Finn is walking almost walking….if that is a thing. I guess I could say he has been “almost” walking for 4 months now. But he will now take steps all on his own and without encouragement or bribes. No matter how many kids you have watching a baby take his or her first steps is probably one of the most wonderful things ever. Seriously. When big milestones happen it is a good reason to change something in your home, just because. So that “just because” is a new cocktail table or as West Elm calls them “coffee tables”. I prefer the name cocktail table, I don’t know why….it is like a “sofa” to a “couch” I won’t judge you if you say “couch” I just prefer sofa.
Back to the issue at had, that new coffee table!
As you know our home is tiny. And I will not be offended if you call it tiny. Because it is. I feel like I am constantly changing things in our home, trying to find the right way to fit all the puzzle pieces together and maximize every inch of our space with out overcrowding it.
For three years we had a fabric ottoman in here and I really loved it. But I changed it when we got our new sofa, they were almost the same color of fabric. We play a lot of games in this front room and have a lot of dance parties.
The new coffee table needs to be smaller scale and easy to move around. We went with a smaller coffee table for Finn’s first year. We needed that space to lay him on the floor to play and room for him to crawl around. I had someone comment on a Facebook post that this room would look better if the coffee table was bigger. I did agree that a bigger table would probably look better, but that it not how I design. I design for the people who live in their home. Your home has to work for YOU.
If you are in a design dilemma (like I am). The best tip I have is to make a list of your needs and wants.
Here is my want list for a new coffee table-
#1- Rectangular shape or oval
#2- Narrow for our narrow space
#3- Bright white or dark color for a contrast with our cream burlap rug
#4- Modern style to add an updated look to our older home
Writing down your wish list will make it SO MUCH EASIER when searching online. That way you can use the filter setting on most websites, big time saver.
I moved our old fabric ottoman that I had in here before from our upstairs family room to see how it would work with our new furniture and try it with our moving baby boy.
I put together all of my favorite options for our new coffee table. THIS one might be my favorite. You can click on an image below to shop it. (You can shop the rest of this room HERE).
Please tell me your favorite for our tiny front room!
I love how you change up your home by just switching things around with what you already have. Your home always looks new and fresh, even if nothing is actually new. I love how you tried this table in here again before you find what you really want for this space. It looks great! Would you consider a post one day on how the other rooms in your home look when you take from one to put in another? I’d like to see what’s up in the family room while this table is downstairs. Or how you rearrange throw pillows in every room too. That’s the easiest and biggest change I can do daily around my own home, but it really does make an impact. Thank you! I can’t wait to see what coffee table you choose. They’re all so pretty!
I was totally thinking that! I need to show you what our family room looks like- I moved all the pillows from my front room up there. I will share that!
I like the first one! The gold would be pretty 🙂
I loved the concrete top coffee table too. However, I would check the safety aspects specially in a small place. Concrete tens to be really hard so if your baby or any one bumbs into it can be unpleasant. Just a thought since you mentioned it has to work on all aspects. Otherwise, good choice!
That is a good point…..thank you!!
When my son was learning to walk he fell into our wood coffee table and got a major goose egg. Then he fell into it again and got a dent in the goose egg! We replaced it with Ikea’s Ektorp storage ottoman. It is extra seating, has storage, and slides around easily. It may be too big for your space but we love it.
oh know!! Poor guy. Ok that could totally happen! hmmmm I might need to reevaluate!
I like the same style you like but in oval!! it would feel better for traffic to move around….no corners to bump baby head or big people knees
Have you considered reupholstering the coffee table you moved back in, maybe in a color? I personally like the softer look but also, I think it’s more practical right now. (I also like propping my feet up on something soft). Although I like several of the coffee tables you’ve shown, my preference would be for rounded corners and not a real hard top surface because of your baby. My experience with little boys is they can get really active and he is going to bump his head, especially at this stage.
That is smart thinking…I did consider that. I will have to reconsider, because Finn is super active and crazy!
All of the choices are really pretty! If it were me, I would avoid a coffee table with any blunt edges for awhile. 🙂 But I had 3 toddlers running around at once. My daughter is only 13 months older than my twin boys. :0
Large tufted brown leather ottoman
I like the one with the dark gray fabric top and the one with the dark top near the end. I really like the one you have. You could recover with gray . It’s hard to choose. I like natural wood too.
Thank you! I know I like the dark top for a contrast! Too many good options:)
Hi, I like the idea of recovering what you have, it just seems to fit that space so well and is soft! I also wanted to comment that I LOVE the fact that your house is small and that everything in it is special or has a special purpose. That is how I live and I enjoy that coziness! I can’t imagine having rooms that just sit unused or staged without a purpose. Thank you for your blog. You are my favorite!
Hi, Brooke,
I would either keep the upholstered ottoman or nothing at all at least till Finn learns how to walk well. Safety should be the priority over any style or color. Also, for the tiny space, I think, there are too many pillows in that room. I counted 8. It’s just my 25 cents.
Not having to move our pillows when we sit on the sofa is my criteria, we need them for back support. That is great if you want to only have 2 or 7. Sometimes I have 2 on the sofa, sometimes I have 5, it is always evolving and I stick with the “no rules” when I design. But I totally get that my style of design is not everyones cup of tea and that is ok with me.
I want to add that When it’s safe to have a coffee table, maybe you would consider acrylic or glass to make the space look roomy.
I can’t wait to see what you pick! Your house is so so so pretty 🙂 BTW, I’m wondering if it’s a regional thing to call it a coffee table. Don’t you live on the east coast? I’m from the west coast and I’ve never heard it called a cocktail table before.
I like the old ottoman that you already have! Wondering if you really keep the plant on the coffee table when you have a toddler- seems like it is asking for trouble?! 🙂
oh my gosh! I am totally dealing with that today. I was like “I am going to train him” but no he is throwing the tiny rocks in the base of the plant all over. It isn’t going too well:)
LOVE everything about your house! I do agree with Priscila about concrete being kind of a hazard. Deb’s idea of the IKEA Ektorp is a good one, because Finn’s toys could be stored in it and if the cover gets trashed it can be replaced. Goodluck choosing!
thank you so much! I will totally have to make a trip to Ikea I think!
I love all of the ovals! Don’t think you can go wrong with any of them. Would be a nice contrasting shape in the room, feel more traffic friendly and better shape, with no corners for a new walker!
Oval!
Lots of thoughts having raised 3 babies…. The oval makes it easier to move around in a tight space. The rounded edges make it less likely to have a corner to injure your children when accidents happen. I use upolstered ottomans for extra seating and a great place to put your feet up on. If you don’t want an upholstered ottoman I like the looks of the oval concrete top one. However, I would check safety if it will tip easily etc… Good Luck!