A pair of coffee tables by Yves Klein brightens up this serene living room by Stéphanie Coutas (Photo: Francis Amiand)
Cover A pair of coffee tables by Yves Klein brightens up this serene living room by Stéphanie Coutas (Photo: Francis Amiand)

Coffee tables are the unsung hero of living rooms—here, find a selection of the most stylish and popular surfaces to add to your space

Besides their functional purpose as a repository for your coffee, books and magazines as well as other paraphernalia, coffee tables also serve as a stylish design statement in your living room. With a wide range of shapes, sizes and styles, there’s a coffee table to suit nearly every aesthetic. 

If you’re in the market for a new coffee table, introduce a stylish touch to your living room with these designer- and celebrity-approved pieces.

Don't miss: 5 Most Popular Designer Sofas Seen In Celebrity Homes

1. Noguchi coffee table by Isamu Noguchi

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Named after industrial designer Isamu Noguchi, the iconic coffee table looks stylish in any abode (Photo: Vitra)
Above Named after industrial designer Isamu Noguchi, the iconic coffee table looks stylish in any abode (Photo: Vitra)
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The eye-catching sculptural base is formed out of interlocking pieces of wood (Photo: Vitra)
Above The eye-catching sculptural base is formed out of interlocking pieces of wood (Photo: Vitra)

With a rich history and distinct form, this coffee table by Japanese-American industrial designer Isamu Noguchi is perhaps one of the most renowned mid-century designs. The sculptural coffee table highlights the beauty of simplicity with a clear glass tabletop and an interlocking wooden base that’s available in black, walnut or maple.

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Photo 1 of 2 The Noguchi coffee table on the Conan talk show (Photo: TBS)
Photo 2 of 2 The Noguchi coffee table in an open-plan living room that belongs to Mid-Century Manila founders Ken and Isa Mishuku (Photo: Scott A Woodward)

An on-screen darling that has appeared in shows such as Conan and The Big Bang Theory, the iconic piece is also featured in projects by Singapore-based firm RT+Q as well as the family home of Mid-Century Manila founders Ken and Isa Mishuku.

Available from Vitra

Read more: Design Icon: The Noguchi Coffee Table Seen in The Big Bang Theory, Conan, and More TV Shows

2. Glas Italia Shimmer coffee table by Patricia Urquiola

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Photo 1 of 2 Glas Italia Shimmer table by Patricia Urquiola, from Space Furniture (Image: Steve Brown, via Glas Italia)
Photo 2 of 2 Actress Son Ye-Jin's home, which features the Shimmer coffee table (Image: SBS)

Made from iridescent glass with a multi-coloured sheen, the Shimmer coffee table by Spanish architect and designer Patricia Urquiola delights with its colourful sparkle. After appearing in Korean hit drama Crash Landing on You, lead actress Son Ye-Jin was so taken by the Shimmer coffee table that she purchased another piece for her very own abode.

The curved table rests on slanted legs with rounded rims. When light catches the table at the right angle, the reflective form throws swirls of colourful shadows around the space with its special multichromatic shine.

Available from Space Furniture

In case you missed it: Wishlist: The Glas Italia Shimmer Tables in the Homes of Son Ye-Jin, Troye Sivan and More Celebrities

3. Yves Klein cocktail tables

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A pair of coffee tables by Yves Klein brightens up this serene living room by Stéphanie Coutas (Photo: Francis Amiand)
Above A pair of coffee tables by Yves Klein brightens up this serene living room by Stéphanie Coutas (Photo: Francis Amiand)

In 1961, renowned French artist Yves Klein experimented with creating his very own tables. Unfortunately, the project was never fully realised by the artist due to a sudden heart attack at age 34; two years after his death, his widow, the German visual artist Rotraut Klein-Moquay, continued his legacy by producing the tables based on his original design.

The coffee table features loose pigment encased within a glass tabletop that sits on sturdy steel legs designed to appear invisible. The table is available in three materials most common to Klein’s works—International Klein Blue, a rich shade of ultramarine that’s the designer’s signature hue; a bright pink pigment; or 3,000 gold leaves.   

