Coffee Tables: Wood Or Ottoman?

I am seeing more and more of these ottoman coffee tables in decorating magazines ……..

Contemporary Family Room design by San Francisco General Contractor Mascheroni Construction

Why would people switch to an ottoman coffee table? Is it a design statement? Is it for function?

In my case, I have switched my wooden coffee table years ago after the birth of my third child . I learned from experience that children and wooden coffee tables don’t have a peaceful relationship. So, I bought my first ever {storage} ottoman coffee table.

8 years later, my ottoman coffee table is still as comfortable, as durable, and as functional as when I first got it.

The advantages of the ottoman coffee table is the comfort that comes with having one. You can rest your feet on them {without fear of scratching the surface}, provides extra seating when needed, adds color and style to the space , in many cases provides extra storage, and it is perfect in homes with children.

The advantage of the wooden coffee table is that it is adds a natural element to any space. This natural beauty is elegant and gives a sense of formality to any space {at least in my book.}

Eclectic Family Room design by San Francisco Interior Designer Stacey Costello Design

Personally, I would use an ottoman coffee table in a casual setting and a wooden coffee table in a formal setting. That said, I decided to turn the “coffee table” in my bedroom sitting area into a tufted ottoman. Why, you ask?

Take a look at the before picture……{ ugly, uncomfortable, and really not a table in the first place-more about this in a future post}