Are Coffee Tables Necessary?

Everyone has problems; we’re just fighting different battles. And apparently, one of those battles is whether or not a coffee table deserves a spot in your living room.

It all started when someone on social media declared that coffee tables are a “waste of space and money.” Their argument? They just sit there, gathering dust, collecting junk, and making it harder to walk or clean around them.

That post struck a nerve and sparked thousands of replies.

Pro Coffee Table

Supporters say coffee tables are living room MVPs:

1. They’re literally made to hold coffee (and other drinks).
2. They corral remotes, books, and candles—no more digging through couch cushions.
3. They’re a lifesaver when guests come over, giving people a place to set down snacks, drinks, or a game board.
4. They can double as a dining table when you’re eating pizza in front of the TV.
5. They’re a one-time purchase, not an endless subscription fee.

Anti Coffee Table

The other side argues they’re more hassle than help:

1. They don’t just collect dust—they collect clutter.
2. In small spaces, side tables are more efficient and leave the middle of the room open.
3. They make moving around feel like squeezing past strangers on an airplane.
4. They tempt people to put their feet up—when they shouldn’t.
5. And yes, they’re shin-smashing magnets.

In the end? Coffee table or not, maybe the real “living room essential” is just whatever makes life less of a battle in your house.

Doug O’Brien