Short answer: Cozey's Stella suits you if you want a modular table that lifts to a working or dining height. Cozey's Ombra suits you if you want a low table with open shelves and two pull-out ottomans for guests. Both come in Oak or Walnut.
These two tables answer different questions. The Stella is about height and growth: one module now, more later, and a top that rises. The Ombra is about seating and shelves: a slim, low table with ottomans that 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 is easier to move or reconfigure?
- Which is better for working, eating or lounging?
- Which goes better with my sofa?
- Which should I choose?
- Our recommendation
- Explore our tables
Which is better for a small room?
At Cozey, we find the Stella is the more compact choice, because a single module is 60 cm (23.5 inches) wide and 60 cm (23.5 inches) deep. The Ombra coffee table is 110 cm (43.3 inches) long and 55 cm (21.5 inches) deep, so it needs a longer wall of floor but is a shallow, slim table that keeps a walkway open.
Two Stella modules are 120 cm (47.2 inches) wide and 60 cm (23.5 inches) deep, close to the Ombra's footprint, but you get a surface that rises rather than shelves and two seats. Leave room in front of the Ombra, because the ottomans pull out toward you.
How do the sizes and heights compare?
The Ombra is our low table, and the Stella is the tallest of our coffee tables. This table shows both side by side.
How do the sizes and heights compare?
| Stella coffee table | Ombra coffee table | |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Square, modular | Slim rectangle |
| Size | One module: 60 cm (23.5 inches) x 60 cm (23.5 inches); up to four modules, 240 cm (94.5 inches) wide | 110 cm (43.3 inches) x 55 cm (21.5 inches) |
| Height | 47 cm (18.5 inches) closed, lifting to 67 cm (26.4 inches) | 33.9 cm (13.3 inches) |
| Seating | None | Two ottomans, each 45 cm (17.7 inches) x 35 cm (14.0 inches) and 30 cm (11.8 inches) high |
| Storage | Gap between the lifted top and the base | Open shelves in two sizes |
| Finish | Oak or Walnut | Oak or Walnut |
| Top and frame | 18 mm MDF with a melamine finish, steel legs | Ash wood and MDF with a veneer, satin stain |
| Assembly | Mostly tool-free: hand screws and an Allen key | Mostly tool-free: screws, dowel pins and an Allen key |
| Best for | Working, eating, growing | Guests, footrests, shelves |
The Stella is 13.1 cm (5.2 inches) higher than the Ombra even when closed, and nearly twice its height when lifted.
Which has more storage and seating?
The Ombra has both shelves and seating, while the Stella has storage only in the gap under its lifted top and no seating. 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, 30 cm (11.8 inches) high, so we see them as occasional seats and footrests.
The Stella stores things in the gap between its lifted top and the base, and it has no seating. Its job is the lift-top surface. If you want shelves or more storage, read our guide to coffee tables with storage or storage ottomans that double as seating.
Which is easier to move or reconfigure?
The Stella is the one built to change. At Cozey, we describe the Stella as built to expand: you start with one module and link more whenever you need more surface, in setups of one to four modules. The Ombra is a fixed table.
Both arrive flat and are mostly tool-free, with an Allen key in the hardware. Our assembly article lists about 15 minutes per Stella table. The Ombra adds dowel pins, and its ottomans arrive with covers on.
Which is better for working, eating or lounging?
For working and eating, the Stella is the better table. Lifted, it reaches 67 cm (26.4 inches), which is higher than any of our fixed-height coffee tables, so a laptop or plate is easier to reach. Closed, it still works as an ordinary coffee table.
For lounging and hosting, the Ombra is the better table. Pull out an ottoman as a footrest, or both as seats when guests arrive. At 33.9 cm (13.3 inches) high, it suits a low, relaxed seat.
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 a little lower, with 36 to 46 cm (14 to 18 inches) 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 110 cm (43.3 inches) Ombra suits a sofa of roughly 165 cm (65 inches) or longer. Two or three Stella modules, at 120 cm (47.2 inches) and 180 cm (70.7 inches) wide, suit a two-seat or a longer sofa, and one module suits a spot beside a chair.
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.
Which should I choose?
- Choose the Stella if you work or eat at the coffee table, have a small footprint, or expect your lounge room to change and want to add modules later.
- Choose the Ombra if you host guests, want a footrest or extra seats, or want open shelves under a low, slim top.
- Choose neither if you want hidden storage or a round shape: see our Arca and Eclipse guides.
Our recommendation
At Cozey, we suggest the Stella for a small or changing room where one table must do several jobs, and the Ombra for a lounge room where guests, footrests and shelf space matter more than height. If you cannot decide, measure the floor in front of your sofa and check it against the figures above.
Our Stella 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
- Stella coffee table
- Ombra table
- Coffee tables
- How to choose a coffee table
- Which Cozey sofa is right for you
More Cozey comparisons: Stella vs Tessella, Stella vs Eclipse, Stella vs Arca, Stella vs Mensa, Stella vs Solis, Tessella vs Ombra, 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.