No modern home is without a coffee table. Over the years it has become not only a decorative accent, but also a functional piece of furniture. If you still don’t have one for your space, it’s definitely time to go shopping. But with the many designs to choose from, how do you know what to buy for your home? Read on for some tips.

Your coffee table should blend seamlessly with your other home furnishings, as a general rule. So if your home is modern, look for ultra-chic coffee tables made of glass and iron. Such contemporary pieces are sharp and defined, and they make a limited space seem bigger (a big reason that they are often used in apartments). If your home is more traditional, then choose a table that is made of rich wood treated with either a light or deep stain, depending on the color of your existing pieces. Classic wooden coffee tables never go out of style.

If you have limited space and could use more storage, then choose a coffee table that opens up to double as a small cabinet. Such tables are not only stylish, but also come in handy when you need to quickly clean up a mess.

Height is a very important consideration when buying coffee tables. You should decide how tall you want your table based on the height of your sofa or chairs. Most standard coffee tables are about sixteen inches tall, but there are also coffee tables available in heights as low as eleven inches. Shorter coffee tables are made specifically for contemporary sofa chairs that are designed to sit lower.