The question
We have a narrow living room and are looking for an unimposing coffee table. Is Lucite done to death or is it still the best option for small spaces?
The answer
The Lucite coffee table has been around for a long time and has come way down in price. So the answer is use it, accessorize it and love it. While, generally, living-area coffee tables add drama to a room, Lucite models have the same effect as an all-glass building that reflects, and amplifies, its surroundings. A Lucite table slips away, leaving the drama to the silver boxes or fabulous books and picture frames that you adorn it with (unless, that is, you spring for an Yves Klein table that has the built-in drama of a deep-blue or gold-leaf layer).
Layers of accessories are actually better than a minimalist approach when it comes to making a small space grow. Just be careful about using the proper scale of furniture so that you can navigate the room around the table. A Lucite corner on a shin bone won't kill you, but it will leaving a lasting impression – and not of the sort you'd be hoping for.
Follow architect and interior designer Dee Dee Taylor Eustace on Twitter: @ddtaylorddd. Have a design dilemma? E-mail style@globeandmail.com.