To choose a coffee table with storage, start with what you need to store. Use open storage for things you use every day, like books, magazines, and a basket. Use hidden storage under a lift-top for things you want to keep out of sight, like remote controls, chargers, and games. A simple shelf is enough for a few books. In any case, a compartment 18 to 19 cm high can hold folded throws, games, and baskets.
This guide helps you find the right type of storage and the right height. If you already know what you want to store, go directly to the item chart.
Which coffee table with storage should you choose?
A coffee table with storage is only useful if the item fits inside and you want to keep it there. Identify what you want to store in this chart. It tells you the space you need and the type of storage to look for in our collection of coffee tables. The dimensions are approximate, so measure your own items.
| Item | Approximate dimensions | Type of storage |
|---|---|---|
| Remote controls, chargers | 3 to 5 cm high | Hidden, within easy reach |
| Books and magazines | Stacks 8 to 15 cm high | Open or on a shelf |
| Folded throw | 12 to 15 cm | Open in a basket, or hidden |
| Board games | Box approximately 30 × 30 × 7 cm | Hidden, or in a wide niche |
| Baskets and toys | Basket 17 cm high maximum | Open and low |
| Lamp, plant, items | Depending on the item | Multiple levels, at the end of the sofa |
The table's size, shape, and distance from the sofa are detailed in our guide which coffee table goes with my sofa. When a product page does not list its dimensions in the description, we will tell you and direct you to the product page.
What to store, and how much space do you need?
Start with a simple test. For three evenings, write down everything that ends up on your coffee table. This list will show you your real needs, with heights that are often very different.
- Remote controls and chargers: they take up very little space, but you need them every evening. Plan for a catch-all tray or box so they do not get mixed up.
- Books and magazines: a standard-sized book is 3 to 4 cm thick, while a magazine is less than 1 cm. A low stack remains accessible. A tall stack is only useful for display.
- Throws: fold them to fit the niche, or roll them up in a basket less than 17 cm high. A thick winter throw can exceed 15 cm when folded. Try it first.
- Games: a standard square box is around 30 × 30 × 7 cm. Across the 107.5 cm width of the solid pine table, three boxes fit side by side, or six boxes stacked two high.
- Toys: one large basket is better than ten small loose items. If children also live in the home, read our guide sofas with children and pets.
Open storage: what items are best for it?
Open storage has one major advantage. You can see what you have and grab it without any special effort. It is the right choice for things you use every day that are pleasant to look at. Its only drawback is simple: because everything inside is visible, including clutter and dust.
The solid pine table, the large niche
It measures 110 × 50 cm and is 33.5 cm high. Under the tabletop, an open space 107.5 cm wide and 19 cm high can hold books, baskets, or magazines. It is the largest numbered niche on our product pages. Solid pine retains its natural grain, and its elongated shape is ideal in front of a three-seater sofa.
The narrow 2-level table, for a small living room
Measuring 80 × 30 cm, it offers a tabletop and a lower shelf for storing books, vases, or magazines. Its tabletop supports up to 45 kg. The height of its lower level is not specified in the description. If you are looking for a basket or large items, see the product page. At the end of the sofa or along a wall, it provides storage without taking up too much space.
The 3-level table, storage at height
When floor space is limited, gain height. This 65 × 35 cm side table, 65 cm high, offers three levels for a lamp, books, a plant, or remote controls. According to its product page, its shelves support up to 22 kg. It complements a coffee table at the end of the sofa rather than replacing it.
Leave one-third of an open niche empty. Two stacks of books and a basket remain pleasant to look at. The same space filled to the brim looks like storage.
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Our open-storage tables
Hidden storage: what items are best for it?
Under a lift-top, nothing is visible. It is the right choice for a living space you want to keep tidy in the evening or when you have guests. It does have a downside, as you must open it before grabbing what you need, and things out of sight tend to accumulate. The lift-top also adds another use: dining or working on a laptop from the sofa. Read our guide how to choose a lift-top coffee table to learn about its limitations.
- The oval lift-top: a compartment 18 cm high for remote controls, chargers, or throws, with an extendable 54.5 × 37.5 cm shelf and a 110 × 55.5 cm tabletop.
- The lift-top with double storage: two hidden compartments that separate what you keep within easy reach from what you use less often. See the product page for its dimensions.
- The walnut lift-top: a large hidden compartment and different spaces for books, accessories, and everyday items. See the product page for its dimensions.
Store throws and games in the compartment. On the raised tabletop, keep things light, as our product pages do not indicate a maximum load in this position.
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Our hidden-storage tables
What is a shelf used for?
Between open and hidden storage, the lower shelf is the lightest form of storage. It holds very little, but it clears the tabletop, and that is often enough.
- The marble-effect nesting tables: each table in the set has a lower shelf for books, magazines, or small plants. They are 41 to 51 cm high, and their surfaces are scratch- and water-resistant.
