In the aftermath of the Great Recession, many home dwellers have had to scale down their lifestyles a bit. In some cases, you may have even lost your home and have had to find a way to make due with less square footage in an apartment or condo.
Unfortunately, furniture isn't one-size-fits-all as it once did. It comes in different sizes and proportions. As such, the sofa or loveseat that was perfect for your larger home may make your new surroundings feel extremely cramped and even a bit claustrophobic.
This is particularly true of coffee and end tables. In many cases, you may have selected tables that looked perfect with your old grouping, but now that you're down to a loveseat instead of the matching sofa that was simply too big, you may have to readjust your vision of your tables as well.
Thankfully, coffee and end tables are one of the less essential pieces you have in your home and perhaps, in many cases, the less expensive ones as well. While you would loathe to replace an expensive sofa, loveseat, recliner or occasional chair, tables are less problematic.
If you're trying to fit your existing furnishings into a smaller space, the first thing you can do is simply eliminate one or both end tables. That's a good start. You may have to get rid of your table lamps too, going with overhead lighting or floor lamps instead.
Coffee tables can be a bigger problem, largely because a coffee table that looked perfect with a large sofa and was scaled to match it, may look too big next to a smaller loveseat or a couple of chairs. One solution is to simply repurpose the coffee table and use it in another room, such as pressing it into service as an entertainment center for your television in the guestroom.
In many cases, it's easier to just start over, selling your existing coffee and end tables or putting them into storage until the day when you inevitably move into larger quarters.
There are many affordable coffee and end tables out on the market today, ones that are scaled to fit in smaller spaces. These may have smaller dimensions or they may be designed to give you maximum space in a package that appears small, thanks to some basic design tricks.
For example, coffee and end tables that have open designs will look smaller in stature than a solid piece, even though they may be the same size. If real estate is at a premium you may want to go with tables that have straight legs instead of ones that angle out. This can save you some precious space, especially if these tables are used near main traffic areas. Not only will they save space, you won't have to live in constant fear of tripping over your furniture or stubbing a toe on a leg in the middle of the night.
The finish of your coffee and end tables can also influence the sense of scale, allowing you to get a larger table without it making the room look cramped. For instance, lighter woods or metal and glass tables can make the room look more spacious. Stay away from darker woods or tables that have a lot of ornate features and embellishments. These can make the room seem much smaller than it really is, even it's hard to believe that the space can feel any smaller.
Even though you are scaling down, don't go on the cheap. Unless it's on special or clearance, inexpensive furniture costs less for a reason. If you're going to buy new furniture, set a budget and buy the best furniture in furniture shop you can for the money available. You'll be glad you did, as will your children, if they are fortunate enough to get these tables for their first apartment or starter home.
