A clear coffee table displays colorful floor cushions stored underneath.
Don't waste space when you pick the perfect coffee table for your living room. Look for designs that serve two purposes. The addition of a cushion can create instant seating on a coffee table, at the same height as seating on the couch. Hideaway cushions pull out when needed and stow -- often inside the table -- when you want to keep things simple. Some tables work to show off especially attractive cushion fabric and design. Does this Spark an idea?
See-Through Table
A clear coffee table, whether it's plexiglas or glass, acts like a display case for out-of-the-way floor cushions stored beneath it. The cushions become a design element in a living room -- coordinate them with upholstery colors or sofa cushions or choose a pattern that flatters an area rug. When extra seating is needed, the cushions can be scattered across the floor or grouped around the coffee table for Scrabble or Monopoly.
Double-Duty Ottoman
A large ottoman is a versatile addition to a small living room. Stacked with two thick cushions, the wood platform is the height of a coffee table. Set a decorative tray on it to hold drinks and snacks or collect magazines. Pull the cushions off for floor seating and use the wood base as a low table for dinner or popcorn while watching a movie or TV sports.
Antique Trunk
Turn an antique trunk into a bench and a coffee table with a custom cushion. A beautiful old trunk with a flat top will hold a full or half-cushion when you need extra seats. The half-cushion permits use of the flat surface for a vase or potted plant while the cushion provides a seat. Use two half-cushions for maximum flexibility. Toss them on the floor for floor cushions or hide them inside the trunk when you want to use it strictly as a coffee table.
Mission Table
Mission coffee tables have classic, clean designs that adapt easily to a number of furniture styles. The bonus is that they often come with a shelf underneath, which may end up as a dumping ground for old magazines, half-read books and anything left lying around the living room. Keep your coffee table shelf neat and useful by sliding decorative sofa and chair pillows under the table top when you want a change of scenery. The cushions are out of the way but easy to grab and deploy when company comes -- and you never have to worry about cleaning out the mess on the shelf under the table.
Tags: coffee table, coffee table, living room, floor cushions, when want