Prices from Amazon AU, updated daily. Swipe or use the arrows for more.
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Quick summary8 picks
- Entry PickOikiture Coffee Table with Lift Up Top and… about$93
- Artiss Coffee Table Lift Top 180 Rotating… about$96
- Costway Lift Top Coffee Table about$110
- GIANTEX Lift Top Coffee Table with Hidden… about$120
- Artiss Coffee Table Fluted Center Storage… about$126
- Artiss Coffee Table 100cm Rectangular… about$130
- GIANTEX Oval Lift Top Coffee Table with… about$140
- Most PremiumFluted Lift Top Coffee Table with Storage about$19039" screen.
What an electronics repair shop knows about coffee tables
A coffee table isn't electronics, but it's where a lot of electronics live. In most lounge rooms it holds the laptop, the remotes, a game controller or two and a phone on charge, and the storage underneath often ends up holding a console, a powerboard or a box of chargers. Plenty of the laptops and controllers that come into the shop with liquid damage got it from a drink knocked over on a coffee table.
So I've looked at these tables the way I'd look at anything else that comes in: what's it made of, what moves, what wears and what it does to the gear around it. A lift top has hinges and a spring or strut mechanism that takes a lot of load. Storage drawers have runners. The top has a finish that either shrugs off a wet glass or swells at the edge.
The five picks here run from $93 to $190 on Amazon AU at time of writing, and all five are sold by Australian sellers. Three are Artiss tables sold by Artiss Furnishings, one is an Oikiture lift top sold by Oikos 1943, and one is a fluted lift top sold by Aoxun Outdoor AU. None is sold by Amazon AU itself, which is normal for flat-pack furniture on the site.
Coffee tables are mostly bought on looks, and that's fair. What I can add is which designs hold up, which mechanisms to check and how to keep the gear you put on and in them from getting damaged.
Lift tops: how the mechanism works and what wears
A lift top coffee table has a top panel on a pair of hinged arms with a spring or gas strut that does most of the lifting. You pull the front edge up and the top rises forward and up to around desk height, so you can use a laptop or eat a meal from the lounge without hunching over. The Artiss lift top in this guide lists a closed height of 47cm and a raised height of 60cm.
The mechanism is the part that wears. Each arm pivots on rivets or bolts, and the whole thing is screwed into the table's board panels. On flat-pack tables those panels are usually particleboard or MDF, and screws in particleboard don't take kindly to being loosened and tightened over and over. In my experience the first sign of trouble is a top that sits slightly crooked or rocks when you lean on it.
Check the screws holding the mechanism to the base a few weeks after assembly, then every few months. Tighten them firmly but don't overdo it, because a screw that spins in particleboard has stripped its hole. If one does strip, a slightly thicker screw or a wood dowel glued into the hole usually fixes it.
Lift tops also have a pinch point. The gap between the arms closes as the top comes down, so keep fingers, cables and small kids' hands clear. Don't run a laptop charger or a phone cable under the top while it's down, because the mechanism can crush and nick the cord, and a damaged cord is a real fire risk.
Storage, drawers and what you keep in them
Every pick here has some kind of storage. The lift tops hide a compartment under the top. The Artiss lift top adds two drawers in the base. The Artiss marble-finish table has a pull-out drawer, a side cabinet with a door and open shelves, and the Artiss fluted table has a sliding fluted door over two cabinet compartments with open shelves at the sides.
Storage is great for remotes and magazines. Where I'd be careful is electronics. A game console or a media box shut in a closed cabinet can't get rid of its heat, and consoles in particular push a lot of hot air out the back. Over time that heat dries out the thermal paste and cooks the fan bearings. If a console lives in a coffee table, use an open shelf rather than a cabinet with a door, and leave space behind it.
Charging gear needs the same thought. A power bank or phone charging in a closed drawer warms up, and lithium batteries don't like heat. If you want a charging spot in the lounge, put it on top of the table or on an open shelf, and plug it into a surge powerboard on the floor rather than a double adaptor stuffed in a drawer.
