Alternatives to coffee tables are plentiful, and the best choices can even offer storage space to stash away some of that electronic gear. Many vintage items can be re-purposed and given new life as coffee tables, including old dining room tables, dresser drawers and doors. Trunks are good alternatives to coffee tables because rather than simply taking up room, they provide storage space. Pillows, throws and videos can all be stored out of sight when they are not being used.
Using an over-sized ottoman as a table can serve multiple functions, especially if they offer storage space inside. When not being used as a coffee table, the ottoman can also provide extra seating and it still can be used as a foot rest. A group of same-height, smaller tables can be temporarily grouped to serve as a coffee table. When a larger table is no longer needed, the small tables can be placed out of the way.
The same concept can be applied to patio furniture, such as wicker side and coffee tables. Outdoor or deck furniture can be dusted or wiped off and brought indoors for temporary use, then returned outside and out of the way when no longer needed. A flat-topped, backless garden bench can be used in the same manner.
Crafty alternatives to coffee tables include a door fitted with short legs or a dining room table with its legs cut down to size for proper coffee table height. Vintage suitcases with flat sides can be stacked and arranged to form a table and can be used for storage, too. Other alternatives to coffee tables include wood sleds placed on wooden boxes to bring them up to proper height, and stacks of dresser drawers turned upside down so the top of the table is solid.
Alternatives to coffee tables can be plentiful if you have a thick, rectangular sheet of glass with smooth edges, such as glass used on the top of dressers and vintage desks. The glass can be placed on top of several different types of items used to form a solid base for a coffee table, including tree stumps, buckets or stacks of books. For potentially abrasive items, such as bricks, large rocks and clay pots, pieces of cloth or paper can be used for padding between the glass and the base materials.