A couple months back, my sister sent me this photo and said “A year from now when Sophia is away at college, this will be on my television 24-7.”
That’s my 18 year old niece Sophia on the tv screen, who is a senior and starts college in the fall. I told Shawn I believed her 110%.
Meanwhile, isn’t this a nice room? At the same time, I thought “it’s been 17 years since my sister had a coffee table.”
When Sophia was a baby and doing a lot of crawling, Shawn decided it was in her kid’s way and they didn’t need it. I can still remember thinking “this is crazy! Who doesn’t have a coffee table??”
It turns out plenty don’t have a coffee table, including me. But I didn’t set out NOT to have one. In fact, I want one as much as I don’t want one. I’m faced with a real conundrum here.
When I moved to my new apartment in the spring of 2017, I sold or gave away almost everything from my old apartment, my former coffee table included. It was part of my “Ethan Allen collection” of 2 matching tables and 3 heavy bookcases, all cherry.
I wanted to go with a minimalist, industrial look—and no matching pieces. Of the 5 Ethan Allen pieces, I kept one end-table.
I procastinated getting a new coffee table, I liked the freedom of not having to walk around one when I got up from my couch. At the same time, my living room is large, and not having one makes the room feel empty. So I finally decided it was time to buy one… then developed severe lower limb edema in both legs.
My doctor suggested I start walking a lot more (which I now do, daily) and to keep my legs elevated or stretched out in the evenings when I’m watching tv. That’s when I got off the couch and on the floor, and I’ve been down here ever since.
I use my couch as a backrest, and the ivory blanket on the floor is where I do my stretching exercises, watch tv, work on my blog, eat my dinner, read Star Trek Magazine, take calls, drink coffee & plan my takedown of the GOP
I’ve been doing things this way for 16 months now, since October 2021, and have gotten quite accustomed to it. (Plus it saved my legs.) Did you know this is not so uncommon? In South Korea, it’s called “Korean floor culture” and many families do their day to day living on the floor.
(Many have couches for guests, but use them as a backrest, same as me!)
Anyway—lately I’ve been wondering if it’s time I rejoined conventional society and got a coffee table. I like the idea, but I like the floor too so I just don’t know. I’m wondering if there’s a way I can have it both ways.
Here’s a few I’ve been looking at, from Amazon & Wayfair. 
I want something with a minimal, industrial look and the reviews said it was sturdy but not heavy.
And hey--if it’s too spare, I can always go with something like the one below. Amazon says they have plenty of these in stock. 
I’m kidding, of course! Any thoughts? Suggestions?
Honestly, my first thought was "MY TOOOOOOOOOEEESSS..." But...maybe you're more graceful that I am.
ReplyDeleteYour toes? I'm not sure I follow, but trust me I am far from graceful! 🙂
DeleteThose metal table legs would be toe-catchers. I'd be stubbing my toes on a regular basis.
DeleteI just saw this, sorry Debby--ulp, you make a good point :^(
DeleteIf Debby is anything like me, the toes refer to stubbing your toes on the corners of the coffee table, not to mention banging your shins and knocking your knees. And if you're on the floor, hitting your head. I, uh, yeah, I do this all the time.
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, I didn't realize so much toe stubbing was going on! But head hitting too?? Thanks Tom, it's giving me something real to think about.. :^)
DeleteWell, Tom, you've certainly made me feel better about myself. :)
DeleteWe don't have one and don't miss it at all!
ReplyDeleteDJan, you are my official Surprise of the Day. Thanks for sharing!
DeleteI also like the last coffee table in your list of options. I do have a coffee table and find it handy when I have guests and we have cocktails in the living room. The table supports platters with dips, cheese and crackers along with glasses of wine, champs and beer. Floor exercises are great for maintaining vitality and good health. Your routine sounds very positive.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Susan. I don't do much entertaining, in fact I've had a total of two guests in the last year or so. But last Christmas when my little dining table was covered with cards and decorations and stuff, a friend came over for dinner and we wound up sitting on the floor. And that's when I thought a coffee table would really come in handy about now! Thanks again and I appreciate you liking my choice. 🙂👍
DeleteHow interesting that your floor is your hangout! My 'coffee table' is actually an old TV stand that my parents used perhaps sixty years ago. It has castors so if I have company, I roll it to a corner because my living room is small. I agree with the Remus choice for your space. Oh, and good luck on planning your 'takedown'!!!
