Storage Types: Find the Right Solution for Your Living Room
The storage format you choose matters more than the piece's overall aesthetic. Each type solves a different problem.
Lift-Top Coffee Tables
A lift-top coffee table raises and extends forward to create a work or dining surface at sofa height, with a hidden interior compartment below for remotes, chargers, and small everyday items. The format is the most-requested in the storage category and is particularly well-suited to work-from-home setups and smaller living rooms, where a single piece must serve multiple roles throughout the day.
Coffee Tables with Drawers
A coffee table with drawers provides side-accessible storage for items that should stay hidden — remotes, coasters, cords, and children's accessories. The closed-drawer aesthetic is cleaner than open shelving, keeping the table surface tidy without concealing where things are. Available in single and multi-drawer configurations across the collection.
Coffee Tables with Shelves
A coffee table with a shelf provides open lower-tier storage that is easier to access than a hidden compartment — suited to items used daily, such as books, trays, and baskets. The open shelf also serves as a styling tier for coffee-table books and decorative objects when the living room calls for a more curated presentation.
Coffee Tables with Hidden Storage
Lift-lid and push-open compartments close flush with the table surface for a completely concealed profile. Hidden storage maximises volume capacity, making it the right choice for bulky items — throws, board games, and children's toys — without creating any visual disruption to the table's design when closed.
Ottoman Coffee Tables with Storage
An ottoman coffee table with storage combines a soft upholstered surface with a lift-lid hidden compartment, delivering three functions in a single piece: seating, footrest, and storage. A tray-top keeps the surface stable and usable for drinks and books while maintaining the ottoman's upholstered profile. The format is particularly well-suited to families with children — no hard corners, a soft seating surface, and generous storage for blankets and toys. Available across the collection in a range of upholstered finishes — consult individual product listings for current options.
Coffee Tables with Storage for Condos and Small Living Rooms
In a Montreal condo or smaller apartment, every piece of furniture must justify its floor space by doing more than one job. A coffee table with storage eliminates the need for a separate storage basket, side credenza, or standalone ottoman, reducing overall furniture count while keeping essentials within reach. Lift-top formats extend this further — they double as dining or work surfaces for homes without a dedicated dining room or home office, a practical reality for a significant share of Montreal's dense urban living arrangements.
Hidden storage is especially valuable in open-concept floor plans where the living room is always visible from the kitchen or entry — a clean surface supported by concealed storage keeps the visual field uncluttered without requiring daily effort. Mobilart's design consultation helps buyers identify the right storage format and table size for their specific floor plan. white-glove delivery is included for orders within Greater Montreal.
How to Choose a Coffee Table with Storage
Start with what you need to store. Bulky items — throws, board games, children's toys — need a lift-top or hidden compartment with sufficient interior volume. Daily-access items like remotes and books are better suited to drawers or open shelves, where retrieval does not require clearing the surface first. Lift-top tables need an unobstructed surface to open fully — not the right choice if the top is heavily styled with objects that need to be moved each time.
Size follows the same rule that applies to any coffee table: the piece should be approximately two-thirds the length of the sofa, regardless of storage format. For lift-top tables specifically, allow 30 to 40 cm of clear floor space in front for the mechanism to extend.
For material, prioritise wood or engineered wood over glass for high-use storage pieces — durability matters when a table is opened and closed daily. Finally, choose pieces where storage mechanisms are invisible when closed. Hinges and drawer pulls that interrupt the table's silhouette undermine the design quality the storage is meant to protect.
