The Noguchi and Mid-Century Modern Coffee Table Buying Guide
The perfect mid-century modern coffee table is a functional living room centerpiece. Whether your style leans more toward classic, iconic pieces or casual, practical storage surfaces, there is a beautiful, high-quality coffee table that fits into your design aesthetic.
How tall should my coffee table be?
The average height for a coffee table is around 15 inches, although some modern coffee tables stand around 10 inches high to evoke a more minimalist look. However, the most important thing to consider when purchasing a coffee table is the height of your sofa. Your coffee table should be around the same height, if not a little shorter. This makes it an ideal place for books, cups, and anything else you might want to enjoy from your sofa.
Noguchi Table
A mid-century modern icon, the Noguchi Table exemplifies the coffee table as a living room centerpiece. The Noguchi Table has a solid-wood interlocking base that playfully evokes modernist sculpture and is topped by thick glass in an asymmetrical shape. This means every perspective on this coffee table is a little different, making it the perfect piece for the design enthusiast.
- 15.75 inches tall
- Top is 50 inches by 36 inches wide
- Base is available in four choices of solid wood (black poplar, walnut, white ash, and white oak)
Eames Rectangular Coffee Table
With its classic silhouette, the Eames Rectangular Coffee Table is a ideal choice for any living room aesthetic. A solid wood coffee table, this modern piece is simple and elegant and provides a sturdy surface upon which you can display your favorite items. And because it comes in three types of wood—ebony, walnut, and white ash—you can choose an Eames Rectangular Coffee Table that complements the wood in your room design.
- 14 inches tall
- Top is 22 inches by 36 inches wide or 22 inches by 48 inches wide
- Available in six colorways (combinations of walnut, white ash, and ebony in laminate or veneer)
Eames Elliptical Table
The Eames Elliptical Table is the perfect example of a modern coffee table. This dramatic piece stands at a little under 10 inches and is over 7 feet in length. Sometimes called the “surfboard table,” the Eames Elliptical Table is incredibly functional and sturdy. And in sleek black or white paired with an intricate wire-rod base, this coffee table is a stylish yet minimalist addition to your living or family room.
- 9.875 inches tall
- Top is 89 inches by 29.25 inches wide
- Top available in white or black
Eames Coffee Table
A simple, sophisticated option, the Eames Coffee Table is a great focal point for the mid-century modern living room. Offered in two shapes and three colors, the Eames Coffee Table’s base is constructed from turned wooden legs and powder-coated steel cross-struts, while its top is marble, solid walnut, or palisander veneer. These options make it a versatile choice that can fit into both luxurious and casual environments.
- 15.25 inches tall
- Top is 45 inches by 30 inches wide or 30 inches by 30 inches wide
- Available in walnut, white ash, or ebonized ash and marble
Eames Molded Plywood Coffee Table
Another versatile option, the Eames Molded Plywood Coffee Table is a lightweight, circular table with a playfully indented wooden top. The original design has a wooden base, although another variation with a slimmer, metal base is also available. The Eames Molded Plywood Coffee Table comes in three wood types and can be styled up or down depending on the overall living room aesthetic.
- Original is 15.5 inches tall, Metal Base variation is 15 inches tall
- Original has a 33.875-inch diameter, Metal Base variation has a 34-inch diameter
- Original is available in ebonized ash, walnut, or white ash, Metal Base is available in chromed steel or black powder-coated steel
Cyclade Table
Offered in three heights and asymmetrical forms, the Cyclade Table is the perfect modern coffee table for lovers of striking original design. The three height variations are beautiful on their own, but they can also be nested together to form a unique architectural centerpiece. The Low Cyclade Table is 11 inches tall and features a circular cut-out in the tabletop to inset a glass bowl or nestle another table leg when joining the pieces together. The Mid Cyclade Table stands at 13.5 inches tall and has a distinctive notch in its top that works as both a visual design feature and as a way to nestle it into other furniture. And the Tall Cyclade Table is 15.875 inches tall and has a smaller, more triangular top that can be used as a side table to place a book or glass.
- Low variation is 11 inches tall, Mid variation is 13.5 inches tall, Tall variation is 15.875 inches tall
- Low variation is 29 inches by 41 inches wide, Mid variation is 21 inches by 20.5 or 21 inches wide, Tall variation is 26.5 inches by 15.5 inches wide
- Available in marble or wood (ebony, walnut, or white oak)
Nelson Pedestal Coffee Table
The Nelson Pedestal Coffee Table was designed to fit as seamlessly in a living room as it does in an executive office. With a circular top and a simple metal base with self-leveling glides, the Nelson Pedestal Coffee Table brings clean lines and a modern silhouette to any space. The table’s top and base come in different neutral finishes so you can choose a style that suits your aesthetic.
- 16 inches tall
- 28.5 inches by 28.5 inches wide
- Top is available in five finishes, base is available in four finishes
I Beam Coffee Table
Taking inspiration from industrial design, the I Beam Coffee Table translates the stark silhouette of a steel I-beam into a mid-century modern coffee table. The I Beam Coffee Table is simple in design with a large square glass top and a powder-coated cast-aluminum base. However, this simplicity, coupled with the table’s raw aesthetic, makes it a distinctive centerpiece in any living room.
- 15.25 inches tall
- 36 inches by 36 inches wide
- Top is glass, base is powder-coated cast-aluminum