Lift Coffee Tables

Caroline Patterson Interior Design Expert

Caroline is a young, New York-based interior designer and home decor writer, obsessed with textiles and designer furniture. Backed with rigorous training from a prestigious design school, as well as a profound understanding of material quality and fabric care, she offers spot-on advice on how to furnish your place with reliable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing pieces.

Updated 29/03/2021

Most coffee tables are at knee level, which is fine for setting down a glass, but not so much if you are looking to use it for dining while watching TV. A lift coffee table on the other hand is perfect for this. It has between one and two hydraulic pistons that will allow you to easily lift the top on expanding hinges. And they are very well made, capable of plenty of fish weight.

Buying Guide

Finding furniture to fit into small spaces while giving you the storage that you need can be difficult. Lift coffee tables are a great way to maximize the little space that you have in your home, whether you've moved into a new apartment or you're downsizing to a smaller property after your children have left.

What are the benefits of lift coffee tables?

A lift table has a table top that you can lift up in order to uncover extra storage space and shelving. This shelf, which lifts up around 6-10 inches depending on the table you buy, can be closed when you want the table to return to its original function of an ordinary coffee table. In order to maximize space, you can buy dividers and other storage solutions to put within the table. Although you can buy a coffee table that has just one section that lifts up and has legs underneath, many people prefer the style which is chunky and allows for storage space throughout the entire table.

How to select the best material for a lift coffee table?

Materials for coffee tables come in abundance, so here are some of the types you can consider for your home:

Wood: This material is a popular indoor choice for coffee tables, and even within this category there are various shades and colors available. You can buy very light wooden coffee tables, which are most suitable if the décor is plain and light. Darker oak furniture can look elegant and classic, and fits well with properties which already have a lot of darker items.
Glass and chrome: Both very light-looking materials which complement a range of other colors and styles, either of these make a good choice if you feel like you already have a lot going on within the room. Bold colors can look great, but adding even more color to the room could leave it looking too busy and cluttered.
Glossy: The most modern of homes will be complemented beautifully by a glossy lift coffee table, which can be found in many different colors. If it's gloss that takes your fancy, look for the most appropriate color for your home.

How to select the right size coffee table?

In order not to make any mistakes when you're buying a lift table, here are some factors to consider in terms of sizing:

Existing home furniture: Pay particular attention to any rugs or floor items which you may have in the room already. If you have a rug on the floor and then your coffee table is too large to fit on the room, this can leave your living room looking slightly disproportionate and you may have to replace the rug with a larger one.
Storage space: If you know already what you want to store in the lift table, put it all together so that you can clearly see how much room you anticipate it taking up. You can then take some measurements to compare with the items at the store.

With the right information to hand, you're well on your way to finding the perfect lift coffee table for your home!