What is the difference between a cocktail table and a coffee table?
While historical contrasts may exist, in the context of the contemporary design world, there is no significant difference between a cocktail table and a coffee table. Today, furniture manufacturers use both terms interchangeably to identify tables that are generally 16” to 18” high and intended to anchor a sofa and up the function of a living room. Either table can be round, square, or rectangular, and can be made of any material. In some cases, the term “cocktail table” may be used to describe a table that features more elevated styling, but this is by no means a steadfast rule. Coffee tables are believed to have first emerged in the Victorian era and steadily gained popularity throughout the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. At some point, the term “cocktail table” entered the lexicon, perhaps coinciding with the rise of cocktail culture, which was kicked off by the cocktail book, The Bartender’s Guide in 1862, and came to a head in the roaring 20s.
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Lead photo by Beatriz da Costa / Design by Ashley Whittaker