Built in drawers make a coffee table far more useful because they give everyday items a home within arm’s reach of the sofa, while keeping the surface clear. Remote controls, chargers, coasters, notebooks and children’s bits and pieces can be put away in seconds. In compact UK living rooms, where every extra cabinet takes up floor space, a coffee table with drawers adds storage without adding furniture.
Drawers are one of those details that are easy to overlook when choosing a table, yet they shape how tidy the room feels every day. Among our modern coffee tables UK sale you will find designs with single drawers, double drawers and drawers on both sides.
The coffee table is where daily clutter collects. Post, glasses, pens, phone cables and remote controls all tend to land there. A lower shelf helps a little, but everything on it remains visible. Drawers hide it completely.
That has a surprisingly large effect on how a room feels. A clear surface makes the living room look calmer and larger. It also makes the table easier to use, because there is space for a cup or a book without moving anything first.
When thinking about storage across the whole room, it helps to see the table in context. Our wider range of living room furniture UK shows how coffee tables with drawers can work alongside TV units, sideboards and shelving.
A single shallow drawer on the side facing the sofa is the most common design. It suits remote controls, coasters and small items. It keeps the table profile slim and works well in smaller rooms.
Two drawers side by side give more room and allow you to separate items: one for everyday essentials, one for games, cards or stationery. This suits family homes where different people use the table for different things.
Some tables have drawers that open from either long side. This is useful when the table sits between a sofa and armchairs, or in front of a corner sofa, as people on both sides can reach in.
Deeper drawers hold larger items such as throws, board games or magazines. They add more visual weight to the table, so they tend to suit larger rooms or tables with a solid, blocky design.
Many tables pair a drawer with an open lower shelf. The drawer holds small items out of sight, while the shelf displays books or baskets. This gives both hidden and visible storage in one piece.
Drawers should open smoothly and close without sticking. Metal runners tend to last longer and glide more easily than simple wooden slides, though well made wooden runners can also be very durable. Soft close runners are a quiet refinement that stops drawers banging shut.
Handles affect both look and practicality. Recessed finger pulls keep the table sleek and avoid anything sticking out to catch on legs. Knobs and bar handles are easier to grip but project slightly. Push to open mechanisms give a seamless front but can be opened accidentally by small children.
Check internal dimensions, not just the outside size of the table. A drawer that looks generous may lose space to runners and framing. Think about what you want to store and make sure it will fit.
Look at how the drawer box is made. Dovetail or well fixed corner joints and a solid base suggest good quality. A thin, flexible base can sag over time if the drawer is loaded with heavier items.
In flats and terraced houses, the living room often has limited wall space for storage. Radiators, doors, windows and fireplaces all compete for the same walls. A coffee table with drawers adds storage in the one place that is usually free: the centre of the room.
It can also reduce the need for side tables. If the coffee table holds everything that would otherwise sit on a side table, you can keep one side of the sofa clear, making the room feel less crowded.
For rooms that need even more capacity, our range of living room storage furniture UK sale includes cabinets and units that pair well with a coffee table.
Families with children tend to find drawers especially useful. Crayons, puzzles, small toys and remote controls can all be tidied away quickly before visitors arrive or at the end of the day.
If you have very young children, look for drawers with stops that prevent them being pulled out completely. Avoid push to open mechanisms if you want to keep curious hands out. Rounded corners on the table itself are also sensible.
For teenagers and adults, drawers often become the home of chargers, headphones and gaming controllers. A drawer with a small cable cutout at the back can keep a charging lead neatly tucked away.
An empty drawer can quickly become a jumble. A few simple organisers make a big difference. Shallow trays or small boxes divide the space into sections for remotes, pens and coasters. Felt or cork lining protects the drawer base and stops items sliding around.
Keep the drawer for everyday items only. Things used less than once a week are better stored elsewhere, so the drawer stays easy to use.
Magazines and larger reading material are often best kept nearby in a dedicated holder. A modern magazine rack UK beside the sofa leaves the drawer free for the smaller items you reach for most.
Drawers are not the only way a coffee table can store things, so it helps to know how they compare.
Open shelves are easy to reach and good for display, but everything on them is visible. They suit books and baskets better than cables and remote controls.
Lift tops raise the surface for eating or working and usually reveal a storage well beneath. They hold larger items, but you need to clear the top before opening them, which makes them less convenient for quick access.
Hidden compartments and ottoman style lids give generous space for throws and games, though, like lift tops, they involve moving whatever is on the surface.
Drawers sit in between. They hold smaller everyday items, open without disturbing the top and keep things completely hidden. For many households, a table that combines a drawer with an open shelf gives the most balanced mix of access and tidiness.
A coffee table with drawers can suit any interior. Solid oak and walnut designs with visible grain feel warm and traditional. High gloss finishes with handleless drawers look sleek and contemporary. Painted wood suits country schemes, while designs combining wood and metal suit industrial or loft style rooms.
Consider how the drawer front relates to the rest of the table. A drawer with a matching front can almost disappear into the design, while a contrasting front becomes a small feature.
Think about the direction the drawers face, too. They should open towards the main seating so you can reach them without getting up.
Treat the drawers as you would any piece of furniture with moving parts. Avoid overloading them, as heavy contents can strain the runners. Keep them free of crumbs and dust, which can build up in runners and make them stiff. Wipe the fronts with a soft, slightly damp cloth, and follow the care guidance for the table’s finish.
If a drawer starts to stick, check that nothing has fallen behind it and that the table is level. In older homes, uneven floors can twist a table slightly and affect how drawers run.
A coffee table with drawers is one of the simplest ways to make a living room calmer. It keeps essentials within reach and the surface clear, and it does this without adding another piece of furniture to the room. The same logic applies throughout the home, as our guide to chests of drawers for different UK lifestyles explains.
You can browse coffee tables with drawers and other storage designs at Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
For most households, yes. Drawers keep everyday items out of sight but close at hand, which makes the living room tidier and the table easier to use.
Remote controls, coasters, chargers, pens, notebooks and small games all belong here. Keep items you use regularly in the drawer and store less frequently used things elsewhere.
Handleless drawers with recessed finger pulls are practical and keep the table looking clean. Push to open designs look seamless but may be opened accidentally by young children.
They are particularly useful in small rooms, as they add storage without taking up extra floor space. Choose a design with shallow drawers and a slim profile to keep the table from looking bulky.
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