Drawer runners are the other wear point. Plastic runners on flat-pack furniture are fine for light loads but sag if you pack a drawer with heavy books. One of the other Artiss tables I looked at lists a 60kg maximum load for the whole table, which gives you an idea of what these frames are built for.
Board, finishes and why edges swell
Most flat-pack coffee tables are made from MDF or particleboard with a laminate, foil or painted finish on top. That's not a bad thing. It keeps the weight and price down and gives a flat, even surface. The weak point is the edges and any cut-outs, because that's where water can get past the finish into the board.
Once water gets into particleboard it swells, and it doesn't shrink back. A wet glass left on an edge, a spill that runs under a drawer or a mop that splashes the legs can all leave a bulge that lifts the finish. Wipe spills straight away, use coasters and keep the table off a wet floor while you mop.
The finishes here vary. The Artiss table with the marble finish has a marble-look top and solid pine legs. The Artiss fluted table is a walnut finish on black metal legs. The Aoxun fluted table's listing says its top is stain and spill resistant. None of the listings gives a specific board type or thickness, so I can't compare them on that.
Rounded edges are worth having if you've got young kids. The two 100cm Artiss tables both list rounded edges and corners. The lift tops are squarer, so check the corners on the listing photos if that matters to you.
Sunlight is the other thing that ages a finish. A walnut or white foil finish in a sunny spot near a window fades or yellows unevenly over a few summers, and you'll see the outline of whatever usually sits on it. If your table sits in direct sun, move things around now and then, or close the blinds in the hottest part of the day. Hot mugs and laptop chargers left on the top can mark a finish too, so a coaster or a mat helps.
Size, height and clearance
Measure before you buy. A coffee table should usually sit about two thirds of the length of the lounge in front of it, with enough room to walk past. The Artiss lift top is a 71 x 70cm square. The Artiss tables with the fluted door and the marble finish are both 100cm long, at 50cm and 48cm wide. The Aoxun lift top is about 100 x 40cm, going by its listing dimensions.
Height matters for lift tops in particular. A closed height around the height of your lounge seat looks right, and a raised height around 60cm suits a laptop for most people. The Artiss lift top lists 47cm closed and 60cm raised. The Oikiture and Aoxun listings don't give separate closed and raised heights, so check the photos and the questions on the listing.
Clearance underneath is something people forget until they buy a robot vacuum. The Artiss fluted table lists 22cm of clearance under the base shelf on its metal legs, which it says is so a robot vacuum can get under. Tables with a solid base or short block legs don't have that gap, so the robot will bump around them instead.
Weight is worth a look too. The Artiss lift top lists about 32kg and the Artiss marble-finish table about 29.5kg, while the Aoxun lift top is about 16kg. A heavier table stays put when you lean on a raised top or a toddler pulls up on the edge, and it's less likely to slide on a tiled floor. A lighter one is easier to move when you vacuum or rearrange the room. Felt pads under the legs protect timber floors either way.
Working from the lounge
Lift tops are sold as a way to work from the couch, and they do help. Bringing a laptop up to 60cm is far better than balancing it on your knees, which blocks the vents on the bottom of most laptops and makes them run hot. If you work from the lounge for more than an hour or two, though, the table is still a compromise.
A raised coffee table top sits in front of you rather than at desk height, so the screen is usually too low and you end up looking down. That's fine for an evening of emails. For a full working day, a proper desk or a desk converter on an existing table is easier to work at all day, and our guide to laptops for working from home covers the machines themselves.
If you do use a lift top as a desk, keep drinks on the lower part of the table, not next to the laptop on the raised top. A raised top is more likely to get knocked, and liquid on a laptop keyboard runs straight down to the board. If it happens, turn the laptop off, unplug it and bring it in rather than trying to dry it with a hair dryer.
Assembly and getting it right first time
All five tables arrive flat-packed. The listings mention included hardware, instructions or numbered parts, and the Artiss lift top says it needs basic tools. Allow an hour or two, more for the lift tops, and assemble it in the room where it'll live, because a finished table with storage is heavier and more awkward than the box.
