Coffee table set in two sizes: move it flexibly instead of fixing it in place
A single large coffee table fixes the seating group: it stands in the middle and everything else is arranged around it. In lobbies, lounges and living rooms, however, use changes over the course of the day. Sometimes two people sit together, sometimes a larger group, and sometimes floor space is needed for cleaning or events. A set of two tables in different sizes can be adapted to such situations without any furniture having to be swapped. The following notes show what matters in selection and placement.
How two sizes work together
In a set, the smaller table is usually a few centimetres lower, so that it can be slid partly under the larger one. Pushed together, the two take up hardly more floor space than a single table. Pulled apart, they provide two surfaces that can be placed separately in front of sofa and armchair. Make sure the height difference is sufficient so that the tops do not rub against each other when moved. Many Coffee tables in the classic style are offered as a matched pair with the same frame and top, which gives a calm overall picture even when they stand apart.
Clearances and heights in the seating group
As a rule, about 40 to 50 centimetres should remain free between the edge of the sofa and the table, so that people can pass comfortably and still reach a glass. Table height is guided by seat height: if the top lies roughly level with the seat or slightly below it, the group looks coherent. The lower table of a set suits deep lounge armchairs, the higher one the sofa. If you place the two offset rather than in a line, the walking route stays open and every seat has a surface within reach. With larger groups, the smaller table can also be moved to a different spot altogether.
Weight, glides and floor protection
Flexibility requires that the tables can actually be moved. Tops made of marble or thick glass are stable but heavy; here at least the smaller table should be movable by one person. Metal frames with slender feet need suitable glides: felt on hard floors, smooth plastic on carpet. Check the underside of the larger top and the edges of the smaller table, because this is where the first scratches appear when the tables are frequently nested. In commercial use it is worth ordering spare glides at the same time and checking their condition regularly.
Use in hotels, restaurants and retail
In a hotel lobby, sets allow seating groups to be rearranged quickly, for example when two small groups become one large one. In restaurants and bars the smaller table serves as an additional surface beside an armchair. Retailers can show a set both pushed together and pulled apart in the showroom and so demonstrate the benefit directly. Those furnishing with Baroque furniture usually choose sets with a gilded frame and a stone or glass top that echo upholstered pieces with carved frames. It remains important that both tables are convincing on their own, as in daily use they often stand apart.
Related categories: Sofas, Armchairs, Console tables. The full range: Baroque furniture.
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