Short answer: Cozey's Tessella suits you if you have a wide three-seat sofa and room to spare, and want a long, clean surface. Cozey's Ombra suits you if you want a shorter, lower table with open shelves and two ottomans for guests. Both come in Oak or Walnut.
These two tables answer different questions. The Tessella is about length and calm: one big surface with a recessed centre for small items. The Ombra is about seats and shelves: a compact, low table whose ottomans tuck away. Our guide to how to choose a coffee table covers the wider range.
On This Page
- Which is better for a small room?
- How do the sizes and heights compare?
- Which has more storage and seating?
- Which suits lounging, hosting and everyday use better?
- Which goes better with my sofa?
- How do the materials, finishes and assembly compare?
- Which should I choose?
- Our recommendation
- Explore our tables
Which is better for a small room?
At Cozey, we find the Ombra is the better fit for a small room. The Ombra coffee table is 43.3 inches (110 cm) long and 21.5 inches (55 cm) deep, while the Tessella coffee table is 67.6 inches (171.7 cm) long and 27.0 inches (68.5 cm) deep. The Tessella is about 24 inches (62 cm) longer and 5.5 inches (13.5 cm) deeper.
That extra length matters. The Tessella is the longest of our coffee tables, so it works best where the sofa is wide and the room has space to walk around it. In a narrow room, the Ombra's shallow depth keeps a walkway open, but leave a clear patch of floor in front of it, because the ottomans pull out toward you.
How do the sizes and heights compare?
The Tessella is longer, deeper and higher, and the Ombra is the lower table of the two. This table shows both side by side.
How do the sizes and heights compare?
| Tessella coffee table | Ombra coffee table | |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Long rectangle: two square tops and a recessed centre | Slim rectangle |
| Size | 67.6 inches (171.7 cm) x 27.0 inches (68.5 cm) | 43.3 inches (110 cm) x 21.5 inches (55 cm) |
| Height | 16.0 inches (40.7 cm) | 13.3 inches (33.9 cm) |
| Seating | None | Two ottomans, each 17.7 inches (45 cm) x 14.0 inches (35 cm) and 11.8 inches (30 cm) high |
| Storage | None; recessed centre for small items | Open shelves in two sizes |
| Finish | Oak or Walnut | Oak or Walnut |
| Top and frame | 15 mm MDF with a 0.3 mm ash veneer and lacquer | Ash wood and MDF with a veneer, satin stain |
| Assembly | Mostly tool-free: hand screws and an Allen key; about 20 minutes | Mostly tool-free: screws, dowel pins and an Allen key |
| Best for | A wide sofa, a large room, a calm surface | Smaller rooms, guests, footrests, shelves |
The Tessella is 2.7 inches (6.8 cm) higher than the Ombra, and it is about 1.6 times as long.
Which has more storage and seating?
The Ombra has both, and the Tessella has neither. At Cozey, we list the Ombra coffee table with open shelves in two sizes, one small and one large, and with two ottomans that nest under the top. The ottomans are low seats, 11.8 inches (30 cm) high, so we see them as occasional seats and footrests.
The Tessella has no drawers, shelves or seats. Its recessed centre holds a remote or a few small items. If storage matters most, read our guide to coffee tables with storage or storage ottomans that double as seating.
Which suits lounging, hosting and everyday use better?
For hosting and lounging, the Ombra is the better table. Pull out an ottoman as a footrest, or both as seats when guests arrive. At 13.3 inches (33.9 cm) high, it suits a low, relaxed seat. The ottoman covers are removable and washable.
For a large living room where the table is a long, uncluttered surface, the Tessella is the better table. Its two square tops and recessed centre give you room for a tray, books and a few objects, and at 16.0 inches (40.7 cm) it sits closer to the height of most seats. Neither table lifts or changes height. If you want a table that rises for working or eating, see our guide to the Stella.
Which goes better with my sofa?
A common guideline is a coffee table about two-thirds the length of your sofa, level with the seat or 1 to 2 inches (3 to 5 cm) lower, with 14 to 18 inches (36 to 46 cm) between them. That is general advice, not a product specification, and our guide to pairing a sofa, accent chair and coffee table goes deeper.
