A Brief History
Mid-century modern coffee tables have an interesting origin. Post World War 2, the mid-century modern design movement boomed. From the 40s to the 70s, this movement led to emphasis on clean lines, functionality, practicality and a connection to nature through design.
In the world of furniture, sleekness and multi-functionality abounded while clean lines, minimalism and geometric shapes emerged. This is seen as a symbol of post-war simplicity bringing about calmness and order in homes. Another major theme is huge glass windows, use of natural materials like wood, terracotta and stone – drawing direct connections from nature to living spaces.
Even today, mid-century modern aesthetic is extremely popular owing to its balancing power and timeless elegance.
Mid-Century Modern Coffee Tables: The Legacy
Some of the most influential mid-century coffee table designers have been Isamu Noguchi, George Nelson and Milo Baughman. These designers are some of the most influential in setting a standard and expectation for mid-century coffee tables.
Noguchi, Japanese American sculptor and furniture designer is known for the iconic table, Noguchi Coffee Table. The table has two biomorphic wood forms supporting a glass top. It is incredibly popular even today due to the natural materials seen in mid-century design.
George Nelson, American industrial designer and architect, popularised the idea of “good design for everyone”. His ideas on functionality and clean lines are widely appropriated today, especially for those looking to elevate smaller homes. An example could be a coffee table that doubles down as a table, seating bench, or more.
Milo Baughman, the American furniture designer known for elevating coffee tables by glamorisation is the odd one out of the three. HIs extraordinary work is brought to life through bold geometric shapes, chrome accents and materials such as leather and glass.
This article features options that have been inspired by the work of these designers.
A Showcase Of Mid-Century Modern Coffee Table Designs
Dark Wooden Coffee Table With 2 Drawers
This scratch and stain resistant coffee table is perfect for those that need an extra bit of storage but can’t compromise on the design aesthetic!
Maximising the functionality aspect, this coffee table has a moveable top for when you want to work on the sofa or couch, making it highly practical.
4-Legged Classic Coffee Table
Another 4-legged coffee table made of Mahogany wood, this has a storage space and a gorgeous walnut hue. Check it out here!
Stunning Marble Top Coffee Table
A fusion of contemporary and retro, this coffee table is perfect for the interior design aficionado. The faux marble is sleek and smooth, while the table is of sturdy built, making it ideal for flower vases, books and more.
Sleek Mid-Century Modern Coffee Table
Fully functional tables that fit like a glove, these can be scattered around in bigger areas and placed stylishly together in smaller spaces. Offering a natural way of layering and an interesting visual aesthetic, we think these tables would make up for the perfect mid-century modern look.
Beyond Aesthetics: Functionality in Mid-Century Design
Functionality was crucial in mid-century modern coffee tables. To promote a clean uncluttered space, mid-century coffee tables group multiple purposes together.
Coffee tables with drawers help conceal stored items by maximising the table’s aesthetic while focusing on minimalism. Similarly, those with shelves offer greater storage space catering to statement pieces and bigger objects.
Coffee Table Styling Inspiration
To style your mid-century modern coffee table, you can play around with a plethora of choices.
Vogue Australia recommends adding centrepieces on small coffee tables, adding some oomph to your aesthetic. Flowers, sculptures and hand-painted vases could be some great additions.
One can also opt for layering coffee tables. Now layers may not always be about textural varieties of cloth, but it can be different levels of tables, centrepieces, candles, big and/or small books/magazines and more. We think this is a wonderful way to make your space more interesting and for your personality to truly shine through!
Mid-century modern is a stunning aesthetic. With the right centrepieces, flowers and book selection, you can transform the look your coffee table has. As crucial elements upon entrances, coffee tables hold the power to establish style, authority and amplifies the impact of one’s true personality.
