Design
You Might Be Surprised By This Trending Living Room Furniture Piece (Inspiration + 24 Shoppable High & Low Versions)
I’ll be the first person to tell you that I love a wood coffee table. It’s an incredible living room furniture option. But some of the most interesting or exciting rooms usually aren’t the ones filled with what we’re used to seeing. Case in point: A trend I’ve taken note of in the last few weeks that I wanted to bring to the, eh, table. Allow me to usher in the argument for the all—or nearly all—metal coffee table. Stainless steel, chrome, brass, burnished brass, iron…top to bottom. It’s not for everyone or every room, but hey…what is? I’m not shy about pushing my “your house is for you, not anyone else’s opinion” agenda, and this definitely falls under that classification.
The look is edgy and sophisticated. My brain keeps going to the word “metropolitan”…whatever that means in this instance, but I think you’ll understand when you scroll through. This isn’t a warm-and-fuzzy Nancy Meyers vibe by any means, but it’s cool, and I’m into it. It (sort of) reminds me a bit of when I was very into Moroccan design back in like, 2011, and I desperately wanted a hammered brass drum coffee table from World Market. That wasn’t “metropolitan” or edgy, but I thought it was cool and sophisticated and different. And it would appear the look of unapologetic metal is back.
So come along with me today to look through some beautiful rooms, break down some rules for how to make the look work in your home without leaning too Hollywood Regency (in a bad way, because HR has its merits), and then do some shopping for a wide span of budgets. I’m talking $125 to $6,000+. How’s that for range, huh?
You can find this exact table down in my shopping guide. Not a real person’s room, but I wanted to show it to see how good and interesting a chrome or polished steel table can look with warm neutrals. The metal really cuts through and adds a tension that’s hard to look away from.
I’m just referencing slide #1 here. This brushed steel works so well with a warm camel leather, wood and ceramic touches, and black-and-white art or books.
This is the Roche Bobois Cute Cut XXM Cocktail Table (or at least a dupe of it; poster @ebruerkut doesn’t reveal the maker of the table in her caption). When I first experienced this table, I didn’t really understand it, but once you see it in action, it’s pretty cool. I couldn’t have something like this in an active living room, especially in a family home, but how rad would it be in a large office or the seating area of a primary suite or home den?
The ultra-low plinth-style coffee table is another huge trend, and when you mix it with a brushed steel, you’re at the top of the coffee table trend food chain.
This is the same coffee table from a few inspo photos ago, just pulled back so now we can see the whole thing. Many all-metal coffee tables are fairly simple in shape, which I’m guessing is due to the manufacturing process for this material.
I love seeing real people’s homes because they aren’t designer-perfect, but they showcase someone’s actual taste. @fadela mentions this cool coffee table that looks like it was made from a single sheet of folded steel; it was a gift from friends. Perhaps I need new friends… 😉
House of Leon is killing it lately in so many ways. I have my eye on this side table for my own living room (both the oak and steel are enticing me), but we’re here to talk about their Nickel coffee table (I also linked it below in the shopping guide). This thing is made from poured aluminum with a textured nickel finish and weighs well over 100 pounds. It’s warm, chic, and reflects the colors around it. It’s like an extension of the things around it.
Everything I’ve shown so far is a steel or chrome finish, but here’s something in a brushed brass. Different vibe, a bit more dramatic; it makes no apologies.
This is a fancy pants room, certainly, but the ripple of the table’s edge has so much energy, I was just so drawn to it. That’s the beauty of a metal table, especially something in a polished or mirror finish: It adds movement, life, and power to what could otherwise be a very simple, quiet space.
And last but not least, another plinth, in a mirrored finish, this time by Concept Stål.
5 Rules For Nailing The Metal Coffee Table Look
Before we do some shopping, I want to break down a few rules if you’re intrigued by the concept of an all-metal coffee table but are scared of it going too glam. As with anything else, it’s all about balance.
Rule #1: Be mindful of how many other similar metal types you have in the same room. If you’re going for a mirrored-finished brass or chrome, keep any other metal finish more brushed or matte. Sure, some chrome candlesticks on the mantel of the living room with a chrome coffee table are fine, but it shouldn’t be in every decor piece, either. Don’t be afraid to edit yourself.
Rule #2: Sure, go ahead and mix those metal finishes. Went with a burnished brass table? Here’s your chance to opt for lacquered brass sconces and polished nickel hardware. Again, don’t go overboard, but the combination of finishes keeps things from feeling too Vegas.
Rule #3: When in doubt, go for a brushed finish. This automatically tones down the glam factor. In that same vein, go with something that has simple lines. When you get too ornate, then well, you get too ornate.
Rule #4: Bring in plenty of natural materials and textures to balance the cold nature of a metal table. Nubby wool rugs, natural cotton or linen curtains and upholstery, that kind of thing. Could you put a chrome table in front of a velvet sofa? Of course (chic), but you’ll want to be sure you have enough wood, ceramics, and wovens to bring it all back down to earth.
Rule #5: Just go for it. Less a rule, and more of a mantra, of course, but look, if you’re into it, GO FOR IT. Don’t be shy. Always remember that this is your home, and it should feel like you, not like the Internet tells you it should look to make people think you have good taste (me included).
