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Room Inspirations: The Cactus Room

Feb 26, 2019 | Design Styles, Room Inspirations

In this blog from the Room Inspirations series, we’re working on a space called 'The Cactus Room' that represents the warm, tropical soul within us.

The cactus room, an airy and warm space, is the perfect setting to emulate your favorite tropical vacation spot.

Before we look at each product featured in the cactus room individually, let’s talk about the inspiration behind this setup.

 

Design Style & Inspiration

 

The Cactus Room is based on the Tropical design style and most of the products shown in the image are inspired by equatorial, warm hues. The room showcases a traditional palette of desert-toned neutral hues in the furniture with a slight deviation of southwest art in pastel colors, balanced out with the earth tone textiles and cement-based gold lamp.

Imitating a light and airy vibe, the Tropical style epitomizes warm breezes and gently swaying palm trees. Tropical style designs are usually inspired by flora and fauna and the patterns included in this style are proof. Furniture pieces based on this design style are usually made from natural wood and lined with fabrics like jute, wicker, and cane. The tropical style has a touch of simplicity to it that will make you forget your urban worries.

Lush foliage, warm colors and freshly cracked coconut anyone?

 

Now that we’ve gone over the design inspiration, let’s look at the products that make this room look fabulous.

 

Harman II - 67513

 

Simplicity can be luxurious – the Harman II is proof. Featuring a plush, off-white linen covered seat and matching back, it makes for a stylish chair in the living room.

The soft, linen covered seat is mounted on a beautifully finished ash wood frame with subtly curved arms and legs ensuring a sturdy seating solution.

The Harman II is not just stylish, but also extremely comfortable, thanks to its slight recline and perfectly padded cushions. A perfect combination of comfort and style, the Harman II is a favorite in spaces based on the Tropical design style and our choice of seating in the cactus room.

 

Blair – 67342 & Blane – 67343

 

The Blair and Blane are two splendidly embroidered pillow covers with stylish designs. Made from dhurrie cotton from India, the two pillow covers are perfect for spaces based on the Tropical design style.

Both, the Blair and Blane feature amazing prints inspired by nature making them our first choice for pillow covers for the cactus room.

 

The Harman II and Stowe

The Harman II and Stowe

 

Stowe – 50510 & Stowe II – 67531

 

Featuring a hinged top made from beautifully finished acacia wood, the Stowe is a uniquely designed coffee table that looks fabulous in spaces based on Tropical design styles.

It flaunts an Octagonal base made from acacia wood that is naturally water resistant and is extremely stable. The Stowe is just as functional as it is stylish, and the large storage area secured by a hinged top is proof. With stylish visuals and unparalleled functionality, the Stowe is sure to be the perfect addition to your Tropically styled living room.

To maintain consistency in the cactus room, we chose the Stowe II to serve as a side table which has the same features as the coffee table in this series (Stowe – 50510) without the additional storage.

 

Caela – 67585

 

Relaxation is an integral part of the Tropical vibe. To ensure the most relaxing indoor experience there can be, we decided to go with a pouf in addition to the formal seating in the cactus room.

The Caela, our choice of poufs for the cactus room, can be used as a footrest or as extra seating when needed.

Made from a combination of wool, felt and cotton, the Caela is a stylish square pouf. Hand-made in India, the Caela is extremely soft and flaunts stunning patterns that add to the visuals of the cactus room.

With your feet up on the Caela, you’d want to sit back and relax, all day long!

 

The Caela Pouff & Dolomite Rug

The Caela Pouff & Dolomite Rug

 

Dolomite – 70009

 

Crafted from organic materials, The Dolomite is the perfect rug for your Tropically styled living room.

A hand-woven, dhurrie rug braided with Indian jute, the Dolomite is a soft and warm rug that you’d want to rest your feet on. The rug, made on a panja loom, features fringed edges and a vertical-strip pattern that gives it a touch of elegance.

The native materials used in the making of this simple yet stylish rug are a reason enough to reserve a spot for the Dolomite in the cactus room.

 

Whittier – 37168

 

The Whittier is a wooden tray that flaunts a withered finish. It features a mirror on the inside and is large enough to hold a few cups of tea for your guests. Functionality and visual consistency are two main reasons why we chose the Whittier for the cactus room.

 

The Cactus I & II

The Cactus I & II

 

Cactus I – 12084 & Cactus II – 12085

 

Made to order, the Cactus I and Cactus II are stunning framed prints with abstract cacti designs that are also the inspiration behind the name given to the cactus room. Although the colors used in these prints are quite subtle, the framing and detail of the images ensure that these pieces get the attention they deserve.

That’s all we have in this week’s room inspiration. For more like the cactus room, check out the Room Inspirations series on our blog page and don't forget to subscribe to our blog for exclusive content.