- The tempered glass table: its lower shelf is transparent, so everything placed on it is visible. Reserve it for a few books or selected items. See the product page for its dimensions.
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Our tables with shelves
What compartment height do you need depending on what you store?
Compartment height is the most useful dimension, and the one least likely to be displayed. Take your largest item and add 2 to 3 cm to allow your hands to fit.
- Less than 10 cm: remote controls, chargers, magazines, and a flat game fit. A throw, a basket, and large books do not fit.
- 10 to 15 cm: flat art books, a thin folded throw, and one game per stack fit. A basket and a thick throw do not fit.
- 18 to 19 cm: a folded throw, 2 game boxes, and a 15 to 17 cm basket fit. Large boxes standing upright and a cushion do not fit.
- More than 20 cm: large baskets and several throws fit. Check that the tabletop remains at the right height.
The higher the compartment, the higher the tabletop. The table must remain at seat height, or 2 to 5 cm below. At 33.5 cm high, the solid pine table still accommodates its 19 cm of open space.
Lighting also helps you find what you are looking for. Look at our table lamps and read our guide which light fixture is right for a living room to illuminate the sofa area.
Which storage is right for your household?
With children
Choose a low, open niche they can tidy by themselves, such as the solid pine table, or the oval lift-top with its rounded corners. The movement of the tabletop must remain under adult supervision. Our guide which coffee table when you have children goes further on this point.
For game nights
The lift-top with double storage separates games and small items. The solid pine table displays the boxes in low stacks.
For throws
Place a basket in the niche of the solid pine table, or use the 18 cm compartment of the oval. You can match a rug and a sofa to unify the living room area.
In a small living room
Choose the narrow 80 × 30 cm table with its shelf, or the nesting tables with shelves.
A family in a 22 m² living room
The sofa is a three-seater and the children are 4 and 7 years old. Toys, books, and throws all end up on the coffee table in the evening. The family wants to tidy up quickly, and the children want to help.
Our choice: the solid pine table, with its 19 cm high and 107.5 cm wide niche. Add 2 baskets less than 17 cm high, one for toys and one for throws.
A couple working from home in a 16 m² living-office
The computer, chargers, notebooks, and remote controls must disappear at 7 p.m. to restore the living room.
Our choice: the walnut lift-top, with the tabletop raised for working and the storage hidden in the evening. Add a box for cables, to be kept in the same place.
A 12 m² studio without a living room closet
Floor space is limited, but you need to keep a few books and a lamp near the sofa.
Our choice: the narrow 80 × 30 cm table, with its shelf for books. Add the 3-level side table at the end of the sofa for the lamp and remote controls.
Mistakes to avoid
- Buying storage without measuring your items. A thick throw does not always fit in 15 cm. Take the measurement before choosing.
- Hiding everything you use every evening. If the remote control is under a lift-top, it ends up on the sofa.
- Filling an open niche to the brim. The storage becomes clutter. Keep one-third empty.
- Choose a table with a shelf for storage. It frees up space on the tabletop, but does not replace a compartment for blankets or games.
- Don't forget the overall height. The taller the compartment, the higher the tabletop will be. Always compare it with your seating.
- Don't overlook dust. Items left for long periods in an open niche will get dirty. Reserve it for things that are used frequently, and use baskets for everything else.
Your questions
Which coffee table with storage should I choose?
Start with what you need to store. Choose an open niche measuring 19 cm for books and baskets, a lift-top table with a hidden compartment for remote controls and blankets, or a shelf if you just want to free up space on the tabletop.
Open or closed storage: which is better?
Choose open storage for everyday items that are easy to grab and pleasant to look at. Choose hidden storage for clutter and things that are used less often. Families often benefit from combining a lift-top coffee table with an open basket.
How high should the compartment be?
Measure your largest item and add 2 to 3 cm. For folded blankets, board games, and baskets, 18 to 19 cm is suitable. For remote controls and chargers, less than 10 cm is enough.
How can I hide remote controls on a coffee table?
A lift-top table with a hidden compartment is the neatest solution. To access it without lifting the tabletop every time, keep a box on the lower shelf, or use a multi-level side table at the end of the sofa.
Which coffee table is best for storing board games?
A standard square box measures around 30 × 30 × 7 cm. Our solid pine table is 107.5 cm wide and 19 cm high, with three boxes side by side at two different heights, accommodating around six boxes.
Can I store a blanket under a coffee table?
Yes, in a niche or compartment measuring 18 cm or more, with the blanket folded to fit the space. A folded thin blanket measures around 12 cm, while a winter blanket can exceed 15 cm. Try it before you buy.
Can a narrow coffee table offer storage?
Yes. Our narrow 80 × 30 cm table has a lower shelf for books and magazines, but it does not replace a large compartment. It is mainly used to keep the tabletop clear.
Find the table that stores what you have
Have you measured your items? Compare the niches, compartments, and shelves on the product pages.
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