ReplyDeleteFlorence thanks for your comment, I just knew you were going to have something different than a regular coffee table if you had one. I'd like to see yours, maybe you could share it on your own blog someday? Thanks for liking my choice, and the good luck wishes! 😄
DeleteI'm a clutterbug, and any open service where I spend a lot of time is bought to be covered up by books, pens, all sorts of papers... so no coffee table for me.
ReplyDeleteWow, another "no coffee tabler"--thanks for sharing Donna. Well, if I do get one it'll probably be cluttered too. :^)
DeleteI'm a no coffee table person. I have a love seat and a recliner with an end table in between for drinks. I would clutter up a coffee table like Donna. My older daughter is a coffee table lover and I've barked my shins and knees on hers but never stubbed my toes. That last one, OMG. I do like the one you've chosen. Our family uses the floor a lot too. That's why I still have carpet in my family room.
ReplyDeleteThank you Margaret--I'll be honest with you, when I was writing this last night I was thinking you and my sister were the only two people I knew who didn't have one. And you both have lovely homes too. :^) Well, I am feeling less alone here!
DeleteLong time reader--first time commenter here. For some weird reason I felt compelled to jump in on this topic. I say "no coffee table". We usually had one of some sort through the years because it seems that decorator photos always show and imply that they are a necessity. They're not. Just get a couple of those inexpensive folding "tv tables" to bring out for the rare occasions when you might need them. AND, spending time on the floor is great for your health in many ways. Not the least of which is the getting down and getting up part! Your "living" room is for you to "live" in!
ReplyDeleteHi Don! Thanks for your first comment and this was helpful too, I am liking the tv tray tables, that's a great suggestion. I'm going to look at some (I have a nice closet for storage in my LR too). I do enjoy being on the floor--thanks again! :^)
DeleteHahaha. Hell, go with the last one.
ReplyDeleteThat's it? Gigi I was expecting you to tell me to get the Kimberly table, and to stop living on the floor and I don't know what else! Still, thank you! 😄
DeleteHi Doug, so many interesting comments! We are 50/50 coffee table here. We don’t have one in our main living room but have one in the family room downstairs. Honestly, we mostly sit with our feet up on it! Shawn’s living room looks gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteChuck is a floor sitter too. He has a room downstairs with his stereo equipment in it. He usually listens to music laying flat out on the floor. A friend has a smallish living room so uses a small ottoman with a pretty wooden tray on top as a coffee table. I do like the Remus coffee table, very minimal. A neighbour has an elephant with a glass top on it’s back for one of her tables.😳 I know I have said it before but you are such a neat tidy guy Doug.
Take care.❤️
Robin I very much enjoyed this, thank you for sharing! That was sweet what you said in regards to my sister's house and my own tidy place, thank you. Like yourself, my sister actually has two front rooms. But she doesn't have a table in either. I do like the idea of an ottoman with the tray on top too, I actually saw one I liked but it wound up being a bit too small. An elephant table sure sounds fancy! 😄
DeleteIf you pick the Remus not only does it go well with your chair but you can keep it under the window until you want to use it. I have the feeling it would stay there most of the time.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jackie--that's an option I didn't even consider. I'm going to have to get my measuring tape and see if it would fit there! 🙂
DeleteI liked the Remus also, simple and attractive. I gave away my coffee table for a footstool that has a lift off cushion/lid on top. Inside is storage and flip the lid over and it sits atop the stool as a tray with handles. Great for coffee, snacks etc. I trip over stuff too much to navigate a whole coffee table. :-)
ReplyDeleteCelia thank you for sharing, see this is what I was looking for. These suggestions are big help, I like this idea! 🙂👍
DeleteDug, we use an old wooden sea chest (I had gotten in Maine years ago) as a coffee table in the den. When the grandkids were small, it was moved over to the side wall, but it's back now. Mostly used to put our feet on, but good for snacks when the kids are over. I also store magazines in it. But from the ones you showed, Remus would be my choice too. I'm amazed that you have no problems getting down and up from the floor. That is very good. I can get down easily, but getting up is getting a little more difficult. ; )
ReplyDeleteThanks Rian, I'm surprised you like that Remus table given your eclectic taste and creative ways. The Sea chest sounds so cool, I can just see that in your cozy living room. You gave me a real chuckle here about getting up and down from the floor. Yes! When I began doing this I had real difficulty, and still do sometimes. But my doctor is from Pakistan and he told me it definitely gets easier with practice. And he was right. 🙂👍
DeleteI will clarify, Dug... the Remus would be my choice for YOU (with your neat clean taste) not me (you are right in that I like eclectic). And your doctor is also right. When I was taking Yoga, I could get up and down quite easily. It's been years since those days.
