Avenue Magazine Edmonton

Think back to your last Sunday at home. How many times was your coffee table used?

Did you lay a newspaper on it in the morning? Did you put a coaster under that mug? What gave it more coverage, drinks or feet? Did your kids use it as a colouring book easel and - oops - neglect to colour within the page? Were you right beside them, on your laptop, finishing what you should have done on Friday?

Coffee tables are the cores of our homes. Even if you're flipping through a catalogue for a new coffee table, you're likely doing it at your current one.

"They do so many things in a space," says Kathren McMaster of Daily Planet Design. "It becomes the hub of an entertainment centre in a lot of respects."

Freelance designer Andrea Sendziak agrees. Given its constant service, the right table should be chosen carefully. To start, says Sendziak, "you probably should not be looking at a coffee table that is higher than your seat height." However, she makes an exception for her workaholic clients who can't pry their fingers off a laptop. For them, she suggests a height-adjustable table instead.

Style is something else to think about. "Do you want a dynamic piece with lots of angles and a little bit of metal detail? Or do you want it transparent?" asks Sendziak.

If you have a wood table and west-facing windows, you have more to worry about than ring stains from coasterless cups. "Especially if you're not home to put down your blinds," says Sendziak, who warns of tan lines developing from stationary coffee table books. Buying a resin, glass or lacquer model is a good alternative.

The most important thing to consider when buying a coffee table is scale, says McMaster. If the room is really small, you'll probably want something with rounded corners. Not only does that prevent the piece from overwhelming the room, she notes it will also deter the types of accidents that left so many of us with scars on our foreheads from our rambunctious childhoods.

"Avoid something that is a high, huge monolith. It destroys the flow of how the space works, and creates a visual obstruction," she says. But she also advises against dainty coffee tables that knock the balance of a room off kilter.

But no matter the model or size, McMaster says, a coffee table should harmonize the room.

1. MIAMI by Bonaldo
$2,800 from Dwell Modern Furnishings (10549 124 St., 780-488-6464)

The transparent top and black base make this Gino Carollo-designed piece perfect for showing off interesting displays. Sendziak says the base also helps to visually ground the table and harmonize it with surrounding furniture. "Although it's formal and refined, it's still really sexy," McMaster says.

2. SCANDO by Offi
$749 from 29 Armstrong (10129 104 St., 780-758-4940)

This sculptural table is McMaster's favourite because the "soft, sensual, modern shape combined with the warmth of the wood make this table both beautiful and incredibly functional." Its compartment can store magazines, board games or the evasive remote control. "This is definitely not your usual coffee table," says Sendziak. It comes in several wood finishes, including this birch plywood.

3. NICOLE by Gus*
$1,088 from Inspired Home Interiors

"It has a friendly communal feeling," McMaster says about this ottoman-table, which comes in white or black. "I love how this would work at a party, with people sitting closely on it." Sendziak likes the fact that it allows people to put their feet up without being rude. "It's also nice that you have the different material, with the leather and the steel, creating more visual interest."

4. EYEFUL by IZM
$4,000 at IZM (14231 130 Ave., 780-452-1600)

The Eyeful is aptly named. Sendziak says this geometric "statement" table should be paired with a couch with clean lines, especially because the glass top shows off the bold walnut base. The airy transparency prevents the table from appearing too chunky. "It's got very dramatic lines," notes McMaster, "so you have to be very careful about the pieces you put around it. You wouldn't want to put it with a lot of clutter."

5. KAREL By Nuevo
$634 from Inspired Home Interiors (11807 105 Ave., 780-482-6040)

The elliptical mid-century modern design is easy to navigate around without bumping into, McMaster says. "It's fairly long, but not longer than most sofas, so you can put it in front of anything," as long as its lower profile matches the sofa's height. Sendziak recommends the Karel - her favourite choice - to pretty much anyone, from single and trendy 30-somethings to parents of small children and older, sophisticated types.

6. RETURN BENCH by Gus*
$900 from 29 Armstrong

Narrower coffee tables are trendy, making this piece - which is technically a bench - a nice choice. "It has a very fresh look ... I really like how the metals and wood intersect," says McMaster. Whether setting your drink or yourself on it, the Return Bench (in zebrano, walnut or ebony) would be great in a tight space. "It's very versatile," says Sendziak. "You can use it in different areas of the home."