Coffee tables often function as the centre of our living rooms, around which other furniture and the room’s energy revolve. They don’t just provide somewhere to rest drinks or books – the right coffee table can tap into your personal style and make your interiors shine, especially when you opt for something more unique.
We consider some great alternatives to typical contemporary coffee tables to provide your living room with that missing puzzle piece.
Chests, Trunks & Boxes
Vintage chests, trunks and boxes double up wonderfully as coffee tables and add endless character to your space. Weathered and worn chests that hint at an intriguing history provide a richness that you just don’t get with modern pieces.
Many antique chests from India and China offer stunning, intricate designs that will also bring vibrancy and elegance to your living room. Plain, undecorated chests and boxes are great if you want a more rustic or minimalist look.
Plus, with a chest or box, you also get the benefit of extra storage space, with plenty of room inside and often additional drawers or compartments to stash things you only need occasionally.
Hand Painted Antique Coffee Tables
For a particularly eye-catching centrepiece that brings charm and warmth to your living room, opt for antique coffee tables or chests that showcase gorgeous hand-painted details.
Displaying outstanding craftsmanship and often being one-of-a-kind items, here you can embrace a truly unique piece that adds that special touch to your interior.
Painted opera chests from 19th century Shanxi provide gorgeous examples of how intricate details and colours can be embraced via a coffee table feature.
Tables Made From Reclaimed Materials
Repurposing old pieces of furniture or using reclaimed materials is a great way to bring wholly unique items into your space and breathe new life into forgotten treasures.
Coffee tables made from reclaimed wood have a lovely rustic feel combined with rich echoes of the past. For something that creatively uses previously abandoned or underutilised materials, coffee tables made from old doors or ceiling panels can really stand out.
Intricately carved doors and panels topped with glass make sleek, unique coffee tables that draw the eye.
To find out more about using reclaimed pieces, see our guide to reclaimed wood furniture.
Indian Chakki Rice Mills
Chakki are old Indian rice grinding mills that can be repurposed as coffee tables with wonderful effects. The characteristic round shape is ideal if you’re seeking a typical coffee table silhouette and softer shapes to complement the other curved pieces in your living room.
Topped with glass or marble discs, these wooden mill tables also have charming carved details around the side and legs, which can tie into other patterns and motifs throughout the room.
Indian Takhat Tables
If you have enough space for a larger coffee table, consider a striking Indian takhat table. These wonderful pieces were originally used as daybeds by the wealthy in 19th-century Rajasthan. Now transformed into practical and visually impressive tables, they make outstanding living room focal points.
With an array of lacquered, patinaed and painted finishes, these tables have a luxurious feel, which is only enhanced by the elegantly carved legs and patterned details. Many takhats are made from roheda wood or other teaks, which is a great material for adding warmth and character to your interiors.
Old Chopping Blocks
If you only have the space for a small coffee table, old chopping blocks or stools can make interesting alternatives. Made from rustic wood that doesn’t shy away from flaws and character, these are ideal for casual, cosy spaces that want to evoke a feeling of closeness to nature.
They can be positioned by sofas and armchairs for a convenient place to leave drinks and other things you want on hand.
Chinese Leather Trunks
Leather Trunks and chests are a lightweight alternative to the sturdy and heavy teak Indian Military Chests. These Chinese travelling chests were made mostly in Shanghai, usually of pig skin and are usually either tan or aubergine coloured.
Decorative Side Tables
Like stools or blocks, side tables also work well if you don’t have the space or desire for a full-sized coffee table. Opt for a unique table with a small footprint to add hints of sophistication and practicality without overwhelming your living room.
Side tables with unusual shapes or carved details add personality and provide a good foundational layer for any decorative pieces you may mix or match around the room.
Tibetan Choksars
Choksars offer a similar idea to the above but with a different look. Tibetan choksars were used in the 19th century as tables for reading and reciting prayers in front of the family altar.
These long, sturdy pieces provide plenty of surface space to fulfill all the requirements of a modern coffee table. With stunning painted designs and carved patterns, they are also works of art in their own right.
Antique Prayer Tables
Old prayer tables with lower profiles can also make great coffee tables. 19th-century Indian prayer tables known as bajots can come in diverse shapes and styles, offering versatile designs to suit a range of interior aesthetics.
The lower profile provides quite a casual feel, creating a sense of openness and easy relaxation. Pair this with the somewhat opulent designs of these tables, and your living room will shine with expert styling and exude an inviting atmosphere.