DeleteI like the Remus too. I just hope you will still have room to get down on the floor. I didn’t have one when my children were small. Now we have a multipurpose one. It is on casters, and the table top pulls up so it acts like a table to eat on when you sit on the couch and inside holds arts and crafts items for the grandkids. Joyce
ReplyDeleteThanks for your opinion Joyce, and sharing yours, I've seen those tables like yours--I'm a big fan of multi-function (especially for a smaller place like mine). I do like the idea of casters too! :^)
DeleteI used to have a coffee table but over time it collected more and more stuff on it such that it became unusable as a coffee table. I gave it away – I left it out on the kerb and it was gone before day was done. I hope it went to a good home.
ReplyDeleteI have four sofas – east sofa, south sofa no. 1, west sofa and south sofa no. 2. The first three are in the living room and the last is in the music room. This one is the type that converts to a bed, but the only people who have used it that way were my sister and brother-in-law. Alas, they both died about a year ago, so it probably won’t be used as such again.
At first I liked the Kimberline, but after contemplation decided the Remus was more interesting. However, I don’t know why you wouldn’t go for the Basho.
Peter I sure am sorry about your sister & brother-in-law, I think I remember you telling me about them before. Well, you sure have a lot of room with 4 sofas! If I could have an extra room, like a second bedroom to convert into a den, I'd have a coffee table for sure. I appreciate your opinion, I thought the Remus was interesting too--I do like it. As for the Basho, I'm a little worried how it would look from other angles! :^)
DeleteThat thought crossed my mind too.
DeleteI do have a lot of room. The apartment is a 3-bedroom place, but all I need for sleeping is one of them. The other two are the music room – CDs, vinyl records, sound system, guitar and so on; the other is the books, wine and computer room.
There’s also the living room with the sofas.
I'm not surprised, you are the Music Man. Peter I wish I could see it for myself. 🙂
DeleteWhy would you want to be conventional??? Why would anybody? lol
ReplyDeleteNo coffee table here, no sofa either! We relish being unconventional. I agree with Don, if you need something for guests, get some of those fold up tv tables.
Thanks Bobi! Wow, no sofa either? I'm envisioning a psychedelic room with bean bags and burning incense... ✌️all kidding aside, I did like Don's idea too. And I am now very curious to see your own room. 🙂
DeleteGo with the Sumo Wrestler! 😉 We have always had a coffee table but we are thinking of giving it away as Tom is using a walker now. It's great to see you Doug!
ReplyDeleteBonnie--hi! It's so nice to see you, I think about you every time I make Rice-a-Roni (I never tried it until your stuffed pepper suggestion), now I eat it once a week--I've missed you, I hope you're doing well! :^)
DeleteRemus? Does your love of Star Trek know no bounds? It’s creeping into your decision making! LL&P Doug! ~Jase
ReplyDeleteJase, you are awesome! Haha--how did I let that one get past me? Everyone knows the best stuff (like Romulan ale) comes from that sector! Haha, thanks my friend :^)
DeleteNo coffee table here, and I haven't had one in probably 35 years or more. Like your sister, I got rid of it when the kids were small. I do have end tables, but most often use a tray table as a desk/table for laptop and meals. To be honest, I wish I could rid of all the side tables too because they end up being catch-alls, but I guess that stuff has to go somewhere. If I were to pick one, I'd go with the Remus too.
