Visiting friends and family or hosting guests could be a stressful affair. Unless you know them very well you need to fall back on the best etiquette and go with that.
Sitting around a coffee table is one of the situations when there are certain dos and don’t but what are they?
Even if you get comfortable around the coffee table, is putting your feet on a coffee table considered rude?
Find Out If It’s Rude To Put Your Feet On A Coffee Table.
Yes, it’s seen as rude and unhygienic in almost every circumstance to put your feet on a coffee table. There’s some difference between cultures and families, but it’s almost always frowned upon. Also, it is likely that you might scratch the surface of a well-polished coffee table or knock off items on the coffee table with your feet.
- Find Out If It's Rude To Put Your Feet On A Coffee Table.
- Is It Rude To Sit or Lean On A Coffee Table?
- What Is The Etiquette Around A Coffee Table?
- Is The Coffee Table Strong Enough To Take Your Body Or Feet weight?
- Can You Put Your Belongings On The Coffee Table?
- What Can And Cannot Be Placed On The Coffee Table?
- Final Thoughts
- Sources
Putting your feet on a coffee table is definitely unhygienic as your feet carry dust that could end up on the coffee table. You don’t want that dust to contaminate the drink that is served to you and others around the coffee table.
Some cultures just don’t allow you to put your feet on a coffee table, it is just not considered polite.
Putting your feet on a coffee table with your shoes on is worse as you would likely scratch the surface of the expensive coffee table.
While putting your feet on a coffee table without shoes could knock off items and drinks on the coffee table, damaging the coffee table surface or spilling it over on the carpet underneath the coffee table.
Putting one foot on the coffee table is equally bad as it is still subject to damaging the coffee table surface, bringing dust with it, or knocking your drink off the coffee table.
You might wonder if it is ok to put your feet on the edge of the coffee table as it doesn’t interfere with the items on the table.
Well if you put your feet on the edge of the coffee table you might start moving the coffee table altogether, displacing it from its original position so it is still not the best idea to do so.
So, It doesn’t matter if you put both feet or one foot on a coffee table, at the edge, with or without shoes, it is still considered rude.
If you want to learn more about coffee table etiquette, then you’ve come to the right place!
Related:
- What Is The Best Way To Clean A Glass Coffee Table? (Explained)
- What Is A Coffee Table Book & Its Purpose (Explained)
- Do Marble Coffee Tables Stain? (Explained for Beginners)
Is It Rude To Sit or Lean On A Coffee Table?
Most cultures consider it rude and inconsiderate to lean on or sit on a coffee table. Most cultures view this as an invasion of privacy, a form of contamination, or disregard for the home. It’s always impolite to assume you may do these things without asking the host first.
Even though most cultures have a prohibition against placing body parts on furniture, there’s some variance.
While one culture may find a particular behavior impolite, others may take offense if you don’t make yourself at home.
In most western nations, it’s impolite to put your elbows or to spread your upper body over the coffee tabletop. This is primarily due to the assumption that the person doing it purposely takes up more space than they need.
Although, if you’re visiting a close friend or relative in America, they may take offense if you seem too uptight. They may think you aren’t close to them or don’t feel welcome. Consider your relationship with your host before making this assumption, but remember that some people might find formality offensive.
Tables are typically lower to the floor in the Middle East and much of eastern Asia. You’re expected to sit on the floor or a cushion and keep your cup on the coffee table until you’re ready to drink.
Middle Eastern cultures find it offensive to place elbows on the table and to rest your head on the coffee table. Make sure you’re sitting on the floor with your legs crossed and the soles of your feet hidden. The soles of your feet should never point outward to those around you. This is seen as dirty and offensive.
Meanwhile, while it is offensive to rest your elbows on the coffee table in Russia, you also need to have your hands visible at all times. If you keep your hands under the coffee table, you might be seen as secretive or a threat.
In countries such as Colombia and other South American nations, you should rest your hands and wrists on the coffee table, but never your elbows. It’s best to keep your hands away from the coffee table whenever you’re not eating or drinking.
What Is The Etiquette Around A Coffee Table?
Treat coffee tables as a respected personal space. Coffee tables are a central part of many people’s home decor. They usually take great pride in their design, and you should avoid rearranging or damaging their setup.
