| Say "cocktail" and certain images come to mind. | | | | One option available is not a single table at all. |
| Imagine it's the 1920s. Elegant couples are | | | | Instead, you can select a set of small tables that |
| engaged in flirtatious banter. A charming bartender | | | | fit together and act as one large table for |
| rattles a cocktail shaker. You hear the sounds of | | | | everyday use. If you find that you need more |
| chatting and laughing-the room is abuzz... Or | | | | floor space and less tabletop, you can remove all |
| maybe it's the 1950s. Neighbors gather in their | | | | or part of the table as you see fit. You may |
| post-war living rooms, catching up on the week's | | | | occasionally wish you had more seating in your |
| business surrounded by modern furnishings, ladies | | | | family room or den. You can solve this space |
| are dressed in the New Look, sipping highballs, | | | | problem by choosing a table that stores ottomans |
| while men in crisp white shirts and sharp blue suits | | | | beneath the tabletop. When the occasion calls for |
| are enjoying martinis. | | | | it, pull out this extra seating. When the party's |
| In the 1950s, post-war recovery was in full swing. | | | | over, slide the ottomans back into place. |
| Elegant entertaining was back in vogue. The | | | | Another popular trend in recent years is to use an |
| cocktail party, popularized during the 1920s, | | | | oversized ottoman in place of a cocktail table. |
| influenced fashion, furniture and interior design in | | | | Place a favorite tray on top to provide a stable |
| the 1950s. When it was introduced in mid-century, | | | | spot to rest your drink, and remove the tray |
| the "cocktail table" was a trendy term to describe | | | | when you need that extra seating. Once again, |
| the long, low table that sat in front of a sofa. | | | | you've got a table that does double duty. Some |
| While people in many parts of the country call this | | | | tables include special features, like a shelf below |
| a "coffee table," the cocktail table has entered our | | | | the table's surface for magazines and books. |
| vocabulary and our design sense. Hardly a family | | | | These storage shelves may be outfitted with |
| room, den, or living room would be comfortable | | | | baskets to let you quickly straighten-up at the |
| without having a table anchoring the seating area. | | | | end of the day. A table outfitted like an |
| Where else would you put your drink, a book or | | | | apothecary cabinet is the perfect place to keep |
| magazine, the remote control or laptop, or your | | | | the essential remotes, coasters, DVDs and CDs, |
| feet? | | | | and reading glasses organized and within easy |
| Need a cocktail table? You'll never lack choices. | | | | reach. |
| Most living room and den furniture ensembles | | | | Larger cocktail tables can provide large-scale |
| include at least one cocktail table that matches | | | | storage-think storage trunks. Open the lid, and |
| the end tables and coordinates with the | | | | you've got a place for a blanket or a throw and a |
| upholstered furniture in the suite. They come in all | | | | pillow, perfect for a quick afternoon nap on the |
| shapes and sizes-a round or square cocktail table | | | | couch. And if you've got a sleeper sofa, store the |
| would fit well in front of one of today's popular | | | | bed linens inside the trunk to keep them out of |
| sectional sofas better than a rectangular table. | | | | sight until your overnight guest arrives. Most |
| Wood finishes are the norm, but a glass-topped | | | | rooms in our homes can benefit from more |
| table visually opens up space and doesn't distract | | | | storage space. Why don't you let your cocktail |
| from the furniture or area rugs that make an | | | | table do that for you? |
| important design statement in your room. | | | | |