Every Living Room Needs Multiples of This Designer-Approved Piece

Have you ever wondered why a coffee table is called a coffee table when it’s so hard to actually reach the coffee cup you set on it? You’re lounging on the sofa, and it feels like your mug is a mile away, as you lean forward and completely ruin your relaxed vibe just to take a sip. 

It gets even more awkward when you invite friends over. You know they don’t want to chance it by placing their drink on the sofa (which, admit it, you do on occasion). So they sit there uncomfortably, having to completely reposition each time they want to grab their glass.

Luckily, there’s an easy fix for these scenarios. Even better, introducing this magical product (even in multiples, actually) to your living room adds major style to your space.

The answer? Tiny cocktail tables. And you can see them strewn about my living room and the rest of my home in photos here.

These darling little surfaces, also known as martini tables, typically have a small round top held up by a stiletto base. They’re often no more than 9 to 12 inches across, and they’re designed to hold a drink, and, perhaps, a book. Because of their silhouette, they’re easy to slide right up to a chair or sofa, taking up practically no space. All of a sudden, your coffee goes from requiring a long, straining stretch to right there at your fingertips.

And that’s why I’ve sprinkled these tables all over my home. They’re next to practically every seat in the house: a sofa, a chair, a daybed. Each of these pieces all have cocktail tables next to them, and every single one gets used. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve plopped down quickly to send off an email or jot down a quick note, and I’ve been so grateful there’s a surface right there at arm’s reach.

Plus, I’ve never met a cocktail table that wasn’t light enough to scoot around. I prefer my cocktail tables to make their home on the sides of the sofa, out of the way of the flow of traffic. But if I bring my husband a cup of coffee while he’s giving the baby a morning bottle, I can easily pick up the table and set it right by him. 

Then there’s the style element. I love any opportunity to bring another design moment into a room, and cocktail tables do exactly that. You can always find them for a steal secondhand. Whether you choose a glamorous gold, classic black, or a nostalgic spindle style, a tiny cocktail table introduces function and form into a space. So don’t discount this hero furniture item the next time you are thrifting or shopping for your home. You won’t regret one — or multiples — of these, and you can find them in places like Wayfair, West Elm, and the like.