Choosing a coffee table for an L-shaped couch

Room styling illustration.

A coffee table can fit in front of the couch and still be awkward to use. The person on the chaise may be stretching for a cup while the person at the other end keeps bumping the corner.

With an L-shaped couch, start with the space inside the L. The table has to work with two edges of seating, and people still need a way in and out.

Choose a shape for the gap you have

A round table leaves curved edges beside the chaise. It can suit a compact seating group where people approach from several directions, though the far end of a long couch may be out of reach.

An oval gives you a longer surface without a rectangular corner pointing into the turn beside the chaise. It is a useful shape to try when a round table looks too small but a rectangular one makes the opening feel tight.

A rectangular table can work well if you want room for a board game or use the couch for meals occasionally. Check its corners from the seats at both ends. A long tabletop is less useful if someone has to shuffle sideways every time they get up.

Try the table from every seat

Sit where you actually sit, then reach toward the proposed tabletop. Do this from the chaise as well as the regular seats. If you need to lean a long way forward or twist around an arm, moving the table closer to the center may not solve it for everyone.

You do not need one large table to serve the whole couch. A smaller coffee table and a side table beside the far seat can be easier to live with. Try an existing side table there before buying a bigger centerpiece.

Let the chaise keep its space

On our 96-inch L-shaped couch, the chaise extends alongside the main seating area. Leave space to lower your feet and step away from it. A table that fills the whole opening can make that simple movement awkward.

For a low couch, table height also deserves a look. Compare the tabletop with the seat you will use, rather than choosing from a photograph of the table alone. You should be able to see and reach what you put on it.

Mark a proposed table shape on the floor with paper. Walk into the seating area and turn toward the couch. If you keep stepping across a corner of the paper, try a smaller shape or a different position.

Keep part of the top available

A tray or a few books can look good, but leave somewhere for the drink that arrives after dinner. Before adding a large arrangement in the middle, use the table for a few evenings. You will soon see which part needs to stay clear.