When it came to creating furniture items for the NiX by Nicola Harding collection, we simply had to include some beautiful and useful coffee tables. These pieces often form a focal point at the centre of the living room, where they are surrounded by other furniture items such as sofas or chairs.
Of course, the main purpose of a coffee table is to provide a surface for resting food, drinks, books or objects, but they also perform an important decorative role. As you’ll discover below, these pieces can help tie a scheme together and offer great opportunities for personalising your space.
How to choose a coffee table
Coffee tables are typically one of the last pieces of furniture added when decorating a room, after the main seating and storage items. This means you should choose a table that will work with the scale and palette of both the space and other furniture pieces. Our Perk and Natter coffee tables feature pared-back forms and classic, natural materials that will work well in most interiors.
Coffee tables need to do several things but first and foremost they are an important place to store everyday items. It’s a good idea to consider how you will use the table in order to ensure you choose one that provides enough space for your needs.
A coffee table’s shape and proportions should complement and anchor the furniture around it. Larger rooms with plenty of empty space can accommodate a bigger table, while a more compact design will be appropriate for smaller rooms. You should also consider the table’s height and shape – a taller table will make more of a statement but may be uncomfortable if you like to put your feet up sometimes! We find round tables are conducive to encouraging sociability while also offering a smaller footprint that frees up space around the table.
Styling a coffee table
In terms of style, you should look for a coffee table that complements the colours and materials of your room’s furniture and flooring. We like to use natural materials such as wood because it works well alongside upholstery fabrics, leather and rugs. Wood also adds softness and warmth to a space and will gain a beautiful patina over time.
When it comes to styling your table, it’s important to remember to leave enough space for everyday use. This is where additional shelves can be useful to help minimise clutter on the tabletop. A tray is also a great way to keep objects contained while allowing them to be removed if you need to free up space.
We recommend trying to curate a neat grouping of items on the table to add a personal touch. Play with scale by combining larger items like coffee table books with smaller books or bowls, and use items such as candlesticks or vases filled with flowers for height and impact. Focus on objects that are useful or that you love to look at and try to avoid an overly staged or fussy arrangement.
Introducing Natter and Perk
The coffee tables created for the NiX launch collection are called Perk and Natter. Both pieces provide excellent storage on more than one surface, allowing you to stash books or magazines on the lower shelves so they are within reach whenever you want.
We opted for round shapes that take up less space than a square or rectangular table and allow for greater flexibility within the room design. Perk and Natter are also well suited to use as side tables, with their generous proportions enabling them to accommodate a large table lamp and other items.
Informed by finely crafted mid-century furniture, Perk is our idea of the perfect coffee table. It features an understated circular shape based on a design we originally developed for the interior of a country house.
Natter is inspired by the simplicity and elegant construction of arts and crafts furniture. Its round shape and pedestal base are great for smaller spaces where the sofa and chairs need to be positioned closer to the table.
Timeless designs, built to last
Our coffee tables embody our philosophy of producing intelligently designed, high-quality items that will stand the test of time so customers only need to invest once. Like all of our products, they were created to fulfil our requirements for quality, price and provenance.
Perk and Natter are made by artisans in Portugal using traditional joinery techniques that ensure these pieces will last for generations. We use FSC-certified oak to minimise the environmental impact of our products and items are made in small batches to help reduce overproduction.
The tables’ simple styling and natural finishes contribute to a classic aesthetic that will never go out of style. Hand-oiled wood is versatile and neutral, allowing these pieces to complement a wide range of interior styles.