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The short answer

Neither shape is better on its own; the right one depends on your seating layout, your traffic flow and how you use the room. A round coffee table suits compact rooms, sectionals and busy households, while a rectangular coffee table suits a long sofa and rooms that need extra surface.

Shape is one of the first decisions our design team makes when a coffee table moves from sketch to sample, because it sets how a seating group feels and functions. Below is how we think it through, and how designers and stagers can apply it to a real floor plan.

 

  • When a round coffee table works best

    Choose round when the room needs softness, easy movement or a centre point for seating on several sides.

    • Sectionals and L-shaped seating. A circle reaches every seat equally, so no one sits facing a corner.
    • Compact or square rooms. With no corners to walk around, a round top keeps pathways open in condos, dens and reading nooks.
    • Busy households. Rounded edges are kinder to shins in high-traffic rooms.
    • Rooms full of straight lines. A circle breaks up a rectilinear sofa, rug and media console.

    The Shima Round Coffee Table brings this idea to a generous 45-inch circle in solid wood, with arched cut-out legs that keep the base visually light. For a smaller footprint with natural stone, the Rumer Coffee Table sets a 36-inch round of veined white marble on dark brown hardwood legs.

When a rectangular coffee table works best

Choose rectangular when a long sofa anchors the room or when the table has to work hard.

  • A standard three-seat sofa. A rectangle echoes the sofa's length, so every seat can reach the surface.
  • Long, narrow living rooms. The shape follows the room's proportions instead of fighting them.
  • Function first. More usable surface for trays, books, games and serving, plus room for shelves or storage below.
  • Formal or symmetrical plans. A rectangle reads as structured and balanced, ideal for facing sofas.

The Tabor Coffee Table wraps recycled pine in a black oak veneer waterfall frame for a clean, architectural rectangle. For collectors, the Arelius Rectangular Display Coffee Table pairs a glass-topped shadowbox with a black metal base, turning the centre of the room into a place to show treasured objects.

Oval and square: the in-between shapes

If you want the reach of a rectangle with the ease of a circle, choose oval; if your seating forms a square, choose square.

Oval gives a long sofa full coverage while removing the corners, which makes it a strong choice for families and tight walkways. The Shima Oval Coffee Table measures 48 by 28 inches in solid mango wood and arrives fully assembled. The Terra Oval Coffee Table adds a fluted base that conceals a lift top and storage.

Square suits a deep sectional or four chairs arranged around a central table. At 48 inches square with a 3-inch reclaimed wood top, the McArthur Coffee Table anchors large seating groups. The Lucas Coffee Table scales white marble down to 30 inches square for condos and paired-chair corners.

Sizing and clearance guidelines

Whatever the shape, scale matters more than style: a well-sized table makes a seating group feel intentional.

Guideline

Rule of thumb

Length (rectangular or oval)

About two-thirds the length of the sofa

Diameter (round)

About half to two-thirds of the sofa length; larger for a sectional's corner

Distance from seating

14 to 18 inches, close enough to reach a cup

Height

Level with the seat cushion or 1 to 2 inches lower

Walkways around the table

30 to 36 inches where people pass

When a room is between sizes, a round or oval table usually gives back more circulation space than a rectangle of the same surface area.

Pairing shape and material with your sofa

Contrast is the simplest rule: pair a heavy, square-armed sofa with a softer shape, and a curved sofa with cleaner lines.

With a dark brown or leather sofa, avoid matching the tone exactly. White marble, light wood or a metal base adds the contrast that keeps a dark sofa from feeling heavy. The Rumer and Lucas coffee tables both bring white marble into that palette.

Is marble still in style? Yes. Natural stone continues to anchor both modern and transitional rooms, and veining means no two tops are alike. Look for surface-tested finishes if the table will see daily cups and glasses.

With a light or curved sofa, a darker table in wood or blackened metal grounds the room, and an oval or rectangle adds structure.

Explore the collection

Browse Mercana coffee tables in round, oval, square and rectangular shapes, across Modern, Mid-Century Modern, Transitional, Industrial and Farmhouse styles. Each piece is designed in-house and specified with full dimensions, materials and clearance details.

For interior designers, stagers and retailers: register for a trade account to view wholesale pricing and availability. Shopping for your own home? Find a Mercana retailer near you.

Is it better to have a round or rectangular coffee table?

Round is better for sectionals, compact rooms and high-traffic homes. Rectangular is better for a long sofa, narrow rooms and when you need more surface or storage.

Does a round coffee table work with an L-shaped sectional?

Yes. A round table reaches every seat in an L-shaped layout and leaves an open path around the corner.

What size coffee table do I need?

Aim for about two-thirds the length of your sofa, 14 to 18 inches from the seat, and level with or slightly below the cushion height.

What coffee table goes with a dark brown sofa?

Choose contrast: white marble, light wood or a metal base keeps a dark sofa from feeling heavy.

Is an oval coffee table a good compromise?

Yes. An oval offers the reach of a rectangle along a long sofa without hard corners.

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