The Best Coffee Tables With Storage for a Clutter-Free Living Room
Because we can’t all live in a minimalist fantasy
We might all dream of having a perfectly curated, ultra-minimalist coffee table as the focal point of a living room, but let’s get real: coffee tables with storage present a much more practical approach to real-life design—one where not every book is designed with visual interest, one where mail and remotes and board games find homes too. Here, we’ve rounded up storage coffee tables that’ll look elegant while stashing your less desirable objects or ones that can provide extra display space if you’ve got a collection you’d like to show off to your guests. Read on to find the right piece for your living space.
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In this Article:
Best Overall
Rather than a small drawer or tray, the divided top of West Elm’s storage coffee table rotates to reveal an empty storage cavity to fill with throw blankets, books, or video game controllers. The kiln-dried wood table is available in four colors, from moody blackened oak to a cool walnut that leans into the dark wood renaissance.
Best with Drawers
Boasting a sleek, low-to-the-ground design, Article’s Torme coffee table is the option for ultra-subtle storage. Despite being hidden in the table’s design, this coffee table has two deep drawers built into the tabletop. Only opening from one side, the drawers span the entire width of the coffee table unlike options with shorter storage on both sides.
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Best Lift-Top Storage
Article’s Sigrid coffee table is secret storage at its finest. Playful bun feet and a sturdy oak construction lay the foundation for an oversized top that hinges in the middle. The lift-up top is flexible and makes room to store items you reach for often—like board games and throw blankets. Plus, accessing the storage compartment doesn’t require you to move every piece of decor in the process.
Best Leather
An oversized ottoman can help fill the expansive space between your sofa and your media console. This leather one from Pottery Barn serves double duty: a place to rest your feet and a place to store extra throw blankets and pillows. The tufted top comes off to reveal a large inner cavity, which is a great spot for apartment dwellers to hide extra linens. Consider adding a decorative tray to set up a designated home for your remotes, game controllers, and current candle obsession.
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Best Coastal
Durable enough for indoor and outdoor use, Pottery Barn’s Huntington Wicker Coffee Table is made from a blend of all-weather wicker and aluminum. The top lifts up to reveal a 34-inch wide storage compartment perfect for throw blankets and extra pillows. Caring for wicker can often feel impossible (so many divots to dust), but this coffee table is easy; just blot and wipe it with a damp cloth to keep it looking pristine for many pollen seasons to come.
Best Farmhouse
Anchor a large living room with this large coffee table whose broad frame has ample surface area to display your vast collection of coffee table books. Meanwhile, two side drawers that can be opened from either side discreetly tuck into the table’s base. Keep a few floor cushions nearby to create a cozy environment for family game nights.
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For the Minimalist
Ideal for the modernist, this lacquered coffee table is a sleek way to bring more storage capacity to your living room. One side pulls out to reveal a spacious drawer that takes up the entire interior of the 47-inch-wide coffee table. The all-white, minimalist shape is a blank canvas for displaying vibrant decor pieces on top. Pair it with a low-slung sofa for ultimate ’80s energy.
Most Multi-Functional
Commerce editor Audrey Lee originally purchased the Burrow Totem bench to fill the empty space beneath a gallery wall, but found that it worked much better as a storage coffee table. “I’m currently using the interior to store spare candles and an extra throw blanket, but it’s got enough space to hide a few winter coats or sweaters from pesky moths—I don’t see myself ever getting rid of it,” she says. The silhouette, despite being a bit minimalist, has a classic enough wood build that it can suit any design style when paired with the right decor accents.
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More AD-Approved Coffee Tables
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Storage ottomans combine the comfort of a place to rest your feet with the functionality of a place to hide what you need. Joss & Main’s Murano storage ottoman offers a slew of performance upholstery options ideal for those with kids and pets. A fabric-lined compartment hides beneath the lid for a subtle take on living room storage.
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Want a more imaginative glass coffee table? This wood waterfall design with a matte black finish and glass bottom shelf is really the best of both worlds.
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The handwoven rattan on this rectangular coffee table would look lovely in a space with coastal or bohemian vibes. The lower open shelf provides extra room for styling your books or design objects.
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Storage coffee tables don’t get more refined than this. A round swivel base allows you easy 360-degree access, and a push-to-open drawer reveals an entire inner compartment. If you want to double down on the burl wood style, you’ll be happy to know CB2 carries matching side tables (complete with extra storage compartments of their own).
What to Look For When Shopping for a Storage Coffee Table
Wood: Arguably the most common material for a coffee table, whether packed with storage or not, solid wood can be a durable and style-agnostic choice. A deeper hue, like a mahogany or cherry, can lean mid-century, while a natural oak or teak feels distinctly Scandinavian. Opt for a material that’s white washed or stained for a farmhouse look.
Metal: Aluminum and stainless steel are common choices for the modernist or more minimal design aesthete. While the material may be a high-maintenance choice (fingerprints galore), the timeless material is having a resurgence thanks to the chrome trend.
Stone: Ideal for a statement look, stone coffee tables can act as a living room’s grounding force. Whether crafted from a minimalist travertine (like in Bobby Flay’s Tribeca loft) or an intricately veined marble, a stone coffee table is a modern and durable material choice.
Square: Best for expansive living rooms with a large gap between seating arrangements, square coffee tables can help fill the negative space. If your living room is square, a similarly shaped coffee table can help bring harmony between your design and your architecture.
Round: Whether circular or oval in shape, round coffee tables can soften the hard edges of furniture if your space has a number of boxy silhouettes. Similar to square models, a circle can aid in filling empty space, keeping every seat equidistant from its flat surface.
Rectangular: Great for small and large living spaces alike, a rectangular coffee table can make your room feel bigger. A more narrow furniture arrangement can benefit from this kind of table, elongating the layout and giving you more room to move around. Rectangular coffee tables are also the most common shape available for coffee tables, and are aesthetically versatile.
Drawers: Ideal for high-use items like remotes and candles, a coffee table with drawers provides easy access without disrupting your table’s surface.
Lift-Top: For those who prefer working or eating from the comfort of their sofa, opt for a coffee table where the top surface comes to you. Typically, this style will have a shallower storage compartment underneath. This closed storage is great if you like to keep clutter out of sight while still keeping your things nearby.
Shelf: A coffee table with a built-in shelf is for those who want to display their books and trinkets. The open storage can make the piece of furniture feel lighter while keeping clutter off the floor.
Storage cavity: If you need a large storage space that can be packed with belongings, a hollow coffee table is the perfect option. Fill the space with extra throw pillows, blankets, or books that can be stored out of sight until needed.
