Coffee tables are like the stepchildren of furniture selection. Mostly we give our attention to dining room tables and chairs, sofas and bedroom suites, and even entertainment centers. Few things can complement a cozy living room, however, like a solid oak coffee table. In this day and age, it's the furniture must-have.

An important consideration when looking at buying a coffee table is the current decor of your living room. Do you live in a tiny mansion, or a studio apartment? Does your living room look out over a rock beach, or a landfill?

In the living room, the coffee table is center stage. Yes, your sofa and end tables are very important, but your table can make or break the ambience of the room. On its surface you can usually find such items as books, a vase full of flowers, and sometimes even a cup of coffee. It's probably the most seen piece of furniture in your entire house.

So what should you look for in a coffee table? Ideally, the table should be matched with your sofa, especially when it comes to sizing. For instance, your coffee table should be no taller than your sofa cushions, and it shouldn't be more than two-thirds the sofa's overall length.

Your personal taste comes into play a lot here also. Do you want to go with the traditional rectangle table, or something not so predictable? There are literally thousands of designs to choose from, and this is one area of furniture selection where your individuality can shine through.

If you do a lot of entertaining, however, you may want to consider going with a round or oval table. For some reason, round tables are just better when you have large groups of people around. Outside their aesthetic reasons, they're handy to have around if a game of Texas Hold'em breaks out.

Another option to keep in mind is a square coffee table. Square tables draw attention, especially if the rest of the living room is predominately rectangles. If the room is too small, however, you might want to avoid a square shape. If it is a large room, however, a square table might just provide a much-needed balance.

So, while your sofa and end tables might consume most of your attention when thinking about buying living room furniture, too little thought about a coffee table could turn out to be a big mistake. Above all, have fun with it.