Unifying your Living Room, the End Table
If you are looking for furniture to round out your living room or family room but you don’t want the new furniture to compete with what you have, a special end table or pair of tables may be both economical and aesthetically pleasing. Choosing your end table based on a complimentary style or for a bit of contrast will share your personality with those you entertain.
If you prefer an end table that matches your current furniture, then start your search based on the name of the manufacturer of your predominant piece. Often you can find the manufacturer offering similar items or find another manufacturer who has incorporated the elements of you furniture that you like best into an end table that will coordinate with your other pieces.
If you prefer instead a contrasting end table, the choices are endless. End tables come in every shape, size and height. You can find end tables as low as 12” most often aimed at modern aficionados who have very low furniture and certain Asian furniture lovers as some Asian cultures still enjoy kneeling on the floor instead of sitting on a sofa. It is also possible to find an end table almost as high as a bar most often used in the kitchen and bathroom. These end tables are counter height, approximately 30” tall. End tables this high are unusual, but possible to find.
As far as shapes, a single end table can look wonderful in any shape. Oval tops, triangle tops, rectangular and square tops are the most common shapes. An increasingly popular style of end table is the foldable top with collapsible legs. Again the top shape can be just about anything. The great benefit of this style is its portability. If you find yourself needing extra space every once in a while or you need a table in a place that does not lend itself to the permanent placement of a table – say in the middle of a pathway, a collapsible end table can solve your problem without creating extra grief for you.
An end table is a multipurpose table. Many are used for the spill-over of a room: the magazines, place to rest a glass, place to store the rooms necessities: cards, small pillows, etc. They can also be used to create ambiance. By placing a budding floral arrangement you bring excitement and anticipation to the room. By placing a photo of loved ones, you share memories. By placing small trophies and awards you share your accomplishments.
End tables make ideal spots to congratulate your household members by sharing their accomplishments and beauty. The elevated surface of the end table, yet petite footprint is an ideal combination of characteristics for such use. An end table solve the dilemma of wasted space between furniture pieces and catches spillover from our lives for later sorting. I use an exquisite end table near a book case to store my briefcase and keys so I never have to hunt for them.
