Hey there!
Last week on the blog, we talked about dark sofas and how to put some pep in their step with light-colored accents like pillows, throws and art. You can read that here.
But…the other way that you can create contrast is with your other furniture around your dark couch. Think coffee tables, accent tables, bookcases, etc. And don't worry all of you light sofa'd people out there…I got you covered in future posts, promise! But no matter what color sofa you have, creating contrast is always going to be important to add life and energy to it.
Today we'll focus on how to choose coffee tables and the different finishes (metal, stone, and wood) that you can use when you have a dark couch.
Quick note: I wrote a whole post about why you need a coffee table when you are selling your house and some inexpensive, quick options you can use if you don't have one here.
I am including shopping links to all of the coffee tables included in this post and I want you to know that these are brands that I stand behind. There is a lot of junk out on the internet and I only want to steer you toward brands that I know are quality brands. Many of these brands have traditionally been to-the-trade only but are now becoming more accessible online and I reallllyyy want you to know about them. I'm on a mission to stop filling landfills with poorly made, disposable furniture and sadly there is so much of that out there.
Back to the topic today…..So often people tend to choose dark furniture to “match” the feel of the dark couch and end up with a sunken, sullen feeling space. This is so not good for your soul or your sale!
And don't forget, you shouldn't ever buy a complete set of tables (coffee table and two end tables). Ever.
But why, Lori?
I say this with true love in my heart. Sweetie, that's a fast track to boring. I know that it makes your life easier in the moment. I do get that. But, it really leaves your house feeling like a furniture showroom and not a place that has warmth, character or a nice vibe to it. Don't you want a nice vibe? I thought so!
And guess what, if you are selling, buyers want a nice vibe and the camera wants nice contrast too. It's a win all around!
Just an FYI…I'm planning a post about how to mix and match your tables to make your life super easy when it's time for you to make that update. So fun, right?!
Ok, so before you go nutty and buy on an impulse, the first thing is to remember the rules about coffee tables which I talk more about here. I don't want you to find a fabulous coffee table and have your heart sink when it arrives and it's all wrong.
So let's talk about the finish options and show you some gorgeous and unique options:
Coffee Table Inspiration
Metal Coffee Tables
This is a great choice when you have kids–because you can easily wipe up crayon, markers or spilled anything–or you want to be bit glamorous, even when you have kids. It's also a nice way to add texture and shine to a space. Try to stay on the lighter side with your metal finish so that you actually get the contrast that we are looking for. Click on the image to get shopping links!
Stone Coffee Tables
I am so in love with marble coffee tables that it's a little ridiculous! But they are just so beautiful, sculptural and durable. Seriously why not have your coffee table be a stunning piece of art and a surface to roll out cookie dough while you binge-watch Netflix? You totally deserve that!
Wood Coffee Tables
My favorite wood coffee tables are those with patina and imperfection. I'm not a fan of painted coffee tables unless they are polyurethaned like crazy. They just chip too easily and show wear very quickly. I never wanted my house to be a place where I stressed over the finish on anything. If I can't put my feet up on the coffee table or felt like I needed a coaster for a drink, then it is not the coffee table for me. Nope. Not having it. And with a dark sofa, having a more natural wood in a lighter tone will always be better than something in a dark finish.
I hope that this has given you inspiration and some cool new resources and brands that you didn't know about already. I really want you to be educated as you go out and shop online. It's a crazy, wild west out there full of cheap impersonators that aren't worth your dollars and I want to help you know which path to take and which not to.
Definitely feel free to share this post on your social media sites, pin the images to Pinterest or leave a comment below (you have to scroll below the “you may also like…” section–I know, it's not an ideal location) to let me know if there are any other topics in the world of staging, design, etc that you would like to see covered here in the blog! This blog is for you and I really love hearing from you. Like really, really love it ; )
Oh and one more thing before you go! I have a great freebie “The Ultimate Coffee Table Styling Starter Kit” that you can download here. It has a super easy to follow formula for styling your coffee table right every time and shopping links to some really fun accessories to get it done!
xo,
Lori
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