ReplyDeleteInteresting about your floor useage. I've been having issues with my left leg and hip, and I wonder if sitting on the floor would help alleviate the pain. I do stretch each day on the floor and that's been good for temporary relief, but find sitting on the couch or my chair with my feet up exacerbates the pain.I'll have to try it.
Thanks for sharing Maebeme, I've been really surprised by the number of people who don't own coffee tables. But I appreciate you saying you liked the Remus. I'm very sorry to hear about your left leg and hip, I'm not sure the floor would good for the hip but I would make sure you had good back support. This didn't really work for me until I used the couch as my backrest. If you tried and it helps, let me know. 🙂
DeleteMy two cents. Given how you live, the idea of the TV tables (can store away) is a good one or the ottoman with a removable tray (can easily move and use more than one way). We have a hefty coffee table - made by my husband's great grandpa. So far no tripping or stubbing because we are lucky to have the space and appreciate the solid wood and hands that made the table. Kim in PA
ReplyDeleteThank you Kim, your two cents is appreciated and precisely why I blogged about this. I sure would love to see your husband's great-grandfather's table, if I had a real house I would love something like that. ♥️🙂
DeleteWhat happened to your IKEA coffee table that you kept unassembled under your bed. Wouldn’t it serve the purpose and you already bought a book to put on the table.
ReplyDeleteDavidH
David you get a gold star ⭐ for remembering the IKEA table under my bed. I'm honestly amazed. It only cost me $30 when I bought it so I don't feel that bad, just too much black particle board for me. I still have my Star Trek coffee table book, still in plastic!
DeleteI like the Kimberline and Remus coffee tables, BUT, what about the one that's permanently under your bed, unassembled? Also, looking at your room above, I don't see a place where a coffee table wouldn't be in your way. You'd find yourself having to step around it, unless you backed it up to a wall and that just doesn't seem feasible.
ReplyDeleteThanks River, and you get a gold star for remembering the IKEA table under my bed too⭐. It's still there if I need it! As for a coffee table being in my way, I really don't think it would be as I have a large living room. But I wouldn't be able to live on the floor like I do now.
DeleteCoffee tables aren't for coffee, they are for resting your feet (which gets them UP) if your sitting device doesn't have a footstool or ottoman. My table has projects and candles on it, since I have an ottoman with an upholstery lid where I store blankets. My son and his wife had a coffee table, but when sitting in their deep recliners with footrests, they couldn't reach the coffee table items, so they have end tables. Don't get the sumo wrestler one; almost prejudicially ethnically wrong. His back is hurting. Cheapest place to see an assortment of tables: a used furniture store or used office equipment store. They have lots of tables. Maybe you have a Goodwill donation center nearby. I'd suggest an ottoman / footstool for your new chair. My tailbone hurts just thinking about sitting in a floor. WalMart has my ottoman for $40. Cheers, Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteLinda, I hope you know how much I enjoy your comments--not just on mine, but on others blogs as well. So..thank you for your input! Well, I don't want to get one just for putting my feet up, I think I'd have to get a heavier table (which I don't really want in here). I wouldn't want to buy any second-hand or used furniture either, I don't have to worry about what I spend. As for that Sumo wrestler, I would never own such a tacky thing--no lectures necessary my dear! :^)
DeleteWe no longer have a coffee table but a box like ottoman with a tray we use to put stuff on when we are not putting our legs on it. Safer for us and the grandkids.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing Arlene, I was just looking at one of those last night on Amazon, a tan leather with reversible lid that becomes a tray. It would give me something to put my feet up at night. :^)
DeleteI like this one - https://www.perigold.com/Bold-Monkey--Figurine-End-Table-BM23038-L442-K~HYSG1208.html?refid=GX599753749640-HYSG1208&device=c&ptid=1911140942829&targetid=pla-1911140942829&ireid=227575019&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgvOZn9DR_QIVFLrICh2UIgFgEAQYASABEgJFt_D_BwE
ReplyDeleteYou have to copy and paste the link Doug, I know you know how to do that.
