Say “cocktail” and certain images come to mind. Imagine it’s the 1920s. Elegant couples are engaged in flirtatious banter. A charming bartender rattles a cocktail shaker. You hear the sounds of chatting and laughing-the room is abuzz… Or maybe it’s the 1950s. Neighbors gather in their post-war living rooms, catching up on the week’s business surrounded by modern furnishings, ladies are dressed in the New Look, sipping highballs, while men in crisp white shirts and sharp blue suits are enjoying martinis.
In the 1950s, post-war recovery was in full swing. Elegant entertaining was back in vogue. The cocktail party, popularized during the 1920s, influenced fashion, furniture and interior design in the 1950s. When it was introduced in mid-century, the “cocktail table” was a trendy term to describe the long, low table that sat in front of a sofa. While people in many parts of the country call this a “coffee table,” the cocktail table has entered our vocabulary and our design sense. Hardly a family room, den, or living room would be comfortable without having a table anchoring the seating area. Where else would you put your drink, a book or magazine, the remote control or laptop, or your feet?
Need a cocktail table? You’ll never lack choices. Most living room and den furniture ensembles include at least one cocktail table that matches the end tables and coordinates with the upholstered furniture in the suite. They come in all shapes and sizes-a round or square cocktail table would fit well in front of one of today’s popular sectional sofas better than a rectangular table. Wood finishes are the norm, but a glass-topped table visually opens up space and doesn’t distract from the furniture or area rugs that make an important design statement in your room.
One option available is not a single table at all. Instead, you can select a set of small tables that fit together and act as one large table for everyday use. If you find that you need more floor space and less tabletop, you can remove all or part of the table as you see fit. You may occasionally wish you had more seating in your family room or den. You can solve this space problem by choosing a table that stores ottomans beneath the tabletop. When the occasion calls for it, pull out this extra seating. When the party’s over, slide the ottomans back into place.
Another popular trend in recent years is to use an oversized ottoman in place of a cocktail table. Place a favorite tray on top to provide a stable spot to rest your drink, and remove the tray when you need that extra seating. Once again, you’ve got a table that does double duty. Some tables include special features, like a shelf below the table’s surface for magazines and books. These storage shelves may be outfitted with baskets to let you quickly straighten-up at the end of the day. A table outfitted like an apothecary cabinet is the perfect place to keep the essential remotes, coasters, DVDs and CDs, and reading glasses organized and within easy reach.
Larger cocktail tables can provide large-scale storage-think storage trunks. Open the lid, and you’ve got a place for a blanket or a throw and a pillow, perfect for a quick afternoon nap on the couch. And if you’ve got a sleeper sofa, store the bed linens inside the trunk to keep them out of sight until your overnight guest arrives. Most rooms in our homes can benefit from more storage space. Why don’t you let your cocktail table do that for you?
Author Jennifer Akre is an owner of a wide variety of online specialty shops including that offer both items and information on how you can easily furnish and decorate your space. Whether it is living room tables for your living room or tables for you newly remodeled home, there are many tips you can use to make any spot both functional and beautiful. Click today and indulge your senses.