Short answer: Cozey's Stella is a compact lift-top table you can expand, suited to small rooms and to working or eating at the table. Cozey's Tessella is a long, low table for a wide three-seat sofa and a larger room.
Both come in Oak or Walnut and both are mostly tool-free to assemble, so the decision comes down to size, height and how you use the table. Our Stella guide and Tessella guide cover each in full. This page sets them side by side.
On This Page
- How do the sizes compare?
- Which is better for a small room?
- Which is better for working or eating at the table?
- Which goes better with my sofa?
- Which has more storage?
- How do the finishes, materials and care compare?
- Which is easier to assemble and move?
- Which should I choose?
- Our recommendation
- Explore our tables
How do the sizes compare?
At Cozey, the Stella starts much smaller and ends up about the same length, while the Tessella is one fixed size and is the longest of our coffee tables. A single Stella module is 60 cm (23.5 inches) square. The Tessella is 171.7 cm (67.6 inches) long and 68.5 cm (27.0 inches) deep.
How do the sizes compare?
| Stella | Tessella | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 60 cm (23.5 inches) square per module; two modules 120 cm (47.2 inches) long; three 180 cm (70.7 inches); four 240 cm (94.5 inches) | 171.7 x 68.5 cm (67.6 x 27.0 inches) |
| Height | 47 cm (18.5 inches) closed, lifting to 67 cm (26.4 inches) | 40.7 cm (16.0 inches) |
| Shape | Square, modular | Long rectangle, two square tops and a recessed centre |
| Storage | Gap between the lifted top and the base | None; recessed centre for small items |
| Finishes | Oak, Walnut | Oak, Walnut |
| Material | 18 mm MDF with melamine finish, powder coated steel legs | 15 mm MDF with 0.3 mm ash veneer and lacquer |
| Assembly | Mostly tool-free; about 15 minutes per table | Mostly tool-free; about 20 minutes per table |
| Best for | Small rooms, working and eating at the table, changing needs | A wide three-seat sofa and a large room |
A three-module Stella is only about 8 cm (3 inches) longer and 8.5 cm (3.5 inches) shallower than a Tessella, so the real difference is not length. It is that the Stella can change size and height, and the Tessella cannot.
Which is better for a small room?
In a small room, the Stella is the better fit because one module takes up 60 cm (23.5 inches) of floor each way. You can leave the table at one module beside a chair or at the end of a sofa, and add a module later if the room changes. Our guide to how to choose a coffee table suggests leaving 36 to 46 cm (14 to 18 inches) between sofa and table and about 76 to 91 cm (30 to 36 inches) where people walk.
The Tessella is 68.5 cm (27.0 inches) deep and 171.7 cm (67.6 inches) long, so it asks for space to spare. It looks best with a sofa near 255 cm (100 inches) wide, as general advice. Under about 203 cm (80 inches), our Tessella guide points to a shorter table instead.
For a tight wall, Altitude and Themis keep storage off the floor, so a compact table does not have to do everything.
Which is better for working or eating at the table?
For laptops and meals, the Stella is the better choice, because its top lifts from 47 cm (18.5 inches) to 67 cm (26.4 inches). Our Stella guide describes the lifted top as a comfortable working height. The Tessella is a fixed 40.7 cm (16.0 inches), a classic low coffee table for drinks, books and a remote.
A desk and chair are still better for long work sessions. For a laptop on the sofa or dinner in front of a film, the Stella's extra height helps. If you rarely use the table for anything but drinks, the Tessella's lower, steadier surface is simpler.
Which goes better with my sofa?
Match the table to the sofa's seat height and width. As general advice, not a product specification, a coffee table sits level with the seat or 3 to 5 cm (1 to 2 inches) lower, and is about two-thirds the length of the sofa. Our guide to pairing a sofa, accent chair and coffee table covers the full layout.
