How much effort do you put into selecting a coffee table? It may seem like an afterthought to a room, but I think it’s much more than that. The coffee table or ottoman is very important in my mind because it sits front and center in the living room. It’s in front of your sofa, so even if it’s smaller than your sofa, it’s in front of it, and in the center. Typically your eye goes to the coffee table as you look at the sofa. The best coffee table is one that is properly sized for the space, visually pleasing, functional for what you need it to do, and something that works with the overall design of the room.
The reason I’ve been thinking of new coffee tables, is that I recently got a new coffee table at the city house, CLICK HERE, so that means I need to decide what I’m doing with the old ottoman that we used as a coffee table.
Here is the round ottoman at the city house when it was there.
The nice thing is that if I still have something extra that I love, often I can take it to the farm and use it there. So here are the 3 options I have for the living room at the farm.
Option 1 – square ottoman. The white legs echo the look of the daybed legs and the burlap cover goes with about anything. It’s comfortable and pretty. The downside is that it’s a bit small for the room. It’s always felt undersized to me, but I really love the piece. 
Option 2 – wicker trunk I like the trunk in the room, because I love a tall coffee table. I also love the texture it adds to the room. It’s also larger than option 1, so it’s sized better for the room. Since it has a wicker top, it isn’t great for displaying a vignette, but once I added this oversized tray, I had room to display things on the trunk. The tray has tall sides, so it needs tall things in the tray. I like the dark color of the trunk also. I like the option visually a lot. The downside is that you can’t put your feet on the trunk; it’s not comfortable.
Option 3 – round ottoman The round ottoman is sized better than option 1, and it’s more comfortable than option 2. It’s shorter, which some people will prefer. As I mentioned, I prefer a tall coffee table, but there’s nothing wrong with this height. It introduces a new pattern in the room. The downside is that I miss the texture of option 2. I think the fabric isn’t as interesting as the wicker trunk.
So I’m curious which one you prefer. If I chose form over function, then I would prefer the wicker trunk. If I choose function over form, then I would prefer the round ottoman.
In the end, I chose option 3, the round ottoman. That choice was based on the fact that the ottoman is more comfortable, but also because this is the only room where I could use the round ottoman. If I don’t use it here, I’ll have to get rid of it. I also love the trunk, but it’s something that could be used somewhere else. In fact, I moved it to the foot of the bed shown below. I don’t have a photo of the trunk there yet, but it works well there.
Option 3 is my favorite. It blends with the pillows and blue coverings on the chairs. It’s almost as if there’s too much going on in option 2, kind of overwhelming verses the serenity of the round one. Option 1 did not appeal to me, I think the taller coffee table looks more formal and not as cozy as the other two. However, if you were to change your mind and uses either 1 or 2, you could send that round baby to my door!
I love the wicker trunk! I have one in my living room, looking into ways to style it.
I love your choice #3. The ottoman is lovely!
The wicker trunk is beautiful and I think it will look lovely at the end of the bed.
Also, where did you get that gorgeous white bedspread? I have been searching for something like that forever. I need a long drop like yours. Do you have the source and would be willing to share it? Thank you!
Elizabeth
I love#3 blue and white ottoman,it just looks right,but it is your home you live there not me..
Love your beautiful home….
I love option #3. I’ve always adored this ottoman… everything about it!! I would hate to see you get rid of it. So, please try to repurpose it in your ‘country’ home… ?
Love the round ottoman, too! The shape works well, juxtaposed with the squares and rectangles of the other furniture in the room. So nice to have options, isn’t it? That wicker trunk is perfect for summer.
I love option 3. The roundness of this beautiful, little table picks up the curvature of the chairs, sofa, clock and lamps. For me, it also helps balance out the straightness of the large rug and wall hanging. A gorgeous and inviting room.
I favor the blue and white ottoman. I think it is the right size whereas the wicker trunk look way to hulky for the rest of the room. Plus, I like the blue in the ottoman echoing the other blues in the room. The “coffee table” in #1 is too small and bland and the trunk in#2 too large, especially with the large, busy piece of art behind the coucn. So, there you have it: the round blue and white ottoman is the winner!
Option 3 is my favorite as well. I LOVE the print of the ottoman & the vignette you created. So you obviously made a great choice. :-). I love the trunk look also, but as you stated you couldn’t put your feet on it.
Love the round one!
Also love the white bedding. Where can I purchase!
Thanks,
Kim
I preferred option 3 as well. Its a beautiful ottoman and I think the room flows better with that option than the others. I do love a trunk in the bedroom, especially a wicker one. Its a win, win to me,
I haven’t replied in quite a while…but this one caught my attention and interest. I prefer the round upholstery ottoman. #3.
Give us some more multiple choices!!! They are helpful to all of us. Thanks
I like the first option with the solid blue pillows and the blue and white striped rug, all coordinates well…to me the other options seem off in the scale…ie:the wicker table is too tall, while the square tan footstool is too short…
I like option 3 as well. The scale and fabric compliment the other furniture in the room beautifully.
I’m torn between the round ottoman and wicker trunk. The round ottoman makes space look elegant and sophisticated, but I’m all about shaking things a bit these days, so I’d probably go with the wicker trunk. Looks so modern and daring!