Most of the long-term problems I see with flat-pack furniture start at assembly. Screws driven in at an angle, cam locks not turned fully and panels forced into place all loosen over time. Use a hand screwdriver for the final turn rather than a drill on full power, which is the easiest way to strip a hole in particleboard.
For the lift tops, get a second person to hold the top while you fit the mechanism, and check the top lifts and lowers evenly before you tighten everything fully. If it pulls to one side, one arm is usually mounted a hole out of place. It's much easier to fix that now than once the drawers are in.
Keep the leftover screws, the allen key and the instructions in a bag taped inside the table. When a screw loosens in a year's time, you'll want the right size, and the instructions show you which screw goes where.
How I picked these
I searched Amazon AU for coffee table, lift top coffee table, round coffee table, coffee tables with storage, glass, nesting and oak coffee tables, and kept new listings from Australian sellers whose title, features and dimensions agree. Almost no coffee tables are sold by Amazon AU itself, so every pick here comes from a marketplace seller. Artiss Furnishings is an Australian retailer we've checked before, and Aoxun Outdoor AU names its Australian storefront.
I left out a round Aworesis table whose title says solid ash wood while its features say thickened MDF, and the round tables I found were all from the same seller, so there's no round pick. I've also left out nesting sets, which are a different buy. A few close contenders are in the extras below the picks.
Ranks come from Amazon AU's Coffee Tables category, checked on 4 November 2026. The Artiss tables all show the same rank, #5, which means Amazon is reporting one figure across Artiss's coffee table listings rather than a rank for each, so I've noted that on their cards. Prices move week to week, so check the listing on the day you buy.
The 5 picks, $93 to $190
Prices are Amazon AU at time of writing (4 November 2026) and move week to week. Ranks are Amazon AU category sales ranks, checked the same day.
Artiss Lift Top Coffee Table with 180 Degree Rotating Top and Drawers, White
ASIN B0H6Z6Y6R3 • $95.95 • Sold by Artiss Furnishings on Amazon AU
The Artiss lift top is the coffee table I'd buy if you want to eat or use a laptop from the lounge. It's $96 and sold by Artiss Furnishings, an Australian seller. The listing describes a mechanical lift-top mechanism that raises the surface from 47cm to 60cm, a 180-degree rotating top section that returns to the centre on its own, a hidden compartment under the top and two sliding drawers in the base. The part number is FUR-AC-COF-01-WH, and the colour is white. It ranks #5 in Amazon AU's Coffee Tables category at time of writing, though that figure is shared across Artiss's coffee table listings. Artiss Furnishings is an Australian retailer, so returns and warranty claims stay local. It's the only one of the five picks with a rotating section.
It's a 71 x 70cm square when closed, going by the listing, so it suits a smaller lounge or an apartment better than a long rectangle would. The rotating section is the unusual part. The listing says it lets you swing the top towards someone sitting at a different angle, which is handy for sharing a plate or turning a laptop round. The listing weight is about 32kg, which is solid for a table this size and helps it sit still when the top is raised. Assembly needs basic tools, and the listing says the hardware is included. It suits a couple who eat in front of the TV most nights.
The listing warranty is 1 year. The listing doesn't say what the board is or what's inside the lift mechanism, so check the screws on the hinge arms a few weeks after assembly and tighten them again. Keep cords out from under the top when you close it. The rank is shared across Artiss coffee table listings, so it isn't this table's own figure. For a lift top at this price, it's my pick. Get a second person to hold the top while you fit the lift arms, and make sure it rises evenly before you tighten everything. Wipe spills off the edges quickly, because the board swells if water gets in.
Honest caveats: It's a square table, so it won't suit a long lounge. The board type and lift mechanism details aren't stated on the listing. The rotating section adds another pivot that can loosen over time. The rank is shared with other Artiss coffee tables, so it isn't a figure for this model alone.
Best for: Couples who eat or use a laptop from the lounge and have a smaller room.
