A coffee table is usually the piece everyone in the lounge reaches for — for a cup of tea, a remote or a book — so its size and shape affect how comfortable the whole room feels. The right choice depends less on trends and more on your sofa, your layout and how you move through the room. Here’s how to decide.
Start With Your Sofa and Layout
Before looking at styles, note three things: the length of your sofa (or the length of each side of a corner sofa), the height of its seat cushions, and the routes people take through the lounge. Then use these widely used rules of thumb as a starting point:
- Length: a coffee table around two-thirds the length of the sofa usually looks balanced and is within reach from most seats.
- Distance: leaving roughly 40–45 cm between the sofa and the table gives legroom while keeping the table within easy reach.
- Height: a table at about the height of the seat cushions, or slightly lower, is comfortable to reach from a seated position.
- Walkways: keep a clear path of roughly 75 cm or more where people regularly walk around the table.
These are guides rather than fixed rules — a smaller lounge may need a smaller table, and that’s fine.
Which Shape Suits Which Layout?
Rectangular — for a standard sofa facing a TV or fireplace
A rectangle follows the line of a straight sofa, so everyone along it can reach the table. It’s also the natural choice when two sofas face each other.
Square — for corner and L-shaped sofas
A corner sofa creates a deep, square-ish seating area. A square table can sit in that space and be reached from both sides of the “L”. For very large corner sofas, two smaller tables side by side can work better than one oversized piece.
Round — for smaller rooms, busy walkways and armchair groupings
With no corners, a round table is easier to walk around and gentler on shins — useful in tighter lounges and family homes. It also suits a seating group of a sofa and armchairs arranged around a central point.
Oval — a softer rectangle
An oval offers the reach of a rectangle with rounded ends, which helps the flow in a narrower room.
Tiered or nesting — when you need more surface
Two-level or double designs give you an extra surface for display or everyday items, or allow you to spread the pieces out when entertaining.
Think About Visual Weight
In a smaller lounge, a glass top lets light and the floor show through, so the table feels lighter even if it’s a generous size. Solid, upholstered or heavy-looking tables add presence and suit larger rooms where the table needs to anchor the seating. Metallic frames — gold, silver or platinum tones — can pick up finishes elsewhere in the room, such as lamp bases, mirror frames or chair legs.
Coffee Tables at Luxury Furniture Supplies
Our Coffee Tables collection currently includes two glass-topped designs:
- The Lunar Double Coffee Table (Clear Glass) — a dual-tiered design with a clear glass top and metal frame, offered in gold, platinum and silver options.
- The Four Square Golden Table — a glass top on a geometric four-square metal base, offered in coal, gold and platinum options.
Before ordering, ask us to confirm the exact dimensions so you can check them against your sofa length, seat height and walkway measurements.
An Alternative: A Storage Ottoman
If you’d like a softer centrepiece that also hides throws and remotes, a storage ottoman topped with a tray can act as a coffee table and extra seat. The Luxury Italian Red Velvet Storage Ottoman is one example. Our guide to choosing an ottoman, storage bench or pouffe explains the differences.
Planning the Whole Lounge?
If you’re choosing a sofa at the same time, measure for both together. Our guide to buying a sofa online in South Africa covers what to check, and our guide to choosing an accent chair helps you complete the seating. Browse our sofas and lounge furniture for coordinating pieces.
Coffee Table Checklist
- I have measured my sofa length (or each side of my corner sofa) and seat height.
- I have chosen a shape that suits my layout: rectangular, square, round, oval or tiered.
- I have allowed roughly 40–45 cm between the sofa and table.
- I have kept a clear walkway around the table.
- I have considered glass versus solid tops for the size of my room.
- I have confirmed the exact dimensions and finish options with the retailer.
- I have marked the table outline on the floor to check the fit.
Delivery and Warranty
Nationwide delivery is R500. Gauteng orders above R10,000 qualify for free delivery; Gauteng orders of R10,000 or less, and all orders outside Gauteng, are charged R500 — so combining a coffee table with other lounge pieces in one Gauteng order can take it over the free-delivery threshold. Your furniture is covered by our 6-Month Quality Warranty against qualifying manufacturing defects. See the Delivery & Quality Warranty page for full terms and the Furniture Delivery Areas page for your city.
Need Help Choosing?
Send us your sofa measurements and a photo of your lounge on WhatsApp (066 087 0705) and we’ll help you compare options. Or browse the Coffee Tables collection.