Shopping: Our Favorite Metal Coffee Tables Under $1,200
1. Drum Storage Coffee Table (32″–40″) | 2. Coffee Table in Polished Stainless Steel Sheet, Model “120” | 3. Meridian Furniture Jamison Gold Iron Coffee Table | 4. Jovie Coffee Table (36″) | 5. Italian Modern Square Coffee Table In Glass And Chromed Steel, 1970s | 6. Large Stainless Steel Coffee Table: Modern Industrial Design, Made in New Zealand
Let’s start with some coffee tables nearly all under the $1,000 mark (and one just above it to meet the sub-$1,200 criteria of this category). That West Elm drum storage table (#1) has been around for a LONG time. I know this because I considered it many, many moons ago when I was first into the brass drum table look. And lo and behold, here we are again. There’s nothing new under the sun, as they say. Another brass option is #3. Does it look like a giant brass yo-yo? Yes! Is that exactly why I like it? Also yes! Add some whimsy, people. But I suspect it’ll look a lot less like a toy when you use that bottom ledge to store or display some cool objects.
For a darker, moodier vibe, a burnished brass is a nice look (#4), though the metals du jour are, of course, chrome and stainless steel. That said, Etsy has a ton of both (like #6 and #2), and given that chrome was huge decades ago, don’t forget there are going to be so many vintage options (especially chrome tube tables such as #5).
1. Gridiron Coffee Table | 2. Premium Metal Coffee Table in Brass Finish with Modern Design | 3. Flores Oval Coffee Table | 4. Lillie Round Gold Etched Tray Top Folding Coffee Table | 5. Kortha Coffee Table Antique Silver | 6. Globus Coffee Table
Our second set of under $1,200 metal coffee table options also sports another brass drum table, though this one doesn’t have storage. It’s under $450, which is a rare feat these days in the world of furniture buying. Another deal? This cute tray-top brass table from World Market (#4). Be sure to note the dimensions because it’s petite, but I could see two of them paired together, or adding in the taller side table to create a tiered/nested look.
Another table I’ve liked for well over a decade is this Gridiron table (#1). The metal slats are so cool and architectural to me. I tend not to like glass tops too much, mostly due to my aversion to the sound of a cup being placed atop it, but you could even swap that out here for a thin piece of wood or stone if you really wanted to get custom. For something more organic, Wayfair sells this silver-leafed blob-like Kortha table (#5—bad description, cool table); it reads like a wood stump, which tones down the glam finish, in my opinion. Some darker picks include the oval table from Lumens at #3 (oval tables don’t get enough play, if you ask me), and the black metal Globus table (#6) that also comes in brass and silver.
Shopping: Our Top $1,200-Plus Metal Coffee Tables
1. Coffee Table – 1.0 – Stainless Steel Set | 2. Collier Metal Oval Coffee Table (55″) | 3. Creed Large Coffee Table | 4. Aurea Soft Gold Coffee Table (57″) | 5. Didi Coffee Table, Clear Glass by Four Hands | 6. Bend Coffee Table
Time to spend some mon-ay! We don’t all have $5,000 to spend on a single piece of accent furniture, but it’s fun to window shop (and also, you might have the budget for this, and I wanted those of you who do to see what we’re eyeing, too). Many of the tables in my inspiration above are either trade-only or custom, though some come from this list, as well. I’m very much crushing on the pieces coming out of The Oblist lately, like the table set at #1 (there’s another one below that’s basically art). You can go full-volume brass with the kidney-bean-shaped Aurea from Z Gallerie—I used to think that was the pinnacle of chicness, but glad to see they still have some good pieces—or more muted with a darker brass (#2, #3). A modern chrome tube table like this one from High Fashion Home would be so good juxtaposed with a beachy linen slipcovered sofa or with some modern upholstery but in a super classical space. For something really unique, Claude Home doesn’t miss.
1. Nickel Coffee Table – Rectangular | 2. Inflated Steel Coffee Table – Pebble Series by Nitush Aroosh | 3. Cary Bronze Aluminum 50″ Round Indoor/Outdoor Coffee Table | 4. Etape Lounge Table No.03 | 5. Four Hands Bingham Large Coffee Table | 6. Foundry Coffee Table
And finally, our last set of today’s post with three of my favorites (that I 100% cannot afford but again, it’s fun to dream). First up is House of Leon, who sells their Nickel coffee table in both a square and a rectangle. This one is great because the finish is so that it reads both silver and brass depending on what it’s around and what the light in the room looks like. #2 from The Oblist looks like molten titanium. It’s giving Secret World of Alex Mack (#IYKYK), and I love it. At over $6,000, it’s more sculpture than table. It’s hard to understand #4 in the cut-out photo here, but it’s a mirror finish that reflects everything around it. Definitely not for a household with young children…all of those sharp edges and corners make me nervous, but for grown-ups who aren’t clumsy, the stepped approach is so neat. For a more approachable design, Crate & Barrel has a large bronze three-legged table that can be used both indoors and out, and Mathis Home carries this transitional iron and oak number (#5) that could work in any family home.
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So…I’m itching to know what you guys think. I can already hear some of you not being able to look past all those sharp edges and corners, or feeling like the tables are too cold, but for those on the hunt for something different, I hope this lands with you! Which tables could you see yourself using in your home and how? See you in the comments.
Until next time, friends…
Opening Photo Credits: Photo by Geneieve Garruppo | From: A 120-Year-Old Barn Makeover with The Frame TV
Re. “metropolitan,” perhaps the word you were seeking is “cosmopolitan?” Great roundup.