It’s my last post in the High Point Market series! I participated in a wonderful sponsored blogger trip to High Point, North Carolina this April to tour the 2x yearly furnishing show. If you missed those prior posts, you can read my INSIDER TIPS and COLOR TRENDS posts to catch up. In this last post, I thought it would be fun to focus on one item — a cocktail table, also known as a coffee table or ottoman. 

As a designer, almost every project requires several coffee tables and in the past I’ve really struggled to find unique options for my clients. I was impressed with the variety of materials, shapes and styles I saw in cocktail tables at market, so I’ve rounded up my best finds to share with you. A good cocktail table (or ottoman) needs to be functional and beautiful! It’s a great piece to make a statement with as it’s often front and center in the floor plan of a room.

Here are a few designer tips on choosing the right coffee table for your space:

• Always measure your sofa seat height and make sure table is not taller than your seat. This can be a challenge with more modern sofas, which tend to have seat heights of 14″ high. A typical seat height is more like 18-20″ high.
• Circular styles tend to work well when you have a sofa with a chaise, ample room between seating or a set of four chairs placed in the round.
• Large ottomans or square cocktail tables (40″ x 40″) or bigger are great for bridging space if you have a larger seating area or a bay window that’s elongating the room/seating area.
• Rectangles and ovals tend to be the most versatile and easy to use!
• Don’t be afraid to make a custom piece, a simple rectangular ottoman is not very expensive to have fabricated by a local upholsterer and yields beautiful results in the perfect size for your layout.

Century Furniture has me excited with this octagonal ottoman – a rare shape, but looks so good in large rooms. The Cole Ottoman can be done in many finishes but shown here in leather with nailhead detail – it’s a gorgeous masculine piece.

And last but not least, a square coffee table with brass feet caps and grasscloth covering is so versatile! The Willie by Highland House would look perfect in a traditional or modern setting.

Hope this got you thinking a little more about cocktail tables, and how to choose the best piece for your home!

XO – CLAIRE

Many thanks to all our trip sponsors listed below. This is a sponsored post but all opinions are my own – as always!

Bernhardt Furniture | Century Furniture | Crypton Home Fabric | E.J. Victor | Exquisite Rugs | Heritage Home Group | IMC – Interhall | Karastan Rugs / Mohawk Flooring | Littman Brands | Lloyd Flanders | Modern History Inc. | Rowe Furniture | Sunbrella / Glen Raven Custom Fabrics | Universal Furniture