Creating Your Own Coffee Table

Coffee tables are a simple piece of furniture that can brighten up your living or dining room. They offer functionality and style at the same time. One way to add your own distinctive decorating touch and to be a little more creative and add some of your own personality is to have a go at making one yourself. The basic structure is just a table top and four legs. If you have some experience of working with wood then this can be a small project that should only take a few hours to complete.

Buying the wood for the coffee table is very important. Ideally you want a good grade of wood to begin with, especially if you are going to stain and treat it. If you are going to paint the wood, then the appearance is not as important as it will be covered. Plywood or even MDF can be used if you are on a budget. Even old items of furniture can be re-claimed and used. All reputable wood yards and home stores such as argos will have all different varieties of wood to choose from. Try to get standard sizes so you do not need to make any unnecessary cuts.

The legs should be around 12-18 inches in length and the table top around 2 feet by 4 feet, or smaller if you only have a small room. Create a frame around the underside of the top to fix the legs to. You will need to bolt and screw them in place. Corner supports will also be needed, and chiselling small grooves at the top of the legs will give a solid fit that can hold any load you place on top of the table. Online web sites can provide you with all the information you need, or speak to store assistants at retail outlets like argos direct. Some will even offer detailed plans for free if you are willing to ask. The last stage is to treat or paint the table. Sand over the surface by hand to remove any stains or marks, and then apply the coatings. Three coats should be sufficient for any coffee table. You can also apply a protective wax coating the finish off the job in style.

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Buy A Noguchi Coffee Table

The designer of a particularly distinctive coffee table was Isamu Noguchi, a sculptor who also designed some home and office furnishings of renown. The Noguchi coffee table is a glass-topped coffee table that is supported by an imaginatively balanced pair of wood supports that make it appear impossible to support the table top.

The Noguchi coffee table was first brought into production in the 1940s when it was manufactured by the Hermann Miller Company. This puts the table style firmly in the retro era and is very representative of the progressive nature of the designers that were creating furniture at the time.

The glass table top is a rounded triangular shape that is almost delicately rested on top of the wood supports. It is an example of effective minimalism that works amazingly well due to the elegance of the lines that are created. Variations of the coffee table come down to the different types of wood finish for the table base with walnut, cherry and a matte black finish that sets off the rest of the table incredibly effectively.

The abilities of the sculptor are firmly exhibited in the design of the Noguchi coffee table with a restrained elegance demonstrating that a piece of furniture does not have to be overly decorated with additional features for it to be an attractive piece.

The Noguchi coffee table has become a cultural icon and a piece of furniture that has become a popularly sought after collectors piece. It is a functional table that is also an exceptional work of art.

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How To Take Care of A Slate Coffee Table

The great thing about slate coffee table, apart from how sturdy and reliable they are, is the fact that they require less maintenance on a regular basis than their wooden counterparts. Whereas a wooden coffee table or a glass-topped coffee table requires regular dusting, the dust does not collect quite so obviously or as quickly on a slate coffee table. If you want to buy a slate coffe table there are some outstanding examples available below.

When discussing how you should go about cleaning and caring for your slate coffee table we are actually talking about how slate should be treated. The other materials of the coffee table, whether it’s wood or iron or another material, can be cleaned as with any other common material. Slate is a natural material and is meant to look rough a weathered to a certain extent so it will do better if it is a little neglected when it comes to cleaning.

Where it will have to be attended to is the usual cleaning of dust, crumbs and other small bits of dirt that tends to accumulate on any hard flat surface. This will involve a simple wipe down with a damp rag or cleaning cloth. You may decide to then wipe the slate down with a clean, dry rag or simply allow the slate to air dry.

A lot of slate coffee tables are actually slate tiles that have been fitted into recessed housing to form the table top. If this is the case then there is going to be an inevitable build up of dirt, dust and other matter in the cracks between the slate tiles and the table frame. The best way to deal with this is to remove the tiles and give them a thorough clean with a disinfectant solution paying particular attention to the edges of the slate. The table frame should also be cleaned with disinfectant and then thoroughly dried before replacing the slate.

Although slate is a stone product it has been sliced into thin “leaves” and this means that it is susceptible to being chipped around the edges or even cracked through the middle if given a sharp knock. Make sure that when the slate tiles have been removed from the coffee table for cleaning or transporting are supported by being laid flat on the ground. When transporting them they should be completely wrapped separately in newspaper or cloth to ensure the surface is not damaged.

A slate coffee table is a beautiful piece of furniture and should last you many years, if not a lifetime. The care and cleaning required is minimal compared to other pieces of furniture and really comes down to common sense. If you practice a little bit of caution when handling the slate you will be able to enjoy the look and feel for many years to come.

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The Striking Oval Coffee Table

The coffee table is going to become a centerpiece in the lounge room thanks to where it is going to be situated. For that reason you should think about going for something a little on the unusual side rather than the standard rectangular coffee table.

An oval coffee table is the type of piece that would be suitably placed in front of a long couch due to its extended length. Oval coffee tables are pieces of furniture that should be added to rooms in which elements of curving lines are already incorporated in the room because furniture tends to look better as a set. A living area or sitting area with square backed chairs and rectangular couch cushions would look more coordinated with a square or rectangular coffee table. Though an oval coffee table would look out of place in that setting, it would look more suited to the room if surrounding the table was an antique love seat with a curved back and they were both placed on a circular or ovular carpet.

