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Are sofa tables out of style, A Sensational historical guide.

Sofa tables, also used as console tables, have fundamental value in the history of furniture like other furniture items. The basic purpose of a sofa table is to add value to your room which is also compatible with the decor of your sofa set and the wall parallel to it. The exact time of origin of the sofa table is ambiguous; however, as per experts, it was traced in French and Italian furniture design during the 17th century. The sofa tables became more popular during the era of regency, which was also defined as British architecture of clothing and furniture designs. The application of styles of the Regency era was inspired by the Greek and Egyptian empires. The Victorian era also known as the revival era of the Egyptian rich use of sofa tables to exhibit their furniture style at that time better.

At the end of the 19th century, during the revival of the Renaissance (European civilization), American artists practiced neoclassical patterns and norms of calligraphy and sculpting to better design their sofa tables and other furniture items. A historical perspective is the best way to understand whether sofa tables are out of style or not because it gives you a hierarchical road map to your thoughts.    

Historical Specifications of Sofa table

To better evaluate the term, “Are sofa tables out of style” You just need to understand its specifications mentioned below.

  • The sofa table must be compatible enough with the sofa behind which it will be used.
  • The sofa table should provide enough support to the belongings of the person using the sofa which is designed and placed with it.  
  • The size of the sofa table should provide enough space on the surface to place beverages on it.
  • The surface of the sofa table should be hard enough to carry expensive things like a Macbook.   
  • The sofa table should be designed and prepared well considering all the updated dimensions and angels (vertical, horizontal)
  • The sofa table should have the option of customization.

Difference between a Sofa table and a Console table

When you are deciding on a sofa set for your living room, you must try your best to use all the space in your room in stylish and modern patterns. So, a sofa table is the best option to utilize the dead space in your living room. However, the size of the sofa table varies according to the space of your living room. In simple words, sofa tables are adaptable options to decorate your furniture through various cozy designs. Sofa tables are also useful for storage purposes because most of the sofa tables are designed with drawers or cabinets to store items like AC remotes. In open floor plans, sofa tables are useful for carrying candies and newspapers for the guests’ entries. The briefly explained difference is also useful for you to decide whether sofa tables are out of style or not.   

However, a console table is normally a standard-size table that can be used on different dimensions of the house like entryways and the TV lounge. The average height of the console table is about 30 inches to 35 inches. Console tables and sofa tables are confused with each other because the designers use these interchangeably according to their requirements. However in the past sofa tables were placed behind the sofa, but console tables were introduced later. So in simple words sofa table and console table behind the couch are different furniture items considering their use. A stylish console table with combination of white and black colors is given below.

difference between sofa table and console table
Image credit : Pexels

Designer’s insights on continuous changes in trends of sofa table designs

If you are still wondering, are sofa tables out of style? Then you need to understand the changes in trends in furniture designs from the neo-classical time period to the modern era. It is always part of the debate between homeowners and interior designers whether sofa tables are still relevant in today’s furniture decor or not.

1.Relevance in modern furniture designs

A sofa table is just a decent addition to the space of the room that you are going to design.  It can play a significant role in magnifying and improving the functional aesthetics of your room. It is crystal clear that sofas are still considered an important part of furniture decor. So, if a sofa set with dead space at its back is chosen according to the current requirements of the room, then it is compulsory to select a sofa table to better utilize that dead space. In this scenario, the sofa table can play an attractive role to better utilize the space and decorative items like lamps and family photos. So this historical relevance is another clear understanding indicator whether sofa tables are out of style or not.      

2. Major Uses of sofa tables

  • Alongside the decor, the sofa table can also be used for storage purposes to better organize the essential items of the living room or TV lounge.       
  • It can also play a good role in holding the guests’ belongings if a coffee table is not readily available due to specific design orientations.
  • If a house is built on an open floor map, then a sofa table can also be used as a divider of multiple spaces like a TV lounge and living room.

3. Styling content of sofa tables

Varying heights

While deciding on a sofa set for your room you must be well aware of the size of your sofa table considering all its dimensions and angles. However, sofa tables are always available in different sizes and storage options. If you want to decorate a sofa table against the wall because of the interior theme, then the sofa table must be higher than your sofa.    

Add numbers

Sofa tables always have the capacity to carry and exhibit decorative items in natural ways without requiring major customization. This exhibition is also helpful in generating sofa table decorating ideas pictures to for historic memories.   

Vertical display

If the sofa table behind the sofa is styled against the wall, then it can also have the option to vertically decorate the wall through mirror or hanging art designs.

White sofa table not out of style
Image credit : Pexels

Final Thoughts

So, the answer to this question, “Are sofa tables out of style?” is simply no. As mentioned above sofa tables were discovered in the 17th century, but with time, instead of losing their relevance, they became more popular along with continuously changing eras. However, in the 21st century, a new style had wondered the concept of interior design, and it was known as the “no style of minimalism”. In-home decor, minimalism is not about designing the furniture but about better using the space of your house or room that you decide for the decor of furniture.

As sofa tables are always popular to better utilize the space of the room considering the dimensions of the sofa and wall parallel to it; so, minimalism also pushes positively the use of sofa tables in the modern American era. As console tables are still a compulsory part of furniture in today’s world; therefore, sofa tables are still in style.                

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