What kind of coffee and end tables should I add to my living room?

CKF
by CKF
This is a temporary space for a couple of years so I've been shopping thriftily. Nothing is new. I have two soft white leather loveseats and a water hyacinth woven armchair. The living room and dining area are adjacent to each other. The dining room furniture is off white and medium wood French style. The carpet is charcoal gray and the walls are Dulux whisper white. I'm going for a beachy/Hampton's style with a French twist. I'm thinking white French provincial style tables (white with curved legs)? With a glass top if I can find it. Am I on track? Or is that too much white? I have some beach scenes art work to hang and am thinking of blue/white/turquoise/pink throw pillows and will recover the chair cushions in a coordinating fabric (Probably striped or checked). I'm thinking of styling the coffee table with a mirrored tray if I can't find a glass top, as I like a little bling (as seen in the table lamps). The end tables are going. Thanks for any feedback!
  16 answers
  • 17335038 17335038 on Dec 18, 2017

    You should feel proud of your shopping efforts, to have found such lovely furniture at less than new prices. And so many windows in your condo, lucky you! I see that you are already well on your way with the blue color theme with the dishes, and decorated Christmas tree. But the trees outside are still green, so you must be in the lower mainland, or greater Vancouver?

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    • 17335038 17335038 on Dec 19, 2017

      Australia, oh that explains the green. Hopefully you will have more sun there in the winter than in GVA! I guess this is just one example of how small the world is getting if a picture of outside can't distinguish even one country geographically far from another.

      Enjoy making your new surroundings a home; 'wishing you a very Merry Christmas.

  • Jewellmartin Jewellmartin on Dec 18, 2017

    I would nix pink throw pillows unless that is your signature color. The artwork is great, blending a French look, beach theme, and water hues. Since you have those unusual wicker chairs, I would go with white and glass tables. You could use wood or wicker. You should be able to find tables with glass tops. If not, you should be able to order glass covers cut to your measurements and delivered from a local glass and mirror business. For the seat covers and armchair cushions, I would find the chair cushions first in a lawn and garden store or department or on Amazon, then find coordinating fabric locally. I love your style. 😇

    • CKF CKF on Dec 19, 2017

      Thanks for the compliments and the advice. Yes, I'm hoping to find something with a glass top that I can paint, preferably round. I agree I should find the chair fabric first.

  • 17335038 17335038 on Dec 18, 2017

    I like what you have started with using the smaller black jug (?) and the wicker basket as little tables. As your two largest pieces of furniture are not over-sized, I would caution you against going too large in a coffee table. Keep thinking along the lines of either reusing an alternate piece of furniture (such as two baskets, two large footstools, a low bench, etc. for the purpose of a coffee table instead of automatically going with a traditional table. These pieces are very versatile, and can be used as little low tables to set items, as footrests, and for additional seating when necessary. Plus they can be easily moved around according to seasons and functions of the room. A solid heavy square or rectangle coffee table will limit you as far as furniture arrangements. Also, if you get one that is dark and heavy I think that it will look too formal and will take away from the lighter, softer atmosphere that is being created with the other furnishings, and beach scene pictures.

    I would keep the small higher end tables in the room for now. Do not get rid of them as they are expensive to buy, and their contemporary style is very hard to find second hand. Especially with the extra shelves, they could be used in almost any room. Their dark colour works to balance the white of the larger furniture without being too overpowering.

    I would also recommend to keep looking for area rugs for 1. the seating area, 2. under the dining table, or 3. for both . They will instantly help to define the open space into separate "rooms" by anchoring the sections. As the carpet is quite dark without any pattern, go for lighter brighter colours and patterns in the area rugs.

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    • CKF CKF on Dec 19, 2017

      Oh yes, the tables are destined for the guest room as night tables!

  • All great suggestions here - you are on the right track all by yourself - trust your gut instinct - you really do not need any help from us, but I totally get having second opinions and suggestions - you never know what might spark some extra creativity. You have a million dollar view! Enjoy it. Love all the neutrals and introducing the water colors keeps it from being too stark. You have great texture with the water hyacinth chair and try to repeat that texture by using a throw, rug or lamp for a cohesive look. Love your style too, very chic and yet comfortable and welcoming. Hopefully you will be able to keep and reuse all these pieces for years to come. And if your tastes change, it will be so easy to swap out your accent color with minimal effort and cash outlay. You know how to shop and shop well! Be proud.

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    • You are most welcome! It is coming together beautifully. Please post again when you are all done, would love to see how it all turns out! Happy Holidays. 🎄

  • 62q10370829 62q10370829 on Dec 18, 2017

    It is what ever you choose. You can use light gray with white. Good luck

  • Rus31434690 Rus31434690 on Dec 18, 2017

    You could pick up a glass top the size you like and set it on top of anything flat topped and visually interesting that meets your taste; beautiful old books, lovely wooden boxes, pedestals, glass bowls filled with shells, sculptures. Sets under each end are more stable than a middle stack.

