Coffee tables can be hazardous to young children. Some of the easy-to-imagine horrors: Little tikes could potentially bang their head on sharp corners, fall through glass tops or have a table topple on them. In fact, The New York Times wrote a story last year all about these kinds of coffee-table related accidents.
But just because you have a toddler doesn’t mean you can’t have a coffee “table” in the room where you hang out. Today’s hint is to use an ottoman as a coffee table, a trick I copied from my sister-in-law’s family room.
Ottomans are generally soft enough for safe encounters with little heads, they are great rest stations for cruising toddlers and they look a lot better than regular coffee tables outfitted with corner protectors. And in researching this trick, I learned that it’s recommended by the The Nest and TLC’s Parentables, as well as a host of home design blogs including Home Stories A to Z, the Oh Joy blog and The Adventures of Marker Girl.
But what about having a place to put the coffee (and wine glasses)? Just have a tray handy that you can put on the ottoman when you want a place to set down a drink, apps or a meal.
And what if you don’t have an ottoman handy? If you’re crafty, don’t despair. You can actually transform your coffee table – or a cheap coffee table – into one using step-by-step instructions from the Not So Newleywed McGees and the RootsReclaimed blog.
What are your hints for child-friendly coffee tables? Share them below.
Great idea! We’ve had an ottoman as a coffee table in our family room since my son started walking. He is now three and it is one of his favorite places to set up his trains and track to play, so an added bonus is that it can also double as a train table! Love your hints!!
Great minds think alike:) And glad to hear you love the hints – thanks!!