Do you want to know why authentic live edge coffee tables have been jumping off the shelves? We’re ready to do a deep dive into what authentic live edge coffee tables are and what to consider when you buy one.
We’ll also give you our top 6 authentic live edge coffee table picks that stood out above the competition based on their construction, wood types, and cost. Ready to start learning about this unique furniture piece? Let’s get started!
What Does Live Edge Mean?
“Live Edge” simply means the edges of the wood are unfinished and still look like a natural tree. Imagine a tree being sawed into slats longways so that the bark on the sides still remains. This exposed style of wood is popular for adding natural, earthy charm. Â
What Wood is Best for Live Edge Coffee Tables?
Hardwoods always make for better furniture, because as their name implies, they’re hard and sturdy. Trees that produce fruits and nuts are usually always hardwoods, and those wood types make for excellent, durable coffee tables. Some of our top choices are:
- Walnut-for dark, neutral tones
- Cherry-for light-to-medium warm tones with reddish hues
- Hardwood Maple-for light, neutral tones
- Redwood-for medium, reddish tones Â
- Mahogany-for dark, reddish tones
- Oak-for light cool or warm tones Â
How Do You Care for a Live Edge Coffee Table?
Keeping your new table clean and in top shape ensures it will stay beautiful for decades. How do you do it? It’s simple:
- Use a microfiber cloth so the washrag won’t catch on the wood
- Make a ½ water ½ vinegar solution for cleaning
- Wet your microfiber cloth with the vinegar solution
- Wipe down the surfaces of the table
- Dry the table with another microfiber cloth
Now, how do you keep the wood shiny? That’s easy, too.
- Buy a wood conditioning cream
- With your microfiber cloth, rub the conditioning cream into the wood
- Do this every few months or when the wood is losing its shine
What Styles Can a Live Edge Coffee Table Go with?
Now that we’ve established just what exactly a live edge coffee table is, it’s time to discuss something important: style. Live edge coffee tables are very versatile in that they go with a range of different home aesthetics. The key is dressing up your coffee table to compliment the room and using tones of wood that fit with other furniture pieces. Â
Country Style
If you have a cozy, country-style home, a live edge coffee table would fit perfectly. Warm-toned wood adds to a country aesthetic by providing a naturalistic, homey touch. The live edge wood juxtaposes some of the more modern items that might be in your living room, like televisions and video game consoles, making the room feel down-to-earth. Â
Traditional Styles
For a traditional style home, live edge coffee tables nicely offset clean edges and the pristineness of this aesthetic. Light hardwoods often look great in a traditional style room and pair well with white, blue, silver, beige, and gold.
Rustic Styles
If you have a rustic style home, live edge coffee tables were invented for you. A coffee table that still has the bark from the tree left on the edges is one of the most rustic-looking coffee tables you can buy. With bronze or brass decorations set on top of it, this wooden coffee table would look great amongst your other wooden furniture pieces.
Old World Style
Unfinished wood adds natural elegance to an old-world home. Dark woods like walnut and mahogany will go well with the colour scheme of your house. Besides, what’s more old-world than having a table that looks like you cut it yourself from a tree outside? Don’t be fooled by the unfinished edges-they won’t take away from the other more intricate details throughout the room.
Modern Styles
Live edge coffee tables are very trendy for a modern home. Not only have live edge coffee tables gained popularity in modern years, but their natural style adds warmth to a contemporary style room. Live edge wood nicely contrasts the sharp, clean lines that make up the style of a modern room, much like exposed brick.
What to Consider When Buying a Live Edge Coffee Table
Now that we’ve spent some time discussing style, it’s time to get down to business. What should you be looking for in a live edge coffee table, and how do you pair it with the other pieces in a room? We’ll give you all the details.
Size
You can buy live edge coffee tables in all shapes and sizes! When considering which size coffee table is the best fit for your home, ask yourself:
- Where in the room do I want to put a coffee table?
- Do I know the dimensions of the coffee table I want?
- Have I measured the dimensions of the coffee table in the space I want to put it in?
- Will a large table feel too cramped with the other furniture?
- Would a small table create an odd amount of negative space in the room?
