The Ottoman Cocktail Table

Elegant couples are engaged in flirtatious banter. A charming bartender rattles a cocktail shaker. The cocktail party, popularized during the 1920s, influenced fashion, furniture and interior design in the 1950s. When it was introduced in mid-century, the "cocktail table" was a trendy term to describe the long, low table that sat in front of a sofa. While people in many parts of the country call this a "coffee table," the cocktail table has entered our vocabulary and our design sense. Hardly a family room, den, or living room would be comfortable without having a table anchoring the seating area.

Need a cocktail table? Most living room and den furniture ensembles include at least one cocktail table that matches the end tables and coordinates with the upholstered furniture in the suite. They come in all shapes and sizes-a round or square cocktail table would fit well in front of one of today's popular sectional sofas better than a rectangular table. One option available is not a single table at all. You can solve this space problem by choosing a table that stores ottomans beneath the tabletop.

Place a favorite tray on top to provide a stable spot to rest your drink, and remove the tray when you need that extra seating. Once again, you've got a table that does double duty. Some tables include special features, like a shelf below the table's surface for magazines and books. A table outfitted like an apothecary cabinet is the perfect place to keep the essential remotes, coasters, DVDs and CDs, and reading glasses organized and within easy reach.

Larger cocktail tables can provide large-scale storage-think storage trunks. Most rooms in our homes can benefit from more storage space. Why don't you let your cocktail table do that for you?