Coffee tables serve so many purposes: impromptu dining table, home theater, drink holder, footrest, and, of course, display area
for your art books. But as versatile and essential as they seem, they can also present problems. Because they often go in the
middle of the room, they can create visual clutter, making a room feel more crowded—and smaller. If you have a smaller space (or
just want to make your living room feel more airy) there is one easy way to have your cake and eat it too, so to speak: glass.
Because it’s transparent, it helps things feel more open even as you start to close it off. The materials used vary, with bases
made out of metal, wood, and even concrete. Here, glass also provides a striking contrast to heavier materials, creating what
seems like weightless optical illusions.
Materials, as well as form, also allow glass coffee tables to fit into a number of different decor styles. Wood and metal, for
example, can create an industrial table with a glass top that keeps it from feeling too heavy. Bright copper and glass, on the
other hand, can feel lux and glamorous. Glass allows for room to play: decorative books can be arranged under the top, for
example, allowing you to display them while still keeping the surface clear. Solid glass coffee tables can even be used to store
ottomans or poufs for extra seating.