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" Size Before setting foot in a store, consider proportion: You don&amp;#039;t want a piece that dwarfs its surroundings or vice versa. If you&amp;#039;re thinking of a classic oblong table, go with one that&amp;#039;s half the couch&amp;#039;s length or shorter (usually 44 to 48 inches) and about 22 to 30 inches wide. The oversize square is trendy these days, but whether you choose that or a rectangle, make sure there are two to three feet between the piece and surrounding furniture, so people can move around easily. In tight quarters, a round table (with a maximum diameter of 36 inches) may be your best bet, since a circle is less difficult to navigate (no sharp corners) and works nicely with both love seats and L-shaped sectionals. Whatever shape you select, look for a table about the same height as your sofa&amp;#039;s seat (typically 18 to 20 inches) to create a strong horizontal line that will help unify the room.  Function  As the architectural adage goes, form follows function \u2014 or at least it should. So when deciding which table to buy, ask yourself how you&amp;#039;ll use it. Will it hold your magazine collection? Be your central serving spot at parties? Provide a perch for your favorite decorative items? People who love to entertain should consider circular or elliptical pieces, which guests will naturally gather around. If you need more storage, check out lift tops (great for stashing blankets), Mission tables (with a low shelf for magazines and books), or tables with drawers, like apothecaries (for photo albums). Glass is the easiest surface to keep clean, if it&amp;#039;s one uninterrupted sheet, and some models are sleek showcases for collectibles, protecting them from dust underneath a glass top. Two warnings: If you have young kids, steer clear of glass tables \u2014 the edges can be dangerous unless set in a frame. And be wary of tempered, or safety, glass \u2014 though often less expensive, it&amp;#039;s made to shatter when broken, just as a car window does (regular, non-tempered glass is slightly thicker and isn&amp;#039;t labeled).  Form If you&amp;#039;re in the market for a bargain, you may be tempted to buy an under-$30 particleboard number covered in a veneer. But with regular to heavy use (think everything from kids doing school projects to guests sitting down on it), that kind of table will probably scratch and stain; plus, any veneer may peel. Better budget choices: treated wicker, reed, or bamboo, which start at $50 and are sturdy enough to hold even the heaviest pile of books. (Bonus: Investing in sustainable materials like these is a good green move.) If you&amp;#039;re looking for a family-friendly piece that&amp;#039;s also a keeper, consider solid wood, which most experts recommend for its durability and versatility. There are endless styles to choose from in a wide range of prices, from $60 for unfinished birch to $2,000 and up for a white oak stunner that will last generations. (For maximum sturdiness, make sure the wood has been cut along the grain, so it runs parallel to the edges, and check that the legs are screwed and glued in, or that they have dovetail joints, where the pieces are cut to fit together without hardware.) Also long lasting, albeit not as warm looking: glass or molded acrylic (e.g., Lucite, Plexiglas), which create the illusion of space; these run from $150 to thousands of dollars for contemporary collectors&amp;#039; items. In truth, a coffee table can be made of anything \u2014 cork, copper, aluminum, driftwood, or even an antique door. What matters most is that it suits your taste.  Other Hints  Though named after a hot liquid, a coffee table is allergic to moisture. Unsealed wood is particularly vulnerable, but almost any surface can fall prey to water rings if left holding a drippy cup for too long. So get some coasters \u2014 and use them. To make your coffee table more versatile, find one with extra leaves that pull up on all sides. Each leaf can complement the center square by holding a vase, book, or TV remote. At parties, guests will be pleased to rest their plates there.  Not ready to commit to a major furniture purchase? Check out The Best Coffee Table Alternatives for nontraditional and less expensive options. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/decorating-ideas/how-to/a16691/coffee-table-buying-guide/>