Many professional designers think the coffee table is one of the most important elements in a living room. It's central to the space's functions, since it pulls together the principal seating group.
Coffee tables also have an almost ritualistic aspect. I sometimes think they take the place of the fire that served as a gathering point for our prehistoric ancestors.
In the American home, however, the coffee table is a recent addition. It first appeared in the years before World War II, no doubt as a reflection of changing styles of living.
Today, coffee tables come in all shapes and sizes. The standard models are relatively simple, but we also see more and more custom-made pieces, particularly in the more fashionable interiors. In swank interior design magazines, for example, it's actually unusual to see a commercially manufactured coffee table.
Whatever it may look like, a coffee table will fail to fulfill its purpose unless it's easily accessible. A successful piece will be within convenient reach of all the seats around it. And the surface will be large enough to hold a couple of trays as well as a decorative accessory.
Some smaller spaces, however, simply aren't meant to accommodate a long table. In those instances, it's preferable to use a movable and multipurpose piece.
The photo shows an imaginative solution. Instead of the predictable small tray table, the designer of this space chose a loosely skirted ottoman with a button-tufted top. Because it's equipped with casters, this piece can be moved easily where needed and can serve either as an extra seat or as a surface for holding a large tray. It's also a handy place for piling books and magazines.
A piece of this kind will make a room seem softer and more relaxed. Upholstery options also provide the opportunity to add pattern and color to a space.
I don't think there's a name yet for this kind of furniture, even
though it's long been a part of many traditional European interiors. But as it becomes more popular in the United States, as I'm certain it will, some clever editor of a design magazine will surely think of something that enhances its marketability.