Rooms with antique furniture look especially nice when a marble topped oval table is incorporated into the room. A decorator for a traditional room with curving lines can find an antique wooden coffee table of an ovular shape. There are some nice combinations available and you can really appreciate the thought that has gone behind something like oval glass coffee table tops with brass bases. These types of tables look beautiful in light filled rooms with flowing organic lines. The glass top oval coffee table is beautiful when placed upon an oval carpet because the carpet can be seen through the transparent glass top.

There are a number of oval coffee tables for sale that are definitely worth examining more closely.
COUNCILL Craftsman Mahogany coffee side occasional oval queen anne table RARE
COUNCILL Craftsman Mahogany coffee side occasional oval queen anne table RARE
Paypal   US $1,650.00 		Bernhardt Oval queen anne traditional style coffee table
Bernhardt Oval queen anne traditional style coffee table
Paypal   US $875.00
FRENCH CARVED MARBLE TOP OVAL COFFEE TABLE 1384
FRENCH CARVED MARBLE TOP OVAL COFFEE TABLE 1384
Paypal   US $361.25 		Modern Contemporary Glass Top Oval Shape Coffee cocktail Table BlackRed White
Modern Contemporary Glass Top Oval Shape Coffee cocktail Table BlackRed White
Paypal   US $376.99
NEW Red Lace Table Bureau OVAL Runner with Tassels for Coffee Table Bureau
NEW Red Lace Table Bureau OVAL Runner with Tassels for Coffee Table Bureau
Paypal   US $6.15 		Oval Coffee Table with Harp Style Base
Oval Coffee Table with Harp Style Base
Paypal   US $75.00
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Another statement that can be made with one of these pieces is if you were to buy a black oval coffee table. Again, this type of piece would make a definite statement, able to either match the existing décor or make a stark contrast. Either of these can be a very good thing.

It is important that the oval coffee table is incorporated into the design of the room and it is equally important to complement the table with other round and oval objects. An ovular tray or dish made of silver would look excellent on a wooden or glass table. Add an element of modern to an antique room with a marble table by hanging some sort of kinetic sculpture directly above the table.

A common feature with many oval coffee tables is that they are often built as multi-functional units, designed to contain quite and appreciable amount of storage. The shape and the materials in which they are made finds them in use as a repository for all manner of objects.

Round and oval mirrors are an excellent complement to oval coffee tables, as are pictures of round and oval things. Round objects like globes remind someone who is sitting in the room of the different aspects of a sphere and circle, and how it can be stretched to create an oval.

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The Multi-Talented Lift Top Coffee Table

When looking for innovative decorating ideas for the lounge room you can’t go past the multi-functional innovation that has gone into a lift top coffee table. When these coffee tables are seen in their coffee table mode they look like a typical coffee table, the range of styles and wood used to manufacture them are similar to your average wooden coffee table.

The secret with these types of coffee tables is under the table-top which is set on hinges that allow the top to lift up to the height of a standard dining table. Although you probably wouldn’t use the table as your main dining table, they make a great additional table if you find there is not enough room for everyone to sit down when guests come for dinner.

Alternatively you can use the coffee table when it is in the unfolded position as a desk, giving you a makeshift work space that can be quickly folded away when you are finished.

Select a lift top coffee table to find more details including how to buy.
Contemporary Lift Top Wood Coffee Table NEW
Contemporary Lift Top Wood Coffee Table NEW
Paypal   US $423.50 		3 PC LIFT TOP DARK CHERRY WOOD COFFEE TABLE SET
3 PC LIFT TOP DARK CHERRY WOOD COFFEE TABLE SET
Paypal   US $649.00
PETRA LIFT TOP COFFEE TABLE SIDE TABLE
PETRA LIFT TOP COFFEE TABLE SIDE TABLE
Paypal   US $425.00 		Bombay Rectangular Tall Coffee Table With Lift Top Unfinished Solid Wood
Bombay Rectangular Tall Coffee Table With Lift Top Unfinished Solid Wood
Paypal   US $253.99
Mission Rectangular Tall Coffee Table With Lift Top Unfinished Solid Wood
Mission Rectangular Tall Coffee Table With Lift Top Unfinished Solid Wood
Paypal   US $242.99 		NEW Black Lift Top Coffee Cocktail Table H7
NEW Black Lift Top Coffee Cocktail Table H7
Paypal   US $199.99
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There are many different types of lift top coffee tables from the standard rectangular shape and size of around 48 inches by 26 inches, to more unusual sizes and shapes including round. They come as corner tables and end tables but their lift top functionality remains the same.

Not all lift top mechanisms operate the same way with these tables. Some have been set up so that half the table top lifts to gain access to storage underneath. Some can be flipped over to reveal games boards such as chess or backgammon underneath.

The big bonus with this type of coffee table is that even when it has been converted to the dining table height configuration you don’t lose any of the storage space. With some models the cavity reaches all the way to the ground resembling a trunk giving you a huge amount of storage space. Others are set on legs which reduce the space somewhat but give them a more elegant look.

The lift table mechanism that operates the raising and lowering of the table height is safe to use and quite sturdy. There should be little possibility of sustaining injury during its operation.

Discovering fabulous looking furniture items that contain added functionality such as the lift top coffee table gives you is an absolute bonus. Pieces made by notable furniture companies such as Klaussner, Jofran and Lane in materials like cherry, oak or glass will help give your lounge room area a an injection of style plus functionality.

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