By that guideline, the Tessella suits a sofa near 100 inches (255 cm) wide, and the Ombra suits a sofa of roughly 65 inches (165 cm) or longer. The seat heights below are from our guides, and the gaps are our own arithmetic.
Which goes better with my sofa?
| Sofa | Seat height | Tessella (16.0 in) sits | Ombra (13.3 in) sits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atmosphere | 17.5 inches (44.5 cm) Regular; 18.1 inches (46 cm) Storage; 17.3 inches (44 cm) Sleeper | 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) below the Regular seat | 4.2 inches (10.6 cm) below the Regular seat |
| Neptune | 16.9 inches (43 cm) | 0.9 inches (2.3 cm) below | 3.6 inches (9.1 cm) below |
| Cassini | 17.0 inches (43 cm) | 1.0 inches (2.3 cm) below | 3.7 inches (9.1 cm) below |
| Ciello and Gaia | 21.3 inches (54 cm) | 5.3 inches (13.3 cm) below | 8.0 inches (20.1 cm) below |
The Tessella is the closer match to the seat height of Atmosphere, Neptune and Cassini. The Ombra sits lower than the guideline for every sofa, which suits a relaxed, low look and the footrest role. Our Atmosphere three-seater is 106.7 to 110.6 inches (271 to 281 cm) wide, so the Tessella is about 61 to 63 percent of its width, and the Ombra is about 39 to 41 percent. The Cassini two-seater is 60.6 inches (154 cm) wide, which suits the Ombra better than the Tessella.
At Cozey, our four modular sofa collections are Ciello (soft, with deep loose cushions), Gaia (a soft seat with a high back), Cassini (low and curved) and Atmosphere (medium-firm, with our deepest seat). In Cozey Studio, our online configurator, you can see the overall length of your sofa before you pick a table; our Studio guide explains how. For a pale sofa, see table finishes for a light-coloured sofa.
How do the materials, finishes and assembly compare?
Both are engineered wood with real wood on show, and both come in Oak or Walnut. The Tessella is 15 mm MDF with a 0.3 mm ash wood veneer and a lacquer finish, so the surface shows ash grain and stays flat. The Ombra uses ash wood and veneered MDF with a satin stain. Oak is the lighter, more natural tone, and Walnut is deeper and gives a pale sofa more contrast.
The Ombra adds four ottoman cover colours: Sage, Espresso and Frost in Performance Chenille, and Sesame in Aquaforte, which is good for pets. Both tables are mostly tool-free, because the hardware includes an Allen key. Our assembly article lists about 20 minutes for a Tessella table. The Ombra uses screws and wooden dowel pins, and its ottomans arrive with covers on.
Which should I choose?
- Choose the Tessella if you have a wide three-seat sofa, a larger room, and want one long, quiet surface with no moving parts.
- Choose the Ombra if you have a smaller room or a shorter sofa, host guests, want a footrest or extra seats, or want open shelves under a low, slim top.
- Choose neither if you want hidden storage, a round shape or a top that rises: see our Arca, Eclipse and Stella guides.
Our recommendation
At Cozey, we suggest the Tessella for a wide sofa in a roomy living room, and the Ombra for a smaller room or a shorter sofa where guests, footrests and shelf space matter. If you cannot decide, measure your sofa, apply the two-thirds guideline and check the result against the figures above.
Our Tessella guide and Ombra guide have the full details, and our buying guide for living room storage puts both beside our other pieces. For the wall behind the sofa, see Themis and Altitude.
Explore our tables
- Tessella coffee table
- Ombra table
- Coffee tables
- Side tables
- How to choose a coffee table
- Which Cozey sofa is right for you
More Cozey comparisons: Stella vs Tessella, Stella vs Ombra, Tessella vs Eclipse, Tessella vs Arca, Tessella vs Mensa, Tessella vs Solis, Eclipse vs Ombra, Arca vs Ombra, Ombra vs Mensa, Ombra vs Solis.
Product specifications can change. Check the current dimensions on the product page before ordering.