  • Rap12229934 Rap12229934 on Dec 18, 2017

    I was thinking glass too. With some metal thrown in. Silver, brass, rose gold...... whichever u prefer.

  • Fiddledd224 Fiddledd224 on Dec 18, 2017

    I would work with the straw color like the woven chest you already own. It is a natural and neutral color and texture that works beautifully with the white. If you can't find straw/rattan pieces, then buy ones in the same color. Finally, add an accent color to coordinate---- I would go with a bright salmon, teal or seafoam color. Gorgeous and "beachy"!

    • CKF CKF on Dec 19, 2017

      Thanks for the suggestion. I do have teal in mind!

  • Lisa S. Lisa S. on Dec 18, 2017

    The white French provincial tables would look great. You can always have glass cut to fit a table - at a glass store. Just be sure to get more of the blue in - accents,: pillows, a throw, maybe an areas rug - candles. Change out all the shite pillows for blue ones. You want to have some color in the lamps as well.

    • CKF CKF on Dec 19, 2017

      The lamps will be staying but I can put more blue accessories on the tables. The white pillows are just the basic forms for now but they'll be covered soon and I have a couple of rugs in mind all of them with blue in them.

  • Starr Wilson Starr Wilson on Dec 18, 2017

    Love your furniture. I would paint a focal wall in a light color like a very pale Blue instead of having all the same color walls. How about the wall behind the couch toward the kitchen. For the coffee table I would do a round glass table and rectangle glass end tables. You could also use a large ottoman,maybe a tufted pale Gray in velvet. I also would not use pink but I would use Blues, soft pale Greens,soft Salmon colors and some soft pale Yellows. Hope this helps.


    • CKF CKF on Dec 19, 2017

      I like your idea of painting the wall light blue. I just saw an inspiration picture yesterday like that! I agree about the pink. I was shopping yesterday and saw a lot of pink so I guess it was on my brain. I also agree about a round coffee table and rectangular end tables. I just have to be careful about the size. I don't want the coffee table too big. Thanks for your help!

  • Suzette Suzette on Dec 18, 2017

    Hi CKF, Here's a link to a coffee table I found on the side of the road and made over: https://www.hometalk.com/diy/living-room/furniture/rustic-coastal-coffee-table-makeover-26780657


    From what I can see, your upholstery looks to be in great condition. If It were me, I would leave them as they are and concentrate on accent decor.


    What ever you decide, have fun!

    • CKF CKF on Dec 19, 2017

      Nice table. I'm not changing the upholstery other than brightening up the chair into something with blues/greens/turquoise.

  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Dec 18, 2017

    Looking good. I'd go with acoffee table with a glass top so it isn't visually imposing. I'd paint the dark brown wicker chair a lighter colour as it seems too imposing for the rest of your furnishings . I'd paint the end table you already have in a light colour. Would be careful with pink for cushions - maybe one with stripes in deep pinks for contrast and not girly pink.

  • Castrang17 Castrang17 on Dec 18, 2017

    As a suggestion: check out local thrift stores that feature furniture and look for your French style or something that catches your eye in end tables. If white, repaint and add a touch of the blue (sea blue/turquoise) that you like, and outline any detail on the furniture, and as I see you have used that color on your dining table. OR paint the end tables black ( I see you have a clock that appears black?), add décor pieces in your favorite blue. Add seashells, all sizes too. Add clear glass lamps that can be filled with your collectible seashells. Add a seashell throw to your sofa, add fabric seashell pillows or plain color to your chairs, to make your room pop with color. Your beach art work will look stunning on your walls. Enjoy decorating!

  • Lisa S. Lisa S. on Dec 19, 2017

    Sounds great. I love the shade of blue you have chosen.

  • B. Enne B. Enne on Jan 01, 2018

    Great start!!! Very pretty choices! I too would incorporate the blue in the rug. I also like the idea of a pale blue/aqua wall behind the sofa. I would not paint the darker chair, since it is similar to your dining table top. Just make sure to balance the darker colours, to anchor the space. Maybe the rug could have blue, the medium/darker brown and sand/ cream tones. Something in these colour tones. https://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Hand-tufted-Alameda-Traditional-Floral-Wool-Area-Rug-8-x-10/8695023/product.html?option=12286825&keywords=&?refccid=ZVDINCAT6IG2QQSCZOSQR7EE5Y&refinement=color:Orange&searchidx=3

    I also like the idea of putting glass over your current items and using stools or something smaller and movable for your coffee table. again with a glass top.

  • Shreya Dalela Shreya Dalela on Sep 22, 2021

    I feel like a stylish round coffee table would go really well here and compliment the shape of your dining table. If you don't want to spend a lot, you can also check these cheap coffee table ideas.