Shape
Live edge coffee tables can come in various shapes. While rectangular live edge tables are the most popular, you can also buy circular ones. These rectangular coffee tables are made by cutting the tree longwise, and circular coffee tables are made by cutting through the rings of the trunk.
- Rectangular live edge coffee tables are made with side grain wood
- Circular live edge coffee tables are made with end grain wood
Style
Live edge coffee tables come in a variety of styles! For example, some will come with the tree bark still on the edges. Some no longer have tree bark, but the edges are still unfinished. Sometimes the wood on the sides is polished but still retains a curvy shape and texture unique to the tree it came from.
Wood
Choosing which type of wood you like best is one of the fun parts of buying a live edge coffee table! We’ve touched on it before, but we really want to drive home that you should choose a hardwood for this table. Here is a quick guide:
- Dark
- Walnut
- Mahogany
- Medium
- Cherry
- Redwood
- Light
- Cherry
- Maple
- Oak
Finish
There are plenty of different finishes for wood, and this affects how it looks. Some of the most popular finishes are:
- Lacquer
- Varnish
- Polyurethane
- Shellac
Thickness
Your live edge table should be at least 3″ thick. Why?
- This will prevent it from cracking
- Will prevent warping when the weather changes
Does it Go With Your Décor?
When you’re deciding if a live edge table would look nice in your home, consider the furniture you already have. What kind of story are you telling with your home’s décor? If you have lots of lightwoods and light colours, a maple end table might be the best fit. If you have dark shades and warm colours, you may want to consider mahogany.
Best Live Edge Coffee Tables
After searching through the internet for the best authentic live edge coffee tables, we found four that knocked out the competition. We’ve chosen these coffee tables for their look, durability, and great value. With four unique styles, each of these coffee tables would add beauty and functionality to your home.
Best For Small Spaces: Welland Cedar Live Edge Small Coffee Table
Â
This is a small live edge wood coffee table made from cedarwood. This table would look amazing as an end table by a couch or as a small coffee table in compact spaces. The metal legs give it height, so it stands at 20.75″ tall. The dimensions of the wood are 30.5″ L X 17″ W. Â
- Material: Cedarwood and metal
- Price Range: $110-$130
- Warranty: Please contact the seller directly
- Best Feature: Beautiful wood in a compact design
Care
Be sure to clean this table with a cloth that won’t catch on the wood’s exposed edges. A microfiber towel is the best option for this. Also, make sure to keep the wood sealed and shiny with a wood conditioning cream.
Pros
- Beautiful cedarwood
- Tall above the ground
- It fits in compact spaces
Cons
- Some people may want less polishing on the sides
Best Design: Anya & Niki StyleCraft Badang Carving Natural Wood Edge Teak Contemporary Coffee Cocktail Table
The exact shape of this teak wood coffee table will vary because each table is made unique. Though this is the priciest live edge wood table on the list, it offers a beautiful, natural design. It sits low to the ground on three iron legs that give it a height of 17″. It is available in a clear lacquer finish.
- Material: Teak wood and iron
- Price Range: $405-$435
- Warranty: Please contact the seller directly
- Best Feature: Gorgeous, unique designs
Care
Be sure to use a wood conditioning cream on this table at least once every few months, so it retains its shine. Using conditioning cream will also make your table more resistant to knicks and scratches.
Pros
- Gorgeous, unique designs
- Teak wood is a hardwood, so it is ideal for furniture
- Shiny, clear lacquer finish
Cons
- It sits low to the ground, which some may not like
Best Overall: Wood Slab, Live Edge Sofa Table
You’ll be able to customize a live edge coffee table with this deal. You’ll be able to choose the size you want your table to be and pick out the type of wood you want. You can also decide if you want tree bark, what kind of finish you like best, the height, and whether or not you want the table to have legs. With so many choices, you can customize a table that exactly fits your style.
- Material: Wood
- Price Range: $225-$255
- Warranty: Please contact the seller directly
- Best Feature: Entirely customizable
Care
Use a microfiber washcloth and a vinegar solution to clean this coffee table. You should use a solution that is ½ vinegar and ½ water. Once it’s clean, you can dry the table with another microfiber cloth.
