Tuesday, July 19, 2011

[ coffee table vs. ottoman ]

I'VE BEEN trying to decide whether to get a coffee table or an ottoman. We've been using an ottoman for many years (a black leather tufted one that I've made slipcovers for) and if I had been thinking straight, I would have had it shipped here. But it's in storage now so we need to decide on something.

As I've been gathering inspirational pics, I've noticed how just the style of coffee table in a neutral space can really alter the feel of the room. In a room of white slipcovers and neutral upholstery, it can quickly go from formal to modern to casual depending on what type of table you choose.


An ottoman can do the same thing. It can make the room feel cottagey, a bit masculine or glamorous.



So what type of person are you - a coffee table person or an ottoman person?

lisa


[unknown; brabourne farm; caldwell flake; decorpad; house beautiful;
phoebe howard; 7,8 skona hem; 9, 10 houzz; style at home; country living;
houzz; midwest living; elle decor]

15 comments:

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Ha! I like your Ikea tale. There are no barbers in the mall here since salons are separate for men and women. :/ Thankfully, my girlfriend who lives close by and used to work for L'oreal in the States is the one who cuts my hair and that of my boys. my husband goes to some Indian guy and pays 1.5 KD to get his hair cut.

We only go to Ikea before the crowds arrive -- which is usually from 2 pm onward. And I always enter the store backwards. Everything I want (frames, candles) are at the back of the store. :)

I have a tiled coffee table in the living room. An old wooden trunk in the tv room. I like the 2nd inspiration photo although it is not my style right now at all. Something about it just speaks to me. I see you bought lots of white Ikea frames.

Have a great day. Tammy

HK Badger said...

I definitely agree with you on how important a coffee table is to the vibe of a room! And I was in the exact same situation having left our coffee table in London and now that we're in Hong Kong I've spent ages researching coffee tables to find the right one.

We've gone for quite a modern decor so I've ordered a glass table. It's arriving this week so very excited!

Good luck with your search!

FiliGrace said...

Fantastic photo examples! Thanks a lot!
I'm more a coffee table person. Never had an ottoman, but I have a feeling that it not so practical to put some glasses etc on ottoman, without a tray.
Greetings from Poland!

Karen said...

You're absolutely right and the images you show illustrate that point so well. I was trying to imagine the coffee table in the first photo replacing the one in the second. It really would alter the look of the room dramatically.

quintessence said...

While I love the look of an ottoman, I'm definitely a coffee table girl. We have too many people and too much movement for an ottoman in any of the trafficked rooms - I really need a stable flat surface. I also use trunks sometimes because I'm always looking for extra storage!!

jeanette from everton terrace said...

I have been both but right now I'm an ottoman gal. It's just my husband and I at home now so we don't need a big space to put things and I see iras one more thing to dust :)

Really like that long low one though. Has me thinking...

Lynda @ Happenstance Home said...

I just had to pin some of the rooms you pictured here. It ended up that the ones I pinned all had coffee tables. I really do like the idea of a soft ottoman though!

Meeling said...

I like both, but probably if I had to choose I'd say table. We have a vintage danish modern rosewood one that we love...it's one of my fave furniture pieces in the whole house.

Can't wait to see what you pick.

Mary Ann Pickett said...

I am both! We have an ottoman in our small seating area in the kitchen and a hard table in the living room. Can't wait to see what you decide.

Pinecone Camp said...

I'm a coffee table person! I love ottomans, but I would worry I'd ruin hit with spilled red wine, dark denim, etc. ;)

paintingpam said...

I'm a coffe table person!! Great photos and examples of both.
www.papermajik.etsy.com

Jo @ In Corners of My Mind said...

Tough call...right now with two little kiddos running about I am an ottoman girl with a tray on top for drinks and such...but I think my heart lies with the coffee table...you can style it more easily and change said style to suit your mood. When wee hands are no longer an issue the table comes back out...I think...though now I'm thinking I might like a slipcover for the ottoman...thanks!

designchic said...

So many beautiful images, and I love both, but I am loving tufted ottomans right now...so chic!!

emily said...

Such great pics! I always thought I was a coffee table person, but after having an ottoman, I love having a place to prop my feet up! Or having extra seating!

mydeco said...

I love the bright, fresh and open feel of these places, with added bursts of colours great pics!

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