A coffee table is a great place to put things. But where should you put the coffee table? In order to make this furniture more functional, you need to ensure that it’s not too close or too far from the couch.
This is because it should be close enough so that people can easily reach it when they are sitting on the couch and also far enough to walk around without bumping into it.
It’s best to have a coffee table that’s 14 to 18 inches away from the couch to make it easier to reach and sit comfortably.
This will allow for plenty of space for people to walk around and access other parts of the room.
To get the best viewing experience, you should have a couch or chair facing a TV seven to eight feet apart. In addition, it’s best to choose a table that is four inches shorter than your sofa.
You should choose end tables whose height is comparable to the arm of the couch or chair they will be placed next to. There should be a distance of about 3 ½ feet between two pieces of seating furniture facing each other.
Distance Between The Couch And The Coffee Table Explained
This seems like a silly question, doesn’t it? But this is a question that pops up a lot. For example, it’s natural for the coffee table to be positioned in the center when you arrange your living room furniture.
It usually looks best there from an aesthetic perspective. The problem is you won’t be able to reach them easily from your seat if they’re too far away, and you may end up with bruised knees if they’re too close!
A minimum of two feet should be left between the coffee table and the sofa in living room photos posted on Houzz and other showroom-style design-sharing websites. Despite its aesthetic appeal, this placement is just not welcoming to people.
Priority should be given to convenience when positioning it. In most cases, this will range from 14 to 20 inches.
How You Want The Room To Look
In the case of coffee tables used more for decorative purposes than for use, distance does not matter.
No need to worry if anyone can reach the table if you do not plan to allow drinks in your living room. You can place it anywhere if it’s not too close to the couch.
Explaining This Distance
In this case, the space between the sofa and the coffee table won’t be used for general passage and thus won’t receive much foot traffic.
Seating most people comfortably without bumping their knees on the coffee table should be possible with 14 inches of leg room.
The 20-inch distance still offers a convenient surface for drinks and bits (although longer arms may prefer this option) while maintaining enough space for walking between the sofa and coffee table.
When the distance between the sofa and the wall is 20 inches, even the tallest, lankiest person should feel comfortable. The situation will be far worse for short people who rarely entertain tall guests.
Size Of The Room
The size of your room is another factor to consider. Your furniture may need to be placed closer together if your room already has limited space. If you have a large living room, you can space the living room further apart.
You should, however, ensure anyone sitting on the sofa can reach the items on the coffee table without getting up. Coffee tables that are too far away require the user to get up or even strain to reach them.
Height Of Your Family Members
The height of the people who will use it most is one of the factors to consider. You might need to consider how much legroom each family member will require on the couch if they are likely to sit comfortably together.
It may be best to place your coffee table closer to your family, so they won’t have to reach too far for their drinks or remotes if they are on the shorter side.
On the other hand, to accommodate the long legs of your taller family members, you may need to place them further away.
Distance Between a Coffee Table and Sofa
It is generally recommended to place the coffee table within 14 inches to 18 inches of the couch. Despite being close, there’s still plenty of room for your legs.
Distance from Side Tables to Chairs
There might be a difference in the distance between a side table and a chair, sofa or coffee table.
It is ideal for measuring the space as close as possible to where you can set down the coffee or magazine. Try sitting in each seat and imagining setting it down.
Coffee Table To Sofa Size Ratio
In terms of visual size, the coffee table should be between ½ and ⅔ inches wide, at least. Buying a center table can be tricky because you cannot measure exactly, but “about half the size” is generally a good guideline.
Height of a Coffee Table
The heights of coffee tables vary quite a bit, but you should keep them close to the seat height of your sofa (within four inches in either direction).
Test It Out Yourself
If you want to know how far a coffee table should be from the couch, you should simply test it.
- You should sit on the edge of your seat as close to the edge as possible without fear of falling off.
- It’s time to get up.
- If you bump into the table, you will need to push it out a little further.
- Sit all the way back in your seat while holding a cup of coffee or tea.
- If you want to put your drink down on the coffee table, reach forward.
- Would you be able to do this comfortably, even if you had to shuffle forward a little?
- The sofa and coffee table might be too close together for people to walk between to get to their seats.
- Upon sitting back in your seat, ask someone to get to their seat.
- Push the table back even further if they’re stepping on your toes or bumping their legs against it.
- If you want extra comfort when reaching for the coffee table, ensure the table and the couch are within 6 inches of each other in height. It will make it easier for guests to put their drinks down without reaching up or down awkwardly.
Can My Coffee Table Be Higher Than My Couch?
The short answer is yes. You can have your coffee table higher than your couch. However, you should remember that coffee tables come in various heights, just like couches.
The Answer Is 4
You should leave 4 inches between the top of your coffee table and the seat of your couch for a more mathematical solution.
Therefore, you can have a table that is either 4 inches taller than your couch or 4 inches shorter than it. But, of course, the more you spread out, the harder it will be for you to comfortably reach for something on the table.
Low Table For A Low Couch
You don’t want to have too much space between the height of your coffee table and the height of your couch. Although they can be taller, you do not want too much distance between them.
It would look awkward and impossible to use if you did otherwise. Both couches and coffee tables are very low to the ground, so whenever you know you will have a low couch, you should look for a coffee table that is low as well.
How Much Room Do You Need Around A Coffee Table?
You should leave 14 to 18 inches of space behind the coffee table on any side that faces seating. The distance between the couch and the coffee table is likely to be short, so you won’t need to spend much time walking between them.
You need to leave 2 feet of space between the coffee table and the wall when your seating area has a fireplace or TV to allow people to pass without bumping into it.
Final Words
Recap: there should be a space between 14 and 18 inches. If possible, keep the coffee table within 18 inches of your couch but no closer than 14 inches away from it.
The table is close enough to allow enough legroom but has enough space to accommodate its intended use. If the location is much further away, you may have difficulty reaching it.
