COTTAGE FURNITURE BASICS: THE COFFEE TABLE

Set the tone for your room with a statement coffee table.

Set the tone for your room with a statement coffee table.

The history of coffee tables is a bit uncertain, but some furniture experts believe they may date as far back as 1868. The original long, 27-inch-high tables made their way throughout Europe, originally designed by E. W. Godwin. Other historians think they came into vogue with the advent of the television, when tables were needed for snacks and drinks while viewing this new form of entertainment. A table in front of the sofa that had a lower profile than the TV quickly became a top priority. Whether coffee tables are used in a more casual environment or a more formal setting, there are many to choose from, and they can be statement pieces that will set the tone for your room. Here are five that caught our eye.

1. Beverly Rattan coffee table, handwoven of natural rattan with lattice apron, wrapped joints and tempered glass top, $599, ballarddesigns.com. 2. Fiddlehead cocktail table, with curvilinear legs that add artistic flair and provide substantial support, $1,265, mainecottage.com. 3. Lauren coffee table, lacquered heavy linen with brushed brass accents, $1,259, cottageandbungalow.com. 4. Chedi Tray coffee table, custom made from plantation-grown and kiln-dried mahogany, Mindi wood and premium hardwood veneers; removable tray top, $399, cottageandbungalow.com. 5. Amityville coffee table, solid plantation mahogany wood, $1,070, wayfair.com.