Are Glass Coffee Tables An Option?

There are just times when the furniture we own will not translate well into the lifestyle changes that most of us go through during life. After all, the sparse furnishings that made up our home décor during the college and young adult years will hopefully not confine our choices later in life when future furniture decisions need to be made. One very common period of time when very clear interior design clashes may occur is after a wedding. Do the newlyweds keep her traditional coffee table passed down from her grandmother or do they opt instead for his ultra-sleek contemporary coffee table with its glass top and metallic base and legs?

It does not always take a wedding to cause a major crisis in the arena of home décor. Simply moving from one home to another may relegate furniture like the sofa, recliner, and even the end tables to the “outdated” bin. While technically possible, it is not a good idea to mix different design styles when creating what is supposed to be a “unified” interior design scheme. But which set of furniture should remain and which accessories and pieces will end up in storage—or worse??

One of the biggest factors that must be considered with any furniture purchase is the actual design style of the home itself. Is the home more of a Mission style with characteristics like simple lines, conventional materials such as wood, rustic fixtures, etc.? Or, is it more contemporary featuring open spaces, lack of color or very vibrant tones, and modern materials such as cement, glass, and composites? Quality glass coffee tables, for instance, will look very out of place in most Mission-styled homes—and vice versa.

Aside from the design of the home itself, the decision of whether or not to pitch the glass coffee table will also depend upon the other furnishings that will make up the home décor. If the groom has a really nice and ultra chic contemporary coffee table but precious few furnishings to complement the table, then it may be best suited for the storage shed. Accessories like coffee tables must complement the furnishings in the immediate area, such as the sofa; they must complement the interior design of the home itself; and they must complement the other furnishings in the home décor. Glass coffee tables will be at home in more contemporary settings but they can be tastefully displayed in more conventional settings as well.