DeleteThis was awful! But it made me laugh out loud, who the heck is this!!
DeleteYou know..I'm a very mature conservative who lives with 2 dogs.
DeleteScratch that, with 1 dog. She is famous on IG.
DeleteMature my foot and conservative my other foot--but you DO own a famous dog! :^)
DeleteI was watching TV last night instead of DVDs so there were advertisements and I saw your chair! I don't remember the name of the company advertising :(
ReplyDeleteIsn't that wild, I never saw it advertised on tv! Well River, someone emailed me yesterday and asked what it was & where I got it. The Donita Armchair from Joss & Martin, or Wayfair. I looked it up and they've gotten even more expensive. $730 USD
DeleteI don't know what they call it here, but it was an advertisement for Nick Scali furniture. I shall google later and see if it was "window dressing" or something they sell.
DeleteI actually think that you should google 'Star Trek Coffee Tables' right this very minute.
ReplyDeleteHaha Debby I just did and saw some pretty wild stuff--I am sick in bed right now so thank you for the cheer up 🙂👍
DeleteUuummm.... That sumo wrestler would definitely be a conversation piece. I tend to like tables with a rounded edge now just because I tend to hurt myself too easily.
ReplyDeleteYou just reminded me that I need to do my PT exercise for my knee. Ouch! And I need floor space for that too.
Thank you Kay... I admit I worried about sharing that Sumo table as I didn't want to offend you. Maybe in an upcoming blog you can share your own Living room :^)
DeleteI'm afraid my living room is really quite boring. Sigh... Our coffee table is a cedar chest.
DeleteHere your chair is called the Amsterdam Armchair, usually sold at $990, but currently on sale for $690. Way too expensive for my budget now that I am retired.
ReplyDeleteThat one does look very much like mine, except mine has separate back and seat cushion sewn together. This chair is just one big cushion. Either way, it's way overpriced!
DeleteNo coffee table here .. :)
ReplyDeleteHello my friend.. :)
ReplyDeleteTalk about a blast from the past! It's good to hear from you Theresa 🙂
DeleteHi Doug, The more I know about you, the better I like you. 😊 I admire you putting this post together about whether or not to get a coffee table. I have one … sort of … well, it’s actually a cedar chest that my folks bought when I was a kid and it was at the foot of my bed. It’s moved everywhere with me ever since … so 60+ years. Right now, it is front of my couch, and is used for a dinner table. Like a lot of old folks I have to watch the evening news while having dinner. I know … so many have told me I need to get over that. Anyway, the chest works OK, but it is not perfect, because, when getting up from the couch one needs to be careful not to run into the edge of the chest. OK, enough on that. Now, yes, I really like the first image here in your post … I take it that is your sister’s living room. Very nice indeed. I also like your living room. I have to hand it to you … that is nice being able to get down there and relax while watching tv, dining, etc. Looks like your laptop is down there too … I might set the laptop on the couch when typing. I especially love it to hear you do your planning for a takedown of the GOP down there! As to the choices for a possible coffee table … my parents told me I was bad about this … but I like the most expensive of the first 4 … the Kimberline Coffee Table. I like the look of it and that it has a nice bottom shelf. As to the Sumo Wrestler … well, 😊 I would have to get accustomed to it. Keep us posted and let us know if you decide to go with a coffee table. Thanks for your kind comment on my blog. Hope you have a fine week ahead and take care! John
ReplyDeleteJohn, this was so nice to read; thank you. You and I have something in common, we both like to share and I appreciate you doing that here. The cedar chest sounds very nice, I like it when items are multi-functional. And it's also nice it was your parents! Well, another thing we have in common---I do the same as you, have my dinner while watching the news. I didn't realize that was such a common thing, but I appreciate you sharing that. Thank you again for the warm comments here John, I look forward to us talking again. :^)
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