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The signature blue colour of the Yves Klein coffee table reminds Philip Lim of his youth (Photo: Wichmann + Bendtsen)
Above The signature blue colour of the Yves Klein coffee table reminds Philip Lim of his youth (Photo: Wichmann + Bendtsen)
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The Yves Klein coffee table in this home by Jamie Beriestain echo the blue hue of the Anish Kapoor stainless-steel artwork (Photo: Manolo Yllera)
Above The Yves Klein coffee table in this home by Jamie Beriestain echo the blue hue of the Anish Kapoor stainless-steel artwork (Photo: Manolo Yllera)

The Yves Klein Archives, led by his widow, currently oversees the production of the coffee table. Only a limited number of new copies are produced each year, resulting in a high demand for the tables. Fashion designer Philip Lim has the blue coffee table in his light-filled Manhattan loft, while interior designers like Stéphanie Coutas and Jaime Beriestain have recently completed projects featuring the iconic pieces.

Available from Artware Editions

Don't miss: Fashion Designer Phillip Lim Gives Us a Tour of His Gorgeous Manhattan Loft

4. Eames Wire Base low table by Charles and Ray Eames

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Charles and Ray Eames used the coffee table for a special tea ceremony for guests like Charlie Chaplin (Photo: Vitra)
Above Charles and Ray Eames used the coffee table for a special tea ceremony for guests like Charlie Chaplin (Photo: Vitra)

This iconic mid-century modern piece is the brainchild of designers Charles and Ray Eames, the influential American husband-and-wife design duo. As with plenty of other Eames designs, the table is an elegant result of mixing practical materials. The tabletop consists of seven layers of birch plywood that’s bevelled at a 20-degree angle, while the resistance-welded metal wired base speaks to Charles’ belief that “fantastic things [are] made of wire”.  

Portable and versatile, the Eames couple have famously used the table as a coffee table to serve chanoyu, the traditional Japanese tea ceremony, to special guests like Noguchi and film star Charlie Chaplin.

Available from Herman Miller and Vitra

5. Miniforms Soda coffee table by Yiannis Ghikas

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Photo 1 of 3 Designed by Yiannis Ghikas, the Soda coffee table is made from Murano glass (Photo: Miniforms)
Photo 2 of 3 Each table requires the expertise of three master glass-makers (Photo: Miniforms)
Photo 3 of 3 The table is available in a mesmerising blue-green tone, as well as a rich amber hue (Photo: Miniforms)

This award-winning table by Greek designer Yiannis Ghikas for Italian furniture brand Miniforms is designed as a “funky” take on the traditional technique of glass-blowing.

Crafted entirely from Murano glass, each table is blown, drawn-out and shaped by three master glass-makers. A three-petalled stem supports a round tabletop with a hammered transparent glass surface that creates shimmering shadows when light passes through. The coffee table is currently only available in two colourways, a golden amber hue and a petrol green tone.

Available from Xtra

6. Candy Cube tables by Sabine Marcelis

Dutch designer Sabine Marcelis is known for her creative experimentation with light and colour. For her Candy Cube series of tables, the designer experimented with high-polished single cast resin in various pastel hues. The reflective surfaces feature glowing edges with a translucent touch.

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Model Elsa Hosk has a pastel pink version of the Candy Cube side table (Photo: Elsa Hosk/@hoskelsa)
Above Model Elsa Hosk has a pastel pink version of the Candy Cube side table (Photo: Elsa Hosk/@hoskelsa)
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Interior designer Jaime Beriestain added a pop of colour in this minimalist room with the Candy Cube side table (Photo: Jaime Beriestain/@jaimeberiestainstudio)
Above Interior designer Jaime Beriestain added a pop of colour in this minimalist room with the Candy Cube side table (Photo: Jaime Beriestain/@jaimeberiestainstudio)

Offering a playful charm to the room, the tables are available in fixed as well as custom sizes. Fashion stylist Margrethe Gilboe added her teal piece to a calming spot within her study room, while model Elsa Hosk and designer Jaime Beriestain are fans of the bedside table versions. 

Available from Studio Sabine Marcelis

7. Porada Infinity coffee table by Stefano Bigi

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Photo 1 of 2 The Porada Infinity coffee table adds an artistic touch in a home designed by Design Intervention (Image: Design Intervention)
Photo 2 of 2 Designer Stefano Bigi, pictured with the Porada Infinity coffee table (Image: Stefano Bigi)

This coffee table by Italian-French designer Stefano Bigi is designed to be a flourishing style statement. The swirling interwoven base is meant to resemble the infinity symbol, with a metal ring attached to the bottom for extra stability, while the glass tabletop is tempered and designed to hold substantial weight.

The sculptural coffee table is a favourite with several Singapore-based firms, including K2SD and Design Intervention.

Available from Marquis QSquare

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