Some behavior you should avoid when seated at or using another person’s coffee table includes:
- Moving nick-nacks
- Not using a coaster
- Leaving your dishes behind
- Placing dirty spoons on the table
- Hogging the whole table
- Placing dirty items on the table
If you feel you can’t comfortably sit at the coffee table due to personal setup, ask the host before moving anything. Perhaps they didn’t notice how much space would be needed or how crowded the coffee table was.
Never rest a hot beverage or soup directly on a coffee table. This isn’t just impolite; it can also damage the coffee table surface and leave a white ring behind. You can use napkins or a ceramic plate if the host doesn’t offer a coaster.
After stirring your cream and sugar in your coffee, rest the spoon either on the edge of the cup or coaster. Never place the spoon on the coffee tabletop since coffee is very acidic and might damage the finish.
Is The Coffee Table Strong Enough To Take Your Body Or Feet weight?
Most at-home and cafe-style coffee tables can hold a human’s weight. As a rule of thumb, most wooden coffee tables of moderate size can hold up to 150 pounds. However, this varies based on the size of the table and the material it’s made of.
Coffee tables come in three general varieties:
- Large, heavy-weight
- Medium, moderate weight
- Small, lightweight
The table below shows all of the varying strengths of different types and the estimated weight they can hold:
| Large, heavy-weight | Medium, moderate weight | Small, lightweight | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 4.5’-5′ feet long | 3’-4′ feet long | 1 ½ -2.5′ feet long |
| Weight (lbs) | 250-300lbs | 150-175lbs | 80-120lbs |
Wooden coffee tables are the most popular coffee tables for people’s homes because of their style and aesthetic appeal. Solid wood tables may fall under the large, heavy-weight variety, but most are medium, moderate-weight strength.
Metal tables are far more common in coffee shops and other cafeteria-style eateries. These are the most robust varieties but aren’t popular for homes due to their somewhat bland appearance.
Glass and Formica tables would fall under the lightweight table category. Avoid using these tables to hold large objects or resting most of your weight on them.
Can You Put Your Belongings On The Coffee Table?
You should avoid placing personal belongings on a coffee table. This is commonly seen as rude since it spreads germs and takes up valuable space. Ask the host where to put your bags, coats, and other personal belongings.
Purses and backpacks are prime collectors of germs, sand, and bodily oils. Whenever you place them on a dinner or coffee table, it’s unsanitary and may spread diseases and other harmful ailments.
You should also avoid placing cell phones, headsets, and other handheld electronics. Not only are these items dirty, but they may make the host nervous about serving drinks. They may worry that the glasses will spill and ruin your electronics.
Rather than place them on the coffee table or floor, see if your host has some hooks to hang your belongings on!
What Can And Cannot Be Placed On The Coffee Table?
Coffee tables should be kept as free of clutter as possible. You should only put what the host gives you on their table as a guest. For your own coffee table, keep only small and unflashy items on top.
The key to having a lovely coffee table is to minimize what’s allowed on top. The best way to achieve this is by limiting what you put on your table as decorations or displays.
Avoiding placing:
- Books (Except a Coffee Table Book)
- Baskets
- Nick-nacks
- Fish tanks
- Dishes
- Lamps
You set the mood and the environment for what goes on your coffee table. Keeping it simple and clean will encourage others to see it this way.
Avoid putting your personal items on top if you’re visiting another person’s house. Only place the mug, plates, or other cutlery which the hosts bring you for consumption on the coffee table. For decorative purposes, you can always keep a Coffee Table book.
Read this great article on what a coffee table book is.
Final Thoughts
Every culture and family has its own ideas of etiquette and tradition about appropriate behavior. If you want to be more culturally sensitive, explore online forums or sites such as Lifehacks to learn more.
It’s important that you never make assumptions about your host. Start by assuming you must be on your utmost behavior. As the night moves on, your host may want you to loosen up a little.
Pay attention to social, cultural, and personal queues, and you will be fine!
Sources
The Culture Trip: Etiquette 101: The Do’s and Don’ts of Visiting an Arab Home
Commisceo-global: Russia – Culture, Etiquette and Business Practices
