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Small space dwellers, I’m sure you’ll understand when I say that it feels like there’s never enough storage. My two-bedroom condo has a couple of good-sized closets, but I’m still always on the hunt for furniture that looks nice and also adds a functional element to every room.
Expand Furniture is a Canadian brand that specializes in space-saving furniture, with many pieces that are convertible to offer more than one purpose. In the past, we’ve covered the Flip Console to Dining Room Set and the Cubist Table, both of which are ideal if you often host large get-togethers and need extra room at your table for guests.
I’m more of a party guest than host, so the Boost Lifting Coffee Table is a better fit for my lifestyle – it’s a coffee table that offers extra storage and workspace in one. Ideal for multitasking, the top of this coffee table lifts to lap height when eating or working.
Dimensions: 43.3″L x 23.5″W x 18.25″H (Table top rises from 18.25″ to 24″) Finishes: Black grain, chocolate walnut, glossy white, grano Warranty: Five years Price: $699 Where to buy: Expand Furniture
Features:
Delivery and assembly: The coffee table arrives in one large box, with the legs packed snugly into the storage compartment of the table. It’s pretty heavy, so I recommend having two people on hand for the assembly process. While there aren’t many steps involved (just attach the legs to the table top), having four hands definitely makes things easier. In total my husband and I spent about 15 minutes putting it together.
At one point during assembly, you’ll need to use two Allen keys at once to secure the legs to the table top – this was a first for me, and I’ve built my fair share of Ikea pieces. For the fastest results, take my advice and have one person hold and tighten from underneath the table, and the other tighten from the opposite side in the table’s storage compartment.
Use: I’ve been using this coffee table for the last month and have been loving it in my home. Previously I had an inexpensive Ikea coffee table that matched the rest of my living room, but wasn’t the most functional. It had a lower open shelf where I’d find myself stacking books, magazines, dog toys and other miscellaneous items. However, because it was completely open on all sides, things ended up looking more cluttered than I like.
With the Boost table, I’m now able to put all of those same items hidden away in plain sight. Tall items won’t fit inside as the storage compartment is only 6.5” deep, but because the inner surface area is quite large there’s still lots of space for my tech devices, books, games and other knickknacks.
The lifting tabletop has also been a big upgrade when eating in front of the TV. It’s not a recommended habit, but we all do it, right? This coffee table makes it much more comfortable since your plate (or laptop) is lifted above your lap – no more hunching over a low table to avoid spills. It’s smooth to open and close and feels like the quality should last through years of use.
Favourite feature: Storage capacity
The storage capacity of this coffee table has been my favourite thing about it. My living room looks much more organized thanks to the Boost table and I haven’t even had to cram in any extra shelving to do it.
Least favourite feature: Overhang
I don’t love that the table top overhangs slightly from the rest of the table’s base. It makes sense that it sticks out a little in order to lift it up, but I do find myself bumping into the corners because the dimensions don’t match up spatially. To be fair, if I had a bigger living room I could afford to push the table a bit further away from the edge of the couch, but that’s not currently an option.
Recommendation: The Boost Lifting Coffee Table is a multipurpose piece that’s small space-approved. It provides ample storage for things you want to hide away, and an extra display nook on the front for the things you don’t. If you frequently eat or work from the couch, you’ll appreciate the lifting table top that reaches above your lap while seated. Just be wary of the edges to protect your shins from the table top overhang.
Price: $699 Where to buy: Expand Furniture
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