This Italian Coffee Table Trend Is Enjoying an Edgy Comeback

All the right angles.
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Despite the ocean and decades between us, Italian modernism is enjoying a major moment in the US right now. The sumptuous and highly sculptural works of design legends like Gio Ponti, Achille Castiglioni, and Gae Aulenti are discovering new meaning in the homes of design lovers across the country. The bodacious nature that has come to define Italian furniture and interior design is embodied by the rebirth of an edgy living room staple: the triangle coffee table.

If you asked us to list everything we love about Athena Calderone’s living room, we’d be here for a while, so we’ll cut right to the chase: her coffee table. The bi-level modernist masterpiece first captured our full attention not because there are two of them, but because of their precise edges. The soft curves that inform the rest of the space beautifully counter the hard drama that the strict angles of the tables deliver.

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Author and creator of EyeSwoon Athena Calderone’s Brooklyn living room. photo by Gieves Anderson

Like a teenager in love for the very first time, we desperately began scouring the internet for a triangle table (or two!) to call our own. In the spirit of transforming our homes into chic Milanese apartments by the time Salone del Mobile rolls around, here are 10 triangle coffee tables we’re coveting this spring.

The Identical One

Want Calderone’s covetable look to yourself? Play copy cat with Apparatus’s portal table. Crafted from thick Italian marble or sandblasted ash, the commanding pieces promise a monumental living room moment.

The Vintage One

Deriving the sandy-colored hue from its travertine makeup, this one-of-a-kind piece (circa 1950) gets this trend across in one unmistakable point.

The Under $100 One

Sometimes, two tiny side tables are better than one large coffee table. Recreate this sought-after living room look on a tight budget by parking two of these shimmery copper tables next to each other.

The Industrial One

Taking a turn for the 21st century, we don’t need to spell out the beauty of Giordano’s XY&Z table. Don’t let its minimalist form fool you: This piece puts forth a different shape from every angle.

The All-Purpose One

This tiered table might have been designed with a hallway in mind, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve a spot in your living room. Park this perfectly pink pick behind a high-back sofa or beneath a statement work of art.

The One That Sees Everything

Nothing can sneak by this see-through table. Its tubular steel frame and its transparent glass top make it a fitting option for smaller spaces that require heightened visibility.

The Small Space-Friendly One

If your budget can’t withstand a pricey slab of marble, snag this affordable alternative in walnut or pine.

The One That’s Really a Puzzle

True to their Milanese roots, Dimore Studio’s modern interpretation of Italy’s greatest hits comes with a playful twist. Designed to move and be removed, this sleek metal set promises limitless configurations.

The High-Contrast One

While Calderone plays up the contrast with silhouettes in her NYC living room, the same visual impact can be created with color. Picture these jet-black pieces in an exclusively white living room.

The Kidproof One

Featuring a white laminate top and sturdy oak wood legs, this mid-century marvel is seemingly designed to withstand any bumps, bruises, or spills. The absence of abrupt edges also makes it a friendly pick for little ones.

The One That Looks Like a Sculpture

You don’t need to splurge on two coordinating tables in the case of this living room power move. This elevated find can be used as a traditional landing spot for coffee table books and vases or left to be admired as a stand-alone art object.

 The Iconic One

 Noguchi’s soft-edged table is perfect if you have a particular obsession with for low-profile furniture and soothing silhouettes.  

See more stories like this:  The Coffee Table (Just About) Every Designer Has in Their Home The Beginner’s Guide to Styling a Coffee Table 12 Coffee Tables That Will Transform Your Living Room

Lydia Geisel Avatar

Lydia Geisel

Home Editor

Lydia Geisel has been on the editorial team at Domino since 2017. Today, she writes and edits home and renovation stories, including house tours, before and afters, and DIYs, and leads our design news coverage. She lives in New York City.

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