Size closed: 71 x 70 x 47.3cm (listed) • Raised height: 60cm (listed) • Top: Lift top with 180 degree rotating section • Storage: Hidden compartment plus 2 drawers • Weight: About 32kg (listing) • Part number: FUR-AC-COF-01-WH • Warranty: 1 year (listed) • Seller: Artiss Furnishings (AU) • Rank: #5 in Coffee Tables (Amazon AU), shared across Artiss listings
View on Amazon AU
Fluted Lift Top Coffee Table with Storage, Walnut, 100cm
ASIN B0GGN6NHXW • $189.99 • Sold by Aoxun Outdoor AU on Amazon AU
The fluted lift top is the most expensive table here, at $190, and it's sold by Aoxun Outdoor AU, a seller that names its Australian storefront. It ranks #11 in Amazon AU's Coffee Tables category at time of writing. The listing describes classic tambour fluted doors, three separate storage compartments, a metal lift mechanism it says lifts smoothly and quietly, and a stain and spill resistant top. The part number is H26409-39BR-02, and the listing calls it walnut, with the colour field saying brown. It's the only fluted lift top among the five picks, and the only pick sold under a seller name rather than a brand. Returns and warranty claims go through Aoxun Outdoor AU.
It's a 39-inch table, which the listing dimensions put at about 100 x 40 x 48cm, so it's a long, narrow rectangle that suits a standard three-seater. The listing mentions marble-effect or tone-matched tops on this design, so check which top the listing you're buying shows. Fluted doors are the current look, and this one pairs them with a lift top, which few of the tables I looked at do. The listing weight is about 16kg, lighter than the Artiss tables, so it's easier to move but less planted. It suits a living room where storage and looks matter as much as the lift. The lift mechanism is metal, which should hold up better than plastic parts over time.
The listing doesn't state a warranty, the raised height or the board type, so check them on the listing before you order. A 40cm depth is quite narrow for a lift top, so the raised surface is smaller than on the square Artiss. Tambour doors run in a track, so keep the track free of crumbs. For storage with a lift top, it's the one to look at. Check the lift hardware screws after the first few weeks. Wipe the top with a damp cloth rather than a wet one. Keep laptop and phone cables clear of the lift arms when you close it.
Honest caveats: It's the most expensive of the five and the listing doesn't state a warranty. The raised height and board type aren't stated. At about 40cm deep, the raised top gives you less room for a laptop and a plate. It's lighter than the Artiss tables, so it's easier to bump out of place.
Best for: Living rooms that want fluted styling, plenty of hidden storage and a lift top.
Size: About 100 x 40 x 48cm (listing) • Top: Lift top, metal mechanism • Storage: 3 compartments, fluted tambour doors • Finish: Walnut, stain and spill resistant top (listed) • Weight: About 16kg (listing) • Part number: H26409-39BR-02 • Seller: Aoxun Outdoor AU • Rank: #11 in Coffee Tables (Amazon AU)
View on Amazon AU
Oikiture Coffee Table with Lift Up Top and Storage, Black
ASIN B0BSLKLV6J • $93.42 • Sold by Oikos 1943 on Amazon AU
The Oikiture is the least expensive lift top here, at $93, and it's sold by Oikos 1943, the seller behind the Oikiture brand. It ranks #7 in Amazon AU's Coffee Tables category at time of writing, and #7,141 site-wide. The listing describes a lift-up top that turns it from a low table into a higher one, a hidden storage chest under the top and a lower shelf, with a board frame and heavy-duty hardware supporting the lift. The colour is black, and beige and white versions are listed separately at a similar price. The listing doesn't give a model number, and the part number field is a barcode, so you're buying on the listing photos and description. Returns go through Oikos 1943.
It's a rectangular table, about 95 x 50cm going by the listing dimensions, so it suits a standard lounge. The hidden chest is the main storage, with the open lower shelf for books or a basket. The listing weight is about 20.5kg. It's a simpler design than the Artiss lift top, with no drawers and no rotating section, which means fewer moving parts to wear. The listing says the warranty is 1 year against manufacturer defects. It suits anyone who wants a lift top for the occasional meal or laptop session without spending much. The black finish hides scuffs well, though it shows dust more than the white one, so a quick wipe each week keeps it looking tidy.