Pros
- Many wood types to choose from
- Many sizes to choose from
- Different finishes to choose from
Cons
- Certain customizations raise the price
Best Price: Olee Sleep 46″ Cocktail Wood & Metal Legs Coffee Table, Rustic Brown
Â
This live edge coffee table is different from the rest because its edges look much cleaner. If you like the look of live edge wood but do not want bark on the sides or edges that aren’t even, this is the perfect table for you.
- Material: Pinewood and metal
- Price Range: $100-$130
- Warranty: Please contact the seller directly
- Best Feature: Great value for the price
Care
To clean this live edge coffee table, simply make a solution that is ½ vinegar and ½ water. Using a microfiber washcloth, clean all the surfaces of the wood. Then, use another microfiber washcloth to dry.
Pros
- Beautiful pine wood
- Two wood pieces for setting items and decorations
- Large size
Cons
- Some people may want a less finished look
Best Live Edge End Table Ideas
We want to show you two great live edge end tables that are sure to add charm to your home. Both of these styles are unique and take full advantage of a live edge table’s natural, woodsy appeal. If a smaller table is what you need, consider these options. Â
Best Design: Natural Wooden Edge End Table
Since this live edge end table is made with end grain wood or wood that has been cut against the rings of the tree, this furniture piece is very durable. This table is shiny because it was treated with wood wax oil, which also adds to its durability. Because each part of a tree used to make these tables is different, sizes will vary.
- Material: Jujube wood and iron
- Price Range: $90-$110
- Warranty: Please contact the seller directly
- Best feature: Beautiful design with end grain wood
Care
When you see this end table beginning to lose its shine, apply some wood conditioning cream. You can rub the conditioning cream in with a microfiber washcloth.
Pros
- Durable end grain wood
- Compact size
- Very shiny from wood wax
Cons
- Some people may want a less polished look
Best Price: Welland Side Table for Living Room
Â
This side table is perfect for adding a woodsy touch to any room. Its approximate dimensions are 16″ W X 16″ D X 21″ H. This table sits above the ground on four legs and can be used for displaying other décor pieces.
- Material: Pinewood and metal
- Price Range: $55-$75
- Warranty: Please contact the seller directly Â
- Best feature: Great value for a low price
Care
To keep the wood resistant to scratches, use wood conditioning cream and a microfiber washcloth. We recommend using a wood conditioner whenever the wood loses some of its shine.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Beautiful wood
- Compact size
Cons
- Some people may want their table to be bigger
FAQs
Question: How Much Does a Live Edge End Table Cost?
Answer: Price is going to vary depending on size, shape, what type of wood you want, who the manufacturer is, and so on. As a rough estimate, a live edge end table should be around $70-$200. A live edge coffee table should be around $150-$450.
Question: Are Live Edge Tables Trendy?
Answer: Live edge tables are very trendy! In an age where we’re surrounded by screens, advertisements, and technology, many people enjoy a touch of natural flair for a change. These tables are so versatile; people also like them because they go with many room styles.
Question: How Thick Should a Live Edge Coffee Table be?
Answer: A live edge coffee table should be at least 3″ thick. Being at least 3″ thick will prevent your table from cracking when you use it or warping with temperature changes.
The Bottom Line
Are you excited to be a live edge coffee table expert? Do you feel inspired after knowing what to look for in a live edge coffee or end table? We’ve let you in on six awesome live edge table ideas and answered your most pressing questions about them.
I think the Anya & Niki StyleCraft Badang Carving Natural Wood Edge Teak Contemporary Coffee Cocktail Table is the best choice just because that design is spectacular!
Do you have any more questions about what we’ve gone over, or do you have a live edge coffee table? Let us know in the comments below! For even more great ideas for what furniture pieces would look great in your home, check out our guide to the best live edge dining tables!
- Best Texas King Bed Ideas Guide: My Top Picks & One I Would Buy Today - November 11, 2021
- Best Studio Couch Ideas and Inspiration For Refreshing Your Space - October 5, 2021
- Authentic Live Edge Coffee Table Picks You’re Going To Love - September 29, 2021