Does Your Coffee Table Actually Work With Your Lighting? Here's the Trick
A glossy marble or glass top bounces nearby lamplight back into the room. A matte wood top absorbs it, reading warmer and quieter instead. Neither is wrong, but almost nobody chooses a coffee table with this in mind. This guide covers shape, material, and sizing for a coffee table, plus the one surface-finish detail that changes how it behaves once the lamps go on in the evening.