The listing doesn't give the closed and raised heights separately, the board type or a model number, and its part number field holds a barcode, so check the questions on the listing for the heights. Tighten the lift hardware after the first few weeks. Wipe spills off the edges quickly. For a first lift top, it does the job. Keep cables clear of the lift hinge. Don't overload the hidden chest with heavy books, because the lift hardware has to hold that weight up when you raise the top. Felt pads under the feet help on timber floors.
Honest caveats: The closed and raised heights aren't stated separately on the listing, and there's no model number. The board type isn't stated. It's sold by a marketplace seller, so returns go through Oikos 1943 rather than Amazon AU. It has no drawers, just the hidden chest and a shelf.
Best for: Anyone who wants an occasional lift top for meals or a laptop at the lowest outlay.
Size: About 95 x 50cm (listing) • Top: Lift up • Storage: Hidden chest plus lower shelf • Colours: Black, beige, white (listed separately) • Weight: About 20.5kg (listing) • Warranty: 1 year against manufacturer defects (listed) • Seller: Oikos 1943 (Oikiture) • Rank: #7 in Coffee Tables (Amazon AU)
View on Amazon AU
Artiss Fluted Coffee Table with Sliding Door and Shelves, Walnut, 100cm
ASIN B0HF3BLYX9 • $125.95 • Sold by Artiss Furnishings on Amazon AU
The Artiss fluted table is the pick for anyone with a robot vacuum. It's $126 and sold by Artiss Furnishings. The listing describes a textured tambour sliding door over dual fluted cabinet compartments, open side shelves, rounded edges across the top and lower frame, and black metal legs that give 22cm of clearance under the base shelf so a robot vacuum can get under it. It measures 100cm long, 50cm wide and 43.5cm high, and the finish is walnut. It ranks #5 in Amazon AU's Coffee Tables category, a figure shared across Artiss's coffee table listings. Artiss Furnishings is an Australian retailer, so returns and warranty claims stay local. It's the only one of the five picks whose listing gives a clearance figure.
It isn't a lift top, so it suits a lounge where the table is mostly for cups, books and remotes. The listing suggests storing media devices and game controllers in the lower sections, and that's fine for controllers, but I'd keep a console on an open shelf rather than behind the door so it can breathe. The rounded edges are a plus with small kids. The listing weight is about 21kg. The part number is FURNI-C-COF-01-WAL_RL. Raised metal legs also make it easy to mop under, and keep the board panels off a wet floor, which helps them last. The walnut finish suits a darker lounge and hides marks better than white.
The listing warranty is 1 year. The listing doesn't state the board type. The sliding door runs in a track, so vacuum the track now and then, because grit is what makes tambour doors stick. The rank is shared across Artiss coffee table listings. Check that your robot is under 22cm tall, which most are. For a clean lounge floor, it's my pick. Keep consoles and chargers on the open side shelves, not behind the door. Wipe spills off the top quickly, and dust the metal legs now and then so grit doesn't scratch the floor.
Honest caveats: There's no lift top. The board type isn't stated on the listing. Keep consoles and chargers out of the closed cabinet, because heat builds up behind the door. The rank is shared with other Artiss coffee tables, so it isn't this table's own figure.
Best for: Lounges with a robot vacuum and small kids, where the table mostly holds cups and remotes.
