coffee Table | 12) Yaheetech Modern 2 White Drawers Table | 13) Yaheetech Modern Black Wood Coffee Table Multi Tier Design | 14) 4D Concepts Large Faux Leather Coffee Table | 15) Southern Enterprises Slatted Bench, Coffee Table | 16) Flamant Grenoble 4 Drawer Coffee Table | 17) Furniture of America Julius Round Coffee Table | 18) Southern Enterprises Nylo Storage Cube Table and Ottoman Set | 19) Fine Mod Imports FMI1119-cherry Tribeca Coffee Table | 20) BirdRock Home Woven Seagrass Coffee Table | 21) Simpli Home Amherst Coffee Table | 22) HomCom 43″ Modern Lift-Top Coffee Table | 23) Ashley Furniture Signature Design – Gately Ottoman Coffee Table |

Using Ottomans for Coffee Tables

Evaluate Your Space

Check the dimensions of your living room and the surrounding furniture, particularly any seating you plan to use around the coffee table area. In general, people who have small spaces are the prime candidates for replacing coffee tables with one or two ottomans. Ottomans tend to be compact, low-profile and easily moved to corners or other areas when you require uninterrupted floor space.

Consider Ottomans of Varying Heights

Some people prefer an ottoman substitute that has the same profile as a normal coffee table, typically lower than the surrounding chairs or couches but high enough so that using its surface is practical.

Most people prefer to use an ottoman literally as a coffee table, be it for sipping espresso or drinking margaritas. However, you can opt for a lower ottoman if you plan to surround it with throw pillows or floor cushions as opposed to taller seating. This arrangement works particularly well if you have very tight space or prefer more flexible layouts and seating for guests.

Think of Storage and Use

Some ottomans come with cushioned tops that lift to reveal hidden storage. Other ottomans have a raised surface with taller legs or even a magazine shelf underneath. Some ottomans come equipped with a tray-top table that you can remove or rotate. An ottoman may come in a geometrical shape, such as a circle, oval, rectangle or square, or it may lie low to the ground and have a pouf shape.

Some ottomans come in pairs that connect or even in sets of four or five that join to form a circle. If you like a coffee table option that is lightweight and streamlined, a single, bench-style ottoman or two small square ottomans function well.

Choose a Fitting Finish

For a true coffee table-like feeling, use ottomans with wooden tray tops or luxe leather upholstery. Remember that a beautiful finish may demand more maintenance than you wish to dedicate. In that case, choose a lightweight and dark fabric that has a moisture-resisting treatment on its surface to make for quick cleaning.

Experiment With Layouts

It may seem obvious to set an ottoman or a pair of ottomans in front of the love seat and call it a day, but your ottoman’s versatility means you have a greater range of layout options. Try setting an ottoman on either side of a couch or love seat to create end tables. Push ottomans up to a picture window to serve as impromptu window seats. Place four square ottomans together to make a large square shape for a modern look.


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