At Cozey, we make four sofa collections and two sofa beds: Ciello (soft, deep cushions), Gaia (soft seat, high back), Cassini (curved and low, with a 45-degree wedge), Atmosphere (our deepest seat), plus Neptune and Orian. Seat heights from our guides decide which table sits well.
Which goes better with my sofa?
| Sofa | Seat height | Stella closed (18.5 inches) | Tessella (16.0 inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atmosphere | 44.5 cm (17.5 inches) Regular; 46 cm (18.1 inches) Storage; 44 cm (17.3 inches) Sleeper | 2.5 cm (1.0 inch) above the Regular seat | 4 cm (1.5 inches) below the Regular seat |
| Neptune | 43 cm (16.9 inches) | 4 cm (1.6 inches) above | 2 cm (0.9 inch) below |
| Cassini | 43 cm (17.0 inches) | 4 cm (1.5 inches) above | 2.5 cm (1.0 inch) below |
| Ciello and Gaia | 54 cm (21.3 inches) | 7 cm (2.8 inches) below | 13.5 cm (5.3 inches) below |
The Tessella sits just below the seat of Atmosphere, Neptune and Cassini, which matches the usual advice, but it looks low beside the taller Ciello and Gaia seat. The Stella closed sits a little above those three seats and below the Ciello and Gaia seat, and lifting it raises it further. To check your own sofa's width against either table, build your sofa in Cozey Studio, where the overall dimensions show on screen.
Which has more storage?
The Stella has storage in the gap between its lifted top and the base, while the Tessella has no drawers or shelves, only a recessed centre where a remote or a few small items stay together. If you want hidden trays or shelves, our coffee tables with storage guide compares the Eclipse, Mensa, Arca and Ombra, which each list it.
How do the finishes, materials and care compare?
Both tables come in Oak and Walnut. Oak is the lighter wood and keeps a room airy; Walnut is deeper and gives a pale sofa something to stand out against. Our guide to table finishes for a light-coloured sofa goes further.
The materials differ. The Stella is 18 mm MDF with a melamine finish on powder coated steel legs. The Tessella is 15 mm MDF with a 0.3 mm ash veneer and lacquer, so it shows ash grain. Care is the same for both: dust with a soft, dry cloth, wipe stains with a damp cloth and mild soap, dry right away, avoid harsh cleaners and use coasters.
Which is easier to assemble and move?
Both are mostly tool-free, because the hardware includes hand screws and an Allen key. Our assembly times guide lists about 15 minutes for a Stella and about 20 minutes for a Tessella.
A Stella module ships in one box of 72 x 70 x 35 cm (28.3 x 27.6 x 13.8 inches), 24.4 kg (53.8 lb), plus a small box for the legs. The Tessella ships in two boxes: 75.7 x 75.7 x 22.4 cm (29.8 x 29.8 x 8.8 inches), 21.5 kg (47.5 lb), and 119.2 x 42.9 x 17.4 cm (46.9 x 16.9 x 6.9 inches), 17.1 kg (37.8 lb). For tight stairs or elevators, see will it fit.
Which should I choose?
Choose the Stella if:
- You want to work or eat at the table.
- Your room is small or may change, and you want to add modules later.
- You like a table slightly higher than the usual coffee table.
Choose the Tessella if:
- You have a wide three-seat sofa and room to spare.
- You want one long, low surface with a recessed centre.
- You plan to add a matching Tessella side table.
Our recommendation
At Cozey, we suggest the Stella for a small or changing room, or if you work or eat at the coffee table. We suggest the Tessella if you have a wide three-seat sofa, space to spare and want one long, low piece.
If you are still deciding, read our guide to how to choose a coffee table, then build your sofa in Cozey Studio to check its size.
Explore our tables
More Cozey comparisons: Stella vs Eclipse, Stella vs Arca, Stella vs Ombra, Stella vs Mensa, Stella vs Solis, Tessella vs Eclipse, Tessella vs Arca, Tessella vs Ombra, Tessella vs Mensa, Tessella vs Solis.
Product specifications can change. Check the current dimensions on the product page before ordering.