How to Design End Tables
Living and family rooms are sometimes shaped in unusual ways that require furniture to float in the middle of the room or that force furniture to conform to a furniture placement that makes traditional end tables difficult to position. It may be necessary to rethink how end tables should be placed and even how the table should be designed. This is particularly true when an end table needs to serve more than one purpose in a small space. Designing is all about thinking outside the box to solve specific decor issues. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Draw a floorplan of the room using 1/4-inch graph paper and a pencil. Measure the room with a tape measure and simply convert each foot to 1/4-inch on the paper. Note the locations of all windows, doors, fireplaces, passageways, floor vents, bookcases and any other non-moveable features in the room. Lightly sketch the position of your couches and chairs. This will clarify how much room you have for end tables. An end table should be four inches from the side arm of chairs and couches.
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Determine your budget for end tables. In a small space an end table may be an extended surface from a bookcase or it may need to be mobile or convertible (such as an ottoman-type top that can be sat upon or used as a table). Identify your needs and decide if you can afford to have specific pieces specially made or if your design needs to incorporate inexpensive options.
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Create a measurement and shape that will meet your needs. For small spaces, this may be a round shape, for which a design option may be to place an inexpensive round glass top over a tall garden pot. This type of design choice offers storage inside the pot as well as a table surface. Or, you may want to determine if it is possible to attach an additional table top surface to an existing piece of furniture. Sometimes it is easy to mount a flip up end table to the side of a sofa.
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Design a larger style of end table for rooms with a lot of distance between chairs. A kidney shaped glass top can be positioned over two tall baskets or pots or you can repurpose a rectangular trunk to fill the excess space. The end table can serve as a focal point or be designed to be discreet based on your personal style. Once you clarify your needs, budget and available space, it will be easy to design the right end table for your room.
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Tips & Warnings
Design is mostly about meeting the needs of a situation. With home decor and room planning the challenge is usually centered on making furniture work, look good and feel comfortable. A well-designed space will make a room feel like home.
