Kid-Friendly Coffee Tables

It’s a tale as old as time. A couple has their first kid, that kid becomes a toddler, and…RIP coffee table. All too often, I see parents of littles ditch this quintessential living room furnishing, and although I see the temptation in doing this, I actually think this can be so limiting for families.

I think the biggest reason parents forgo the coffee table is because they prioritize floor space, fear it will get ruined with scratches and stains, or it will just be a forehead-magnet (i.e. something that will hurt their kids). And while, these are definitely something to consider, I think it can be incorporated thoughtfully, and actually promote family togetherness. Even a small living room, with the right coffee table, can function beautifully with kids. Where it once held a cocktail and magazine during your single days, a coffee table -for a family - provides a great surface for kids to build lego creations, work on puzzles, do homework, as well as a place for parents to relax and put their feed up while reading Llama, llama read pajama. A coffee table can actually make families closer, allowing everyone to participate in multiple activities, in the same room.

Kid Friendly Coffee Tables IMAGE VIA PIERCE & WARD

When I’m sourcing a coffee table for a client with kids, there are a few criteria I consider:

  1. Low Cost. We don’t want to spend a fortune on antique or luxury brand furniture, because the truth is, kids ARE hard on furniture, and it will show wear overtime. So I like to keep it under 1K. This allows us to rest easy and not feel like it’s something to fuss over. I always think back to the time I spilled nail polish remover on my neighbors coffee table, yikes! Things happen, so you don’t want to break the bank. But here’s the thing, you don’t want cheap, poorly made furniture. it needs to be durable enough to not break if say… your living room becomes a Floor is Lava game.

  2. Wood construction. Counter to what a lot of people might say, an upholstered ottoman is not kid-friendly in my book, because who wants to have to use a tray in order to make a coffee table functional? That thing will be sliding everywhere and defeats the purpose of having surface-area to play. Not to mention…cleaning upholstery? Not fun. Leather is great for seating, but because it scratches very easily is not great as a play surface. I also avoid glass coffee tables (and highly lacquered surfaces) with kids because these show finger prints easily. Trust me, you will drive yourself crazy trying to keep them clean. Wicker, cane and anything else they want to pick at or poke their pencil through is also out. So that leaves us with a solid wood surface. Avoid delicate veneers, like inlays. If it has some grain or a rustic finish, this will be even more forgiving. Bonus if the coffee table is solid wood, not just veneer top (this will allow you to refinish the surface should your preteen be in her nail polish phase).

  3. No sharp corners This is for your little ones safety so it is really a non-negotiable for me. Bonus if it also has rounded edges.

  4. Sturdy A kid-friendly coffee table is sturdy and won’t topple over easily. This means pedestal coffee tables are out.

  5. Stained finish. Since painted finishes can show scratches easily, opt for a stained finish, in a low sheen. This will hide scratches and everyday wear.

Sourcing a coffee table second-hand is a great idea because it means you can purchase something that was likely made by hand, with quality materials, for a fraction of the cost. It also allows you to see that it is a piece of furniture that can in fact withstand wear and tear (since it has already lived a life previous to your ownership). But if you don’t have the time to search, I’ve got some great kid-friendly coffee tables you can snag online that meet the above criteria.

Let’s dive in.

Kid friendly coffee tables

Kid-friendly Coffee Tables under $1000

  1. Sturdy, gorgeous grain with a mid-century feel. This kid-friendly coffee table also has a drawer to stow away small toys and puzzles. I love the rounded corners and slightly rounded edges.

2. Organic, “cloud” coffee tables are taking the world by a choke-hold at the moment, for good reason. Much like a round coffee table, they provide great flow to and from the sofa, but with the surface area of a rectangular table. It’s a win-win. This coffee table gives you the feeling of a pedestal base but actually has four (rather chunky) legs oriented towards the center.

3. This kid-friendly coffee table has an almost primitive-feel. It’s understated in the best way and won’t compete with the rest of the room. And for solid Acacia wood, you can’t beat the price! Since this one is on the lighter side, it may not be best option if your kid is in their parkour phase.

Kid Friendly Coffee Tables | Solid Wood Oval Coffee Table $206

4. If you have a small living room, a round coffee table is the best option. This one has a rounded, drum shape with storage on the interior for toys and games. The grooved pattern on the surface will also disguise scratches more easily.

Kid Friendly Coffee Tables | Round Storage Drum Wood Coffee Table $569

5. What is the best wood stain for hiding scratches? When it comes to stain colors, the lighter the color, the less likely it is to show scratches (same goes for flooring!). Meaning, avoid dark stains with highly reflective varnishes! This coffee table in a washed oak finish will wear beautifully. It also has a shelf for storage.

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6. This kid-friendly, oval coffee table features arched legs, giving it a post-modern feel. I love that kids and adults can comfortably sit under it on all four sides. And, since the legs aren’t all the way to the edge, also makes them more forgiving to bicycles and the occasional hockey stick (you didn’t see that coming, did you? Neither did I, friend!).

7. For larger living rooms, this kid-friendly coffee table with storage drawers is my favorite for puzzles and games. It has a high-load bearing, carbon steel base that is enclosed to the floor so toys won’t get lost under it. The slight lip on the edge also keeps playing pieces from rolling off the top. This one also has food-grade protective coatings making it less toxic for little ones.

8. This organic-shaped, coffee table gives you the lighter foot-print of a mid-century pedestal or peg leg, but features four sturdy legs. And the quality is top notch with solid wood construction.

Kid Friendly Coffee Tables | Walnut Mid-century Coffee Table $584

9. Although black is not my first choice for a kid-friendly coffee table, this is the way to do it if you are looking for something with more contrast for your living room. The texture from the grain and low-gloss finish all make this suitable for kids in my book. Another “faux pedestal”, with four substantial legs. If you have a sectional, a round coffee table is the way to go!

10. This rectangular coffee table features a waterfall edge making it really fun for kids to crawl under (and can I mention how much easier this makes vacuuming?) Another forgiving, light/medium wood tone, this coffee table is large enough for a big couch and provides plenty of play surface. Although there are no sharp corners, the edges are not rounded, so you will want to use discretion if your child is more accident prone.

Now that you have your coffee table back in the room, it’s time to talk styling. The older my kids have gotten, the less I have put on our coffee table. I want them to have room to play and explore without having to constantly remove items. That said, when they were younger, I would style a kid-friendly coffee table with fun objects and books to peek their curiosity. Enjoy your coffee table through all your kids life-stages! And I promise, the cocktails and magazines will one day return and you will pine for the days your kids destroyed your furniture.

Until next time…

Hi. I’m Katherine.

I’m the writer for this blog, and interior designer here at Hausmatter Interiors, an online design service.

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