Size: 100 x 50 x 43.5cm (listed) • Clearance: 22cm under base shelf (listed) • Storage: 2 fluted cabinet compartments plus open shelves • Legs: Black metal • Weight: About 21kg (listing) • Part number: FURNI-C-COF-01-WAL_RL • Warranty: 1 year (listed) • Seller: Artiss Furnishings (AU) • Rank: #5 in Coffee Tables (Amazon AU), shared across Artiss listings
View on Amazon AU
Artiss Coffee Table with Marble Finish Top, Drawer and Cabinet, White, 100cm
ASIN B0H7RJ2M6N • $129.95 • Sold by Artiss Furnishings on Amazon AU
The Artiss marble-finish table gives you the most different kinds of storage for the money. It's $130 and sold by Artiss Furnishings. The listing describes a rectangular table with a marble-finish top, one pull-out drawer, a side cabinet with a door, central open shelves, rounded edges, minimalist black handles and solid pine wood legs. It measures 100cm long, 48cm wide and 41cm high, and the body is white. The part number is FUR-S-COF12-MBWH. It ranks #5 in Amazon AU's Coffee Tables category, a figure shared across Artiss's coffee table listings. Artiss Furnishings is an Australian retailer, so returns and warranty claims stay local. It's the only one of the five picks with both a drawer and a cabinet.
The mix of a drawer, a cabinet and open shelves means remotes go in the drawer, bulky things go behind the door and books or a console go on the open shelves. The listing mentions gaming consoles on the shelves, and the open shelf is the right place for one, because it lets the console breathe. The short block-style pine legs give it a low, planted look and spread the weight, though there's very little gap underneath for a robot vacuum. The listing weight is about 29.5kg. At 41cm high, it's the lowest table here. The white body brightens a darker lounge, though it shows marks more than walnut does.
The listing warranty is 1 year. The listing doesn't state the board type for the top and body, and a marble finish is a printed or foiled surface, not stone, so treat it gently. Wipe spills quickly, especially near the edges. The rank is shared across Artiss coffee table listings. For a white table with a bit of everything, it's a good choice. Don't put hot mugs straight on the top, because heat can mark a printed finish. Keep the drawer light, because plastic runners sag under heavy loads. Check the handle screws after a few months.
Honest caveats: The marble look is a finish, not real stone. There's almost no clearance underneath for a robot vacuum. The board type isn't stated on the listing. At 41cm high, it may sit low against a tall lounge. The rank is shared with other Artiss coffee tables.
Best for: Lounges that need a drawer, a cabinet and open shelves in one white table.
Size: 100 x 48 x 41cm (listed) • Top: Marble finish • Storage: Drawer, side cabinet, open shelves • Legs: Solid pine • Weight: About 29.5kg (listing) • Part number: FUR-S-COF12-MBWH • Warranty: 1 year (listed) • Seller: Artiss Furnishings (AU) • Rank: #5 in Coffee Tables (Amazon AU), shared across Artiss listings
View on Amazon AUSide-by-side comparison
What we see fail in the workshop: gear around the coffee table
Coffee tables don't come into the shop, but a lot of what sits on them does. Most of it arrives with one of three problems: liquid knocked over a laptop or controller, a console that's been cooking in a closed cabinet, or a charging cable crushed by a lift top or a drawer. All three are easy to avoid once you know to look for them.
Drinks on laptops and controllers
A drink knocked over on a coffee table usually lands on whatever's lying flat: a laptop, a controller or a phone. Sugary drinks are the worst, because they leave a sticky residue that keeps corroding the board after it dries. If it happens, turn the device off straight away, unplug it and don't try to switch it back on to check. Don't put it in rice or dry it with a hair dryer. Bring it in quickly, because corrosion spreads over days, and our page on how liquid damage spreads explains why.
Consoles cooked in cabinets
Game consoles and media boxes push a lot of heat out of their vents. Shut one behind a cabinet door and it breathes its own hot air, so the fan runs harder, dust builds up faster and the thermal paste dries out sooner. The usual signs are a loud fan, games that stutter and, eventually, a console that shuts itself down. Keep consoles on an open shelf with space behind them, and dust the vents every few months with a soft brush. If the fan is already loud, bring it in for a clean before it fails.
Crushed charging cables
Lift tops and drawers are hard on cables. A phone or laptop charger run under a lift top gets pinched every time the top comes down, and a cable trapped behind a drawer gets bent and pulled every time it opens. That damages the insulation and the wires inside, and a damaged charging cable can overheat. Route cables around the table rather than through it, and replace any cord with a kink, a flat spot or exposed wire. Use a cable clip on the floor side of the table to keep cords out of the mechanism.
Decision tree: which one should you actually buy?
- Want to eat or use a laptop from the lounge? → The Artiss lift top at $96. It lifts from 47cm to 60cm and has a rotating top section and two drawers.
- Want fluted styling and plenty of hidden storage with a lift top? → The fluted lift top from Aoxun Outdoor AU at $190, with three compartments behind tambour doors.
- Want a lift top for the lowest outlay? → The Oikiture lift up table at $93, with a hidden chest and a lower shelf.
- Have a robot vacuum and small kids? → The Artiss fluted walnut table at $126, with 22cm of clearance and rounded edges.
- Want a drawer, a cabinet and open shelves in one table? → The Artiss marble-finish table at $130, in white with solid pine legs.
- Knocked a drink over a laptop or controller on the coffee table? → Turn it off and unplug it straight away. Then bring it into our Erina workshop and we'll check the board and tell you whether it's worth fixing before you spend anything.
Frequently asked questions
Are lift top coffee tables worth it?
If you eat or use a laptop from the lounge often, yes. A lift top brings the surface up to around desk height, so you're not hunched over a low table or balancing a plate on your knees. The Artiss lift top in this guide lists 47cm closed and 60cm raised. The trade-off is a mechanism with hinges and springs that needs its screws checked now and then, and a pinch point you need to keep fingers and cables clear of. If the table is mostly for cups and remotes, a fixed top with storage is simpler and has less to wear.
How do I stop a lift top coffee table from wobbling?
Most wobble comes from loose screws where the lift mechanism attaches to the base. Lower the top, check every screw on both hinge arms and tighten them firmly with a hand screwdriver, not a drill. If a screw spins without tightening, the hole in the particleboard has stripped. A slightly thicker screw, or a wooden dowel glued into the hole and redrilled, usually fixes it. Also check that the table sits level on the floor, because a rocking base makes the raised top feel worse than it is. Recheck the screws every few months.
What size coffee table should I get?
A common rule of thumb is a table about two thirds the length of the lounge in front of it, with enough room to walk past comfortably. Measure the lounge and the gap you have before you buy. For a three-seater, a table around 100cm long, like the Artiss fluted or marble-finish tables, usually looks right. For a two-seater or a small apartment, a square table like the 71 x 70cm Artiss lift top fits better. Height-wise, a table around the height of the lounge seat usually looks and works best.
Is it safe to keep a game console in a coffee table?
It's fine on an open shelf with space around it. It's not a good idea behind a closed door or in a drawer. Consoles push a lot of hot air out of their vents, and in a closed cabinet they breathe that hot air back in, which makes the fan work harder and wears the console out sooner. Leave a gap behind the vents, keep the shelf clear of clutter and dust the vents every few months. If the fan gets noticeably louder, or the console shuts down by itself, it's overheating and needs cleaning.
How do I protect a flat-pack coffee table from water damage?
Use coasters, wipe spills straight away and pay most attention to the edges and the bottom of the legs. Most flat-pack tables are MDF or particleboard with a finish on top, and the finish keeps water out until it gets to an edge or a screw hole. Once water soaks into particleboard, it swells and doesn't go back. Keep the table off a wet floor while you mop, don't put pot plants straight on the top, and don't use a steam mop right against the legs. Tables on raised metal legs, like the Artiss fluted table, are easier to keep dry.
Can I use a lift top coffee table as a desk?
For an hour or two, yes, and it's far better than a laptop on your knees, which blocks the vents on most laptops and makes them run hot. For a full working day it's still a compromise. The raised top sits in front of you rather than at desk height, so the screen is usually too low and you end up looking down at it. If you work from the lounge regularly, a proper desk or a desk converter on a table works better. Keep drinks off the raised top, because that's the part most likely to get knocked.
Related buying guides
Spilled a drink on a laptop or controller?
Most of the coffee table damage we see is liquid on laptops, controllers and phones, consoles cooked in closed cabinets and charging cables crushed by lift tops. Turn it off, unplug it and bring it into our Erina workshop, and we'll check the board and tell you whether it's worth fixing before you spend anything.
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