Most coffee tables are between 16 to 18 inches high, designed to sit comfortably at or just below your sofa’s seat height — the sweet spot for easy reach. In terms of footprint, expect lengths around 36 to 48 inches and depths of 18 to 24 inches, though the best dimensions depend on your space and how you move through it. Think proportion, not prescription: your coffee table should feel like it belongs, not barges in.

If you have kids, pets, or a tendency to spill, go for durable surfaces like tempered glass or sealed wood. Marble is beautiful but porous, while metal can take a beating and still look chic. Choose based on how you actually live — not how you wish you lived.

Nesting tables are designed to tuck under each other — a space-saving duo you can pull apart when needed, then slide neatly back together. Two-piece coffee tables, on the other hand, are often styled as separate but equal: placed side by side, offset, or even in different parts of the room.