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Living Room 101 | Casegoods | Key Terms That Define Your Living Space, Part II

Living Room 101 | Casegoods | Key Terms That Define Your Living Space, Part II

Whether you’re shopping with Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet or elsewhere, it’s so important to do research beforehand. We find that informed customers almost always have the best furniture shopping experience. Why? Because they’re not flying blind. These shoppers already somewhat know what they’re looking for before they pass through our doors.

For this reason, we want to be at the forefront of the furniture industry when it comes to consumer education. Previously, we’d written guides to dining room and bedroom furniture, where we did our best to define keywords and answer general FAQs in a thorough yet concise way. However, we realized that there was nothing for folks looking for the same info relating to furniture for living rooms and dens.

Part I of Living Room 101 tackled upholstered furniture for your living spaces. Well, today in Part II we’re tackling everything else. Got questions about cocktail tables and coffee tables? Curious about occasional tables? Are chairside tables, side tables and end tables really all the same? We’ve got the answers.

Remember, while a few of the definitions below may be common knowledge or seem self-explanatory to some readers, there are no dumb or silly questions. This article is a foundational resource meant to provide general answers and furniture industry education – and we are all here to learn!

What Are Casegoods?

As we already stated in part one of this series, every piece of furniture in your living space falls into one of two categories – Upholstery or Casegoods. Before we go any further, let’s revisit those definitions.

Upholstery:Upholstery or upholstered seating is functional furniture meant for seating or reclining that is wrapped in some sort of upholstery material. While this upholstery material can vary greatly, it is usually some sort of fabric or leather. Examples of upholstery include sofas, sectionals, loveseats, recliners, ottomans and more.

Casegoods: By contrast, casegoods are non-upholstered furniture pieces made of wood, metal, glass, or other hard materials that can typically be packed or transported neatly in a box, shipping container, or case - hence the name. Examples of living room casegoods include coffee tables, console tables, tv stands, end tables, etc.

Keeping this in mind, today’s discussion is all about the Casegoods in the living spaces of your home. Without further ado, let’s discuss all the different casegoods you’re likely to find in a living room, den, bonus room, great room, or other living space.

[Editor’s Note: If you missed part one, no worries! See our guide to living room upholstery, right here.]

Your Guide to Living Room Casegoods

Chairside Table

A chairside table is a smaller, more compact table designed to sit beside a chair. Think of it as an end table, but even smaller. Chairside tables are perfect for holding a drink, remote control, or whatever book you’re reading, offering just enough surface space without taking up too much room.

Coffee Table / Cocktail Table

A coffee table is a low occasional table typically placed in front of a sofa or other upholstery. While it’s the perfect spot for books, magazines, or decorative items, it is also used as a place to set drinks or snacks while seated. Coffee tables come in a wide range of styles and materials, from wood to metal, glass to marble, and beyond. This makes it easy for shoppers to find one that perfectly complements their decor.

A cocktail table is functionally the same as a coffee table but is sometimes taller or more ornate. The term cocktail table also usually implies that a table is more upscale or stylish. However, cocktail tables and coffee tables are often used interchangeably. Regardless of which you choose, either is perfect for entertaining guests and displaying your favorite decor pieces. Don’t miss our in-depth comparison between coffee tables and cocktail tables here.

Console / Console Table

A console or console table is a narrow occasional table that can be used for both display and storage. This versatile piece is typically tall and thin, and most often has cabinet storage and/or drawers. Most often, console tables are found against walls, in hallways or entryways, or behind sofas like its cousin the sofa table. It can hold tabletop decor, lamps, houseplants, keys, or whatever else you like, making it both functional and decorative.

End Table

End tables are small occasional tables meant to be placed beside a sofa, chair, or other upholstered seating. They’re ideal for holding drinks, lamps or decorative items. Offering both function and aesthetic appeal, end tables help tie the room together. Similar to side tables.

Entertainment Center

An entertainment center is a large piece of living room media furniture designed to house a television, cable box, gaming consoles, BluRay player, home theater stereo, or any other media components, entertainment storage or accessories. They often include shelves, cabinets, and drawers for storage and display, while providing a large central bay for the TV. Entertainment centers are larger and provide more storage options than tv stands or tv consoles, but are still typically smaller than most wall units.

Occasional Table

Occasional table is yet another industry term that many shoppers may not be familiar with. So, what is an occasional table? Occasional tables are a variety of small tables used around the home, particularly in living spaces. Coffee tables, cocktail tables, end tables, chairside tables, sofa tables, side tables, and console tables are all types of occasional tables. 

Unlike larger tables meant for dining, these convenient tables can be easily moved around and used whenever and wherever they’re needed. Or, occasionally. Hence the name.

Side Table

Similar to end tables, side tables are smaller tables often used beside a sofa, armchair, or loveseat. However, side tables are often slightly larger than end tables and can be used anywhere in the room, not just next to your upholstered seating. These versatile pieces can be used for decorative purposes or as functional surfaces wherever you need them.

Sofa Table 

A sofa table is a narrow table that sits flush behind a sofa or other upholstery. It is meant to be roughly the same height as the back of the sofa and is an easy way to add depth and dimension to your living room. While largely decorative and used to display lamps or decor, a sofa table can also be used to store items or even as a makeshift bar with stools. Sofa tables may have very little storage space, or they can have ample cabinet and drawer space like console tables.

TV Console / TV Stand

A TV console is a sturdy table or cabinet designed to support a television and store media devices. It may be wide open underneath like a table with legs with simple shelves below, or it may have cabinets and cubbies meant specifically for storing gaming consoles, internet routers, DVD or BluRay players, etc. and neatly routing their cables.

TV stands are very similar and are simply pieces of entertainment furniture designed to hold a television. However, they may also provide additional storage for media players, consoles, etc. For this reason, the terms TV console and TV stand are often used interchangeably as they both have a flat surface on top for the television and media storage below. This differentiates them from entertainment centers and wall units which are much larger and fully enclose the television.

Wall Unit

A wall unit is a large, customizable furniture piece that combines shelves, cabinets, and compartments for storage and display. It’s often built along an entire wall, providing ample space for books, decor, TVs, or other media components. While not exclusively used in the den, living room, or home theater as a piece of media furniture, most often wall units do serve this function. Alternatively, you may also see wall units in extravagant home offices and studies where lots of book storage and shelf space is needed.

Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet Is North Georgia’s Source for Beautiful Dens & Living Rooms

Shopping for the perfect occasional tables and entertainment furniture for your den, living room, bonus room or other living space? Swing by our Metro Atlanta and North Georgia furniture stores in Woodstock/Acworth, Dallas/Hiram, Rome – and now in Covington! 

Whether you’re in the market for an occasional table set, tv stand, or anything in between, we’ve got hundreds of thousands of square feet of furniture available. Our knowledgeable experts can’t wait to show you around and help you find the perfect furniture solution for every space in your home. Before you head out the door, don’t miss helpful living room resources below to get prepared